| Abstract [eng] |
The dissertation investigates the custom of cremating the dead in Medieval Lithuania. The characteristics, conception and context of such burial is revealed by analysing the cremation cemeteries of the 13th – 14th century and their environment, symbols of material culture, religion of ancient Lithuanians, identity of the communities which left burial monuments after them. Invoking on the data of the scientific experiments the methods of cremating the dead are introduced. It is focused on geography and topography of the medieval cremation cemeteries, typology of burial sites and cremation graves. The dissertation introduces the analysis of the finds from the cremation graves: anthropological and zoo-archaeological material, artefacts. Applying the statistical analysis methods an analysis of the sets of burial items from the closed medieval cremation graves is performed. The characteristics of the custom of cremating the dead are defined and an integrated analysis of the composition and the nature of the horizon of the medieval cremation graves in Lithuania is provided. Chronological issues are also analysed, the spread of the cremation cemeteries is researched as well as the religious context, cultural and social identity of the deceased buried in these burial monuments. |
