Trakų Švč. Mergelės Marijos Apsilankymo bažnyčia ir šventorius

LTAnksčiau Trakų bažnyčioje didelės apimties archeologiniai tyrinėjimai nevykdyti – 1999 m. žvalgyta dujotiekio įvado į zakristiją vietoje (. isauskaitė), 2003 (. Kvizikevičius) ir 2006 m. (B. Lisauskaitė) vykdyti žvalgymai elektros tinklų trasų vietose. Kadangi trasų projektinis gylis tebuvo 50–80 cm, šventoriuje palaidotųjų kapai nepasiekti. Žvalgymų metu aptikta pavienių X–XX a. radinių. 2008 m. tyrinėjimų projekte buvo numatyta ištirti iki 30–40 cm sluoksnį po bažnyčios grindimis, pasirinktinai ištirti 100 m2 plotą pastato viduje iki įžemio, nustatant statybos etapus. Šventoriuje planuota ištirti 2 m pločio juostą iki įžemio aplink visą bažnyčios pastatą, kad būtų hidroizoliuoti pamatai, bei ištirti komunalinių trasų vietas [p. 270].

ENThe Trakai parish church was founded in 1409. The earliest image of the church is known from approximately 1600. In the early 17th century the church was reconstructed and during 1663–1667 repaired. An excavation was conducted in preparation for the current repairs to the church. 100 m2 was excavated in the presbytery, where a 17th-century floor was unearthed and the burials under it. The majority of the burials were without grave goods, but wooden coffins, in cluding painted examples, survived in some of them. Various 17th-century finds were discovered in some burials: coins, rosaries, religious medals, and other individual grave goods. The remains of three crypts were discovered between the church’s wall and the altar. The earliest burial among those found in the presbytery dates to the mid-15th century on the basis of a coin. Some of the finds were collected by sieving the earth between the burials. The remains of the deceased discovered during the excavation were reburied in the church after the investigation.The excavation was conducted to a depth of 30–40cm in the remaining parts of the church building. ore than ten crosses, rings, and religious medals as well as more than two hundred diverse coins were found by sieving, so far unknown basements were discovered, and fragments of 17th-century paving were unearthed. A total area of 577 m2 was excavated (96 m2 down to sterile soil) and 82 burials found during the excavation in the church. Ten trenches were excavated in the churchyard around the entire perimeter of the church and another trench excavated at the site of a storm drain. A total of 501 m2 was excavated here down to sterile soil or to the projected depth of 1.5 m and 372 burials were found. The absolute majority of the individuals were buried with the head to the W. The majority of the burials here also contained no grave goods, but 15th–17th-century burials were found with various grave goods (the majority rings) and even a fighting knife. The remains of a fence and chapel foundations were also discovered in the churchyard.