Забытые захоронения солдат Российской империи первой половины XIX века в Вильнюсе

ENThe present article analyses the results of archaeological, anthropological, and historical researches on the mass graves of the servicemen of the Imperial Russian Army of the first half of the 19th century found in Rotundo Street and Mindaugo Street in Vilnius during archaeological excavations. The Russian servicemen who were brought to the territory of Lithuania to suppress the November Uprising (1830ñ31) were buried there. The cause of theÂdeaths of the servicemen and civilians who resided in Vilnius and were buried in mass graves was cholera epidemic, while some of them died from other diseases. The archaeological researches in Mindaugo Street covered 1360 square meters. They revealed 44 fully and partially preserved graves. The majority of the dead were buried separately in wooden coffins, however, group burials of 2 to 4 persons were found as well. Prior to burial, the remains were sprinkled with lime. There were very few items found in the graves, e.g., Orthodox cross necklaces and medallions. Only males were buried in the cemetery. A total of 70 persons, including the ones from the damaged graves, were found during the research. The majority of men were young and only 7 of them were older than 40 years of age. The archaeological excavations in Rotundo Street covered 1787 square meters that unearthed 56 graves with 85 skeletons (22 graves had 2 to 5 persons each). Many bones of single remains from damaged graves were collected as well. Unlike the graves in Mindaugo Street, some graves in Rotundo Street concealed copper buttons that were found in 10 graves. The buttons witness that the dead buried in Rotundo Street were dressed, unlike the ones buried in Mindaugo Street who were found in underwear.The majority of the buried were males of 20 to 40 years of age. The skeletons of 2 females and 8 children (from newborns to 10-year-olds) were identified as well. Besides servicemen, this cemetery could also shelter their family members and the citizens of Vilnius who died from cholera epidemics. Paleopathological findings were of particular interest. Some of the remains found in Rotundo Street had the traces of amputated legs and skull autopsies. During the excavations in Mindaugo Street, the traces of brucellosis, a rare disease in Lithuania, were found in human bones. Arm and leg bone fractures, skull traumas and other injuries were discovered in both mass graves. Written sources indicate that both locations were abandoned in the middle of the 19th century; furthermore, in the second half of the 19th century urban buildings emerged in those areas.