Bedugnės kapinynas

LT2012 m. gegužės mėnesį žvalgomieji tyrimai vykdyti Senųjų Trakų apylinkėse, Bedugnės kaime (Trakų r.) esančioje kalvoje. Vietovė yra 2,5 km į PR nuo Senųjų Trakų piliavietės, 150 m į PV nuo kelio, jungiančio Bedugnės ir Naujojo Tarpupio kaimus, ir 900 m į P nuo kelio Senieji Trakai–Šventininkai. Žvalgomųjų archeologinių tyrimų metu Bedugnės kaimui priklausančioje kalvoje ištirti 2 šurfai (šurfas 1-3x1 m, šurfas 2-1x1 m dydžio; iš viso 4 m2), metalo ieškikliais žvalgytas apie 9000 m2 plotas kalvos viršuje ir papėdėje (detaliau-kalvos vidurinė dalis). Šurfai tirti vidurinėje, kiek įdubusioje kalvos dalyje, metalo ieškikliu užčiuoptų signalų koncentracijose. Metalo ieškikliais nuolat tikrintas tirtų šurfų plotas ir kibirais ant polietileno plėvelės perneštų iškastų žemių krūvos. Siekiant surinkti pavienius degintinius kauliukus ir smulkius keramikos fragmentus, tirtų šurfų velėna trupinta rankomis. Šurfo 2 žemės sijotos 3x3 mm tankio siete. Aptiktas apardytas kultūrinis sluoksnis su geležies ir žalvario dirbiniais, smulkiomis keramikos šukėmis ir degintiniais kaulais šurfe 1 siekė iki 24 cm, šurfe 2-iki 36–44 cm storį. Bedugnėje aptiktų radinių analogijos Vidurio ir Pietryčių Lietuvos bei Vakarų Baltarusijos degintiniuose kapinynuose rodo XIII–XIV a. Lietuvos valstybės centre įsigalėjusį mirusiųjų deginimo paprotį ir tyrinėtojus grąžina prie valstybinės religijos klausimo. Dėl šio laidojimo paminklo unikalumo ir mokslinės vertės (Lietuvos viduramžių laidojimo papročių tyrimai, galimos sąsajos su Senųjų Trakų piliaviete) Bedugnės kapinyno tyrimus būtina tęsti. [...] [p. 170, 176-177].

ENIn 2012, a field evaluation was conducted on a hill in Bedugnė village (Trakai district) in the vicinity of Senieji Trakai. During it, two test pits (a total of 4 m2) were excavated in the central part of the hill and a metal detector survey was conducted in an area of around 9000 m2 on top of the hill and at its foot. A 24–44 cm thick destroyed cultural layer with iron and bronze artefacts, small potsherds and cremated bones was discovered. The hill has been disturbed by ploughing. The cremated bones were scattered and no concentration was recorded. Test pit 1 contained pit 1, in which two sherds of hand built pottery and a few cremated bones were found. Test pit 2 contained a 45–60 cm wide bowl-shaped pit with humus with small and large pieces of charcoal as well as a rich find assemblage of charred warrior-rider gear: 2 socketed spearheads, a knife with a push tang, a broad axe, 3 belt buckles, 2 spurs with flat heel bands, 2 spur strap fasteners (?), 2 stirrups and a bridle bit with a jointed mouthpiece, curbs, and decorations. Just 3.7 g of cremated bones were discovered in the pit and therefore these finds are considered to be a sacrifice rather than grave goods. The finds had been placed in the middle of a cairn made of small stones. 109 special finds, i.e. cremation grave goods, were discovered during the investigation.The finds are divided into weapons (4 sword pommels, a cross-guard, a chape, 4 socketed spearheads, 2 spearhead blades, a broad axe, 2 arrowheads), armour (20 mail rings and 7 plates), equestrian gear (2 stirrups, 3 spurs, 2 spur strap fasteners (?), 2 horse bells, a bridle bit with a jointed mouthpiece, curbs, and decorations), tools (5 knives with push tangs, 2 knife pieces, a fire striker, 2 awls, a needle, a jeweller’s chisel), ornaments (pieces of a bracelet and a ring, 3 crotals, a diamond-shaped pendant), clothing (5 belt buckles, 2 belt fittings), household (part of a razor, a pouch fitting, a small weight), and miscellaneous finds (a small loop, a hand-forged nail, 8 metal decorations). The test pits contained 4 flint finds, a piece of burnt clay, 19 sherds of hand built pottery with smooth and brushed surfaces and partly thrown and hand thrown glazed pottery. Several sherds of partly thrown pottery had been burnt in a fire, showing that they had been in a funeral pyre. 40.9 g of cremated bones were collected. The remains of at least one individual over the age of 20 were identified. A medieval burial site, Bedugnė cremation cemetery, which had been unknown up until then, was discovered during the field evaluation. The finds discovered during the investigation, i.e. cremation grave goods, allow it to be dated to the 13th–14th centuries. Some of the finds had been burnt in a funeral pyre. The weapons, the armour, and the equestrian gear found in the cemetery, their luxuriousness (signs of silver having been noted in some finds), and the short distance to Senieji Trakai allow one to conjecture that the cemetery was a burial site for the hillfort’s warriors.