Bedugnės kapinynas

LT2019 m. liepą ir rugpjūtį LNM ir PKI ekspedicija tęsė Bedugnės kapinyno (UK 36622) (Trakų r., Senųjų Trakų sen.) tyrimus (ATL 2012 metais, 2013, p. 170–177; ATL 2018 metais, 2019, p. 128–138). Renkant duomenis apie mirusiųjų deginimo paprotį viduramžių Lietuvoje, siekiant pažinti to meto elitinių karių laidoseną, ištirtas 20 m2 plotas (dvi perkasos), metalo ieškikliu dar kartą išžvalgyta apie 1 ha dydžio teritorija. Aptikti radiniai saugomi LNM. Perkasa 3 tirta kapinyno kalvos ŠV pakraštyje, 2018 m. metalo ieškikliu aptikto dirbinių komplekto – pentinio plačiaašmenio kirvio ir balno sagties – vietoje. Be šių radinių, perkasos vietoje tuomet buvo rasta balno kilpos pamina ir dar vienas pentinis plačiaašmenis kirvis, šalia jo – žiedas vijimą imituojančia priekine dalimi. Radiniai ir degintiniai kaulai perkasoje pasklidę nuo pat paviršiaus iki dugno – jų būta velėnoje, pilkšvos arba rusvos maišytos žemės ir gelsvo priesmėlio sluoksniuose. [...] [p. 88].

ENIn 2019, the LNM and the PKI continued the investigation of Bedugnė cemetery (Trakai district, e Lithuania). During the expedition, data was collected about the cremation customs in medieval Lithuania in order to learn about the funeral rites of elite warriors at that time. 20 m2 were excavated in the NW part of the top and side of cemetery Hill and roughly 1 ha was resurveyed using a metal detector. In investigating the cemetery, 25.45 g of cremated bones were collected and two pits were discovered but their relationship with the burial of cremated individuals remains unclear. Although no single uninterrupted layer of cremations had formed at the investigated site, an assemblage of mounted warrior artefacts discovered in one of the trenches and the assemblage of artefacts recorded in this part of the cemetery attest to the possibility of the survival of undisturbed structures. A total of 111 iron, copper alloy, silver, and glass artefacts were discovered during the investigation. Among the finds should be mentioned: 9 bridle fittings, 7 fittings with no clear purpose, 7 knives and knife pieces, 6 awls, 5 cast and sheet metal, penannular and annular brooches and brooch fragments, 5 crotals, 3 rings, 3 buckles and buckle pieces, 2 sword crossguards, 2 broad-bladed shaft-hole axes, 2 spearhead pieces, 2 stirrups, 2 large loops, 2 small weights, 2 small loops, a miniature axe, an arrowhead, a link from a mail coif (?) and 5 more chainmail links, a rowel spur, a saddle buckle, a horse bell, a small horseshoe, a fragment of a twisted wire neck-ring, a blue glass bead, a belt fitting, a fire striker, a razor, a fishhook, a needle, a purse fitting, part of a key, a forged nail, a staple, and 16 artefact fragments, some of which had been in a fire while others had not.In addition, 2 sherds of hand built pottery, a piece of clay daub, and 3 flint finds were discovered and 214.08 g of charcoal collected. The discovered finds, i.e. cremation grave goods, allow Bedugnė cemetery to be dated to the 14th century. Considering the weapons as well as mounted warrior and horse equipment discovered in the cemetery, their rarity and luxuriousness, and the short distance to the Senieji Trakai castle site, Bedugnė cemetery is considered to be a burial site for elite warriors. The potsherds discovered during the investigation are connected with the context of an Iron Age settlement or camp site. the 16th–17th-century knife with a full tang as well as the Second World War Russian and german shrapnel and ammunition are not connected with the burial of the dead.