Šventosios 26 radimvietė
LT2022 m. gegužę-spalį buvo atlikti archeologiniai tyrimai Šventosios senovės gyvenvietėje, numatomo pakloti elektros kabelio vietoje, sparčiai užstatomame sklypų masyve buvusio Monciškės kaimo apylinkėse (dabar Palangos miestas). Kabelio trasa ėjo Jotvingių ir Latgalos gatvėmis, jos bendras ilgis 679 m. Ji suprojektuota Šventosios akmens amžiaus gyvenvietės R dalyje, buvusio ežero ar lagūnos pakrantėje. Iš ankstesnių archeologinių tyrimų buvo žinoma, kad trasa kirs akmens amžiaus gyvenvietę, kuri mokslinėje literatūroje vadinama Šventosios 26-ąja radimviete. Šios gyvenvietės ribose detaliaisiais tyrimais ištirta 70 m ilgio ir 1 m pločio perkasa. Likusioje trasos dalyje iškasta 30 1m2 dydžio šurfų, taip pat stebėti elektros kabelio tranšėjos kasimo darbai [p. 56].
ENA detailed excavation of a 70 x 1 m trench was carried out along a projected electrical cable path within the boundaries of the Šventoji 26 site. Thirty test pits (1 m2 each) were excavated along the remainder of the path, and trenching works were carefully monitored. Šventoji 26 was extensively investigated in the past: in 1966 and 1970-1971 by R. Rimantienė, and in 20022005 by V. Juodagalvis. Research showed that a Neolithic settlement with amber workshops was located in this area. The excavation in 2022 revealed that Stone Age camps were set up on a small sand dune, situated on the E edge of a silted body of water (lake or lagoon). The archaeological layer was formed both on the hill and on the shoreline, and finds therein may have been deposited from either the settlement on the hill or from stilt houses on the shore. Two distinctive stratigraphic layers separated by sapropel were distinguished along the shoreline. The excavation yielded the following finds: 896 fragments of pottery (2090 g); 492 (510 g) pieces of amber, including natural, unworked pieces; and 182 (580 g) flint artefacts. Bone and stone artefacts were also found. The shoreline was dominated by porous ware, while the hill was dominated by pit-comb pottery. Pottery typical of both Corded Ware and Globular Amphora cultures was also identified.The amber finds consisted mainly of manufacturing defects and waste, with almost no intact artefacts. Flint arrowheads typical of the Late Neolithic were found, as well as an imported schist arrowhead. The zooarchaeological material, comprised of game, marine mammal and numerous fish bones, was rather poorly preserved. The species identified include moose, wolf, seal and porpoise. The archaeological layer is very rich in burnt bones, distributed over a large area. Two bone artefacts were found in the lower layer. The bone from the upper layer dates to the end of the 4th millennium BC, and roughly corresponds to the turn of the Middle and Late Neolithic. The amber workshops and the pit-comb pottery should likely be attributed to this period as well. The porous ware found in the coastal area likely belongs to an earlier period.
