Veliuonos Švč. Mergelės Marijos Ėmimo į dangų bažnyčios šventorius

LT2014 m. rugsėjo–lapkričio mėnesiais atlikti Veliuonos Švč. Mergelės Marijos Ėmimo į dangų bažnyčios statinių komplekso (UK 28049), Veliuonos piliakalnio II su papiliu (UK 23902), papilio (UK 23903) teritorijos (Jurbarko r., Veliuonos miestelis ir sen., Draugystės g. 1, 4, Draugystės g. 1, 4) žvalgomieji archeologiniai tyrimai ir žvalgymai. Buvusiame papilyje stovinčios bažnyčios šventoriuje ištirtos 3 perkasos (bendras tyrimų plotas 32,4 m2 ), o nuogrindų įrengimo, lietaus nuotekų išvado vamzdžio tiesimo ir betoninių plytelių takų įrengimo vietose atlikti archeologiniai žvalgymai (bendras žvalgymų plotas 184,8 m2 ). Apibendrinant tyrimų duomenis, galima konstatuoti, kad tyrimų metu bažnyčios šventoriuje aptiktas permaišytas kultūrinis sluoksnis su gausiais XIV–XX a. radiniais (arbaleto strėlių antgaliais, monetomis, buitinės keramikos, langų stiklo šukėmis, koklių bei stogo čerpių duženomis ir kt.). Tirtose vietose iki XV a. susidaręs kultūrinis sluoksnis šioje vietoje vėliau statant bažnyčios pastatus ir įrengus šventoriuje kapines beveik visiškai sunaikintas. Didelė dalis kapų, buvusių tirtose vietose, yra suardyti vėlesnių laidojimų metu. Tyrimų metu aptikta 17 nesuardytų arba dalinai apardytų kapų. Sprendžiant pagal aptiktus radinius, perkasoje 1 aptikti kapai datuotini XVII– XVIII a., o perkasose 2 ir 3 – XV/XVI–XVII a. [...] [p. 274, 285].

ENIn 2014, a field evaluation (3 trial trenches, a total of 32.4 m2 ) and survey (a total of 184.8 m2 ) were conducted on the grounds of building complex of the Veliuona (Jurbarkas district) church. The churchyard of the church that stood in a former settlement at the foot of a hillfort was investigated. Junigeda (Veliuona) castle, which stood in Veliuona in 13th-14th centuries, was the target of many Teutonic Knight attacks. In 1421 Veliuona Parish was founded and a church erected at the site of the settlement at the foot of this castle. The current Veliuona church was built during 1636–1644. At many places in trench 1, the earth had been disturbed in digging grave pits. Older burials were frequently destroyed in burying the dead. Everywhere in the trench from a depth of 10–20 cm right down to sterile soil, mixed soil with abundant human bones from destroyed burials was recorded. Potsherds, stove and roof tile fragments, nails, glass vessel fragments, glass shards, lead window cames, 17th-20th century coins, a kaolin pipe stem, a 17th-19th century ceramic pipe bowl, several heel plates, and a socketed crossbow bolt head were discovered. A concentration of skulls and skull fragments was found in the trench. At a depth of 116–142 cm destroyed and undestroyed burials were discovered. Burial 1 (that of a 50–60 yearold male) contained a belt buckle and leather fragments; burial 2 (that of child 5 years of age±16 months) no grave goods, only two coffin nails; burials 3 (that of an infant of 9±3 months) no grave goods; burials 4 (that of a child 5 years of age±16 months) and 5 (that of a 40–45 yearold male) no grave goods, only coffin nails; and burial 7 (that of a 45–50 year-old male; a bronze religious medallion.Burial 8 (that of a 30–40 year old female) contained no coffin nails, but traces of wood were recorded; the individual had been interred in a hollowed-out log coffin. The burials discovered in trench 1 should be dated to the 17th–18th centuries. The pit that was filled with black charcoally soil and recorded at a depth of 1.8–2.35 m should be connected with the construction period (first half of the 17th century) of the current Veliuona church. Seven pits dug into the sterile soil were recorded at the W end of the trench 2. At least some of these pits are postholes that should be connected with the period of the church’s construction. 14th–17th centuries finds were discovered in the mixed soil: a crossbow bolt head, sherds of partly thrown pottery, and a sherd of a vessel made of lime faience. Burial 6 (that of a 35–40 year old male) contained a single grave good, a knife, as well as coffin nails. In burial 11, a GDL John II Casimir 1666 shilling (counterfeit) was discovered above the right femur. Burial 12 contained a child 2 years ± 8 months. The burials discovered in trench 2 can be dated to the 15th/16th–17th centuries. Trench 3 contained sherds of household pottery, glass shards, roof and stove tile fragments, nails, 15th/16th–17th centuries coins, and other finds mostly dating to the 15th-17th centuries: several iron knives and knife fragments, part of a decorated bone handle, fragments of bronze and silver ornaments, two iron needles, several flint flakes, a lead bullet, five belt buckles, etc. Grave goods that are characteristic of the 15th century and came from destroyed burials were also discovered: two bronze crotals, a whetstone, and a suspected iron purse fitting.Burial 15 (that of a 45–50 year-old male) contained a bronze rivet head or a fitting with a hole, a silver coin (Poland, Alexander Jagiellon, 1501-1506 halfgroat), and a knife; burial 16 coffin nails; and burial 17 (that of a 35–40 yearold male) coffin nails and a small silver ring. The burials discovered in trench 3 should be dated to the 15th/16th–17th centuries. 17 undestroyed or partially disturbed burials were also discovered during the excavation. Judging from the discovered finds, the burials discovered in trench 1 date to the 17th–18th centuries, those in trenches 2 and 3 to the 15th/16th-17th centuries. The individuals were oriented with their heads to the W (250–300º). Many had been interred nailed plank or hollowed-out log coffins. 23 bone concentrations and isolated skulls from destroyed burials (which were recorded) and isolated bones were also discovered. Cobblestone paving was recorded in the trenches dug alongside the church’s wall. The brick spread footing, which widened the foundation up to 30–35 cm, was discovered at a depth of 25–30 cm in many of these trenches. The trenches contained few finds, mostly hand-forged and factory nails, potsherds, roof and stove tile fragments, glass shards, tin scrap, and 17th–20th centuries coins but also an iron knife/dagger, candle wick scissors, small crosses, etc. Many of the roof tile fragments date to the 15th–16th centuries. The several fragments of Marseille roof tile that were also found date to the 19th-early 20th century. Such tiles were produced at Panevėžiukas manor (now Kaunas district). After the excavation’s end, the all 324 finds were given to the LNM. The VU Faculty of Medicine (doctoral candidate Justina Kozakaitė) conducted an anthropological analysis of the remains. The remains were reburied at the site of trench 3 in the churchyard of the Veliuona church.