Šv. Jono bažnyčios Klaipėdoje palaidojimai ir ankstesnis užstatymas

LT2021 m. liepos 28 – lapkričio 8 d. KU BRIAI tęsė detaliuosius tyrinėjimus buvusios Klaipėdos Šv. Jono bažnyčios (visiškai nugriautos po II Pasaulinio karo 1946–1947 m.) (UK 42597) vietoje. Tyrimus inicijavo Klaipėdos miesto evangelikų liuteronų parapija su Kultūros infrastruktūros centru, Klaipėdos miesto savivaldybe. Tyrimai vyko 2020 m. pradėtame plote 1, siekiant ištirti bokšto statybai reikiamą teritoriją iki įžemio, iškeliant čia esančius kapus ir maksimaliai paruošiant vietą statyboms. Tyrimų metodika parinkta atsižvelgiant į projektuotojų sprendinius, pagal kuriuos, atstatant bažnyčios bokštą, reikia pamatus stiprinti iš abiejų pusių (juos atidengiant iki apačios) ir suformuoti 5 m prieigą. Atsižvelgiant į šiuos parametrus, plote 1 (608 m²) toliau tirta 450 m² dydžio teritorija (apie 1,7–2 m storio likusio neištirto kultūrinio sluoksnio; tyrimai tęsti nuo vidurio Habs 3,10 m, kai vietovės dabartinis paviršiaus aukštis pagal Baltijos jūros lygį yra 4,20–4,30 m). Kadangi dar nėra aiškus 2020 m. atrastos grindų šildymo sistemos eksponavimo in situ atstatomoje bažnyčioje klausimas, ši dalis netirta, palikta ateičiai. [...] [p. 231].

ENIn 2021, KU BRIAI continued the excavation of the site of the Church of St. John (completely demolished after WWII (1946–1947)). The investigation, begun in 2020 encompassed Area 1 with the aim of excavating the grounds down to sterile soil, relocating all the discovered burials, and fully preparing the site for the construction of a tower. The 2021 excavation of 450 m² revealed a roughly 1.7–2 m thick surviving cultural layer and 61 burials inside the church and in the churchyard that date to the early – second half of the 18th century (until 1781 when the cemetery was closed in this area). The individuals had been interred supine in wooden coffins oriented NE–SW or SE–NW. The coffins had 4–6 handles, pins being stuck inside some. Only one coffin was distinguished by its ornateness. 19 burials contained grave goods: pins, headdress elements, beads, metal buttons, earrings, and stylised posies. While one coin was found on a skeleton, most were found in the grave pit soil. Based on the anthropological analysis data, of the 61 analysed skeletons or parts of them, 16 were female, 15 male, 13 adults of indeterminant gender, and 17 minors. In addition to the burials, the investigation uncovered cross-sections of the foundation of the church’s façade (W) and side (S) walls; the tower’s foundation; columns and engaged columns; the timber grillage foundations of buildings 1 and 2 (from before the 1678 fire); 16th–17th-century wood frame buildings / structures (1–5); fences; a wooden gutter; and paving. The bulk of the finds date to the early 16th–18th centuries, the earliest being Gothic, i.e., the remains of stoves. In all, 826 finds were catalogued, all of the pieces of a single item counting as one entry, while another 2016 were collected but not catalogued.