Žemaičių bendruomenių teritorinė organizacija X–XII amžiuje

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Archeologija; Archeologiniai paminklai ir kompleksai; Geografija; Gyvenvietės; Hierarchinis statusas; 10 amžius; 11 amžius; 12 amžius; Statistinės, kvalimetrinės, kartografinės analizės metodai; Teritorinė organizacija; 10 amžius; 11 amžius; 12 amžius; Žemaitija (Samogitia); 10-12 cent.; Archaeology; Archeological sites and complexes; Geography; Hierarchic status; Lithuanian X-XII c. history; Samogitia; Statistical, qualimetric, cartographic analysis methods; Territorial organization; Villages.

ENThanks to a considerable increase in archaeological material and technological possibilities of processing such material, we have conditions for wider generalized studies. In this context, the need for inter-disciplinary researches has increased. This article presents analysis of the 10th–12th centuries settlement system in Samogitia using statistical, qualimetric and factorial cartographic analysis methods. Territorial spread of the 10th–12th centuries Samogitian communities and their territorial-administrative organization is analysed herein. The provisions of Centre–Periphery Theory have been used widely in this research. Based on archaeological objects, attributed to the 10th–12th centuries Samogitian database in Arc View 3.2a software environment, the archaeological objects of the mentioned period have been cartographed and joined into archaeological object complexes in the local territories. 104 Samogitian territorial communities of the 10th–12th centuries have been distinguished. Characteristic and parameters of the archaeological objects and the complexes thereof used by the territorial communities, were very uneven and can be taken as an evidence of different military and economic power. In the context of inter-tribal quarrels and attacks of aggressive Vikings, economic and, in particular, military power of the communities was at that time a very important characteristic of the community’s hierarchic status. Thus, weak communities could then hardly exist independently. In order to group territorial Samogitian communities of the 10th–12th centuries according to their power, a qualimetric analysis of archaeological objects and complexes used was performed. The all 104 Samogitian territorial communities of the 10th–12th centuries were divided into three hierarchic “weight” groups.Based on the three levels, the territorial-administrative systems of the 10th–12th centuries (village – castle district – small land) (which is proved by qualimetric analysis and existence whereof is accepted by the majority of the researchers of that period) and taking into consideration the territorial neighbourhood factor and peculiarities of geographical environment (hydrographic network, nature barriers (marshes, etc.)), 17 absolutely or partially sovereign small lands were distinguished. It should also be pointed out that the rudiments of the four-level territorialadministrative system began to develop in the western part of the region, i.e. Medininkai land nucleus (with Medvėgalis community in the centre). Not very comprehensive database and confinement to qualimetric evaluation and factorial territorial analysis of only the known archaeological objects, without attempting to relate the results achieved with the reconstructions of a slightly older (13th–14th centuries) historical lands in the territory of the Samogitia, are the main shortcomings of the research. An original methodology based on qualimetric analysis in the researches of archaic territory’s settlement system is an advantage of this research. [From the publication]

• Archeologija / Archaeology
• Istorija / History