Skapiškio valsčiaus archeologinis paveldas. Kerelių piliakalnis

LTŽinios apie buvusio Skapiškio valsčiaus archeologinį paveldą kauptos atsitiktinai, bendromis valstybinėmis programomis ir išskirtinai apie Kerelių piliakalnį - konkrečiai šio krašto priešistorės pažinimui skirtais archeologiniais tyrinėjimais. Dėl to netolygiai reprezentatyvūs krašto ir atskirai Kerelių piliakalnio vietovės duomenys verčia į Skapiškio valsčiaus archeologinį paveldą žvelgti dvejopai. Aptarus visas žinomas Skapiškio valsčiaus archeologines vietoves ir teritorijoje aptiktus radinius, straipsnyje detaliau nagrinėjamos Kerelių piliakalnio tyrimų suteiktos žinios ir jomis remiantis apžvelgiama krašto raida. Praėjus trečdaliui amžiaus po Kerelių piliakalnio tyrimų, jų suteiktos žinios iki šiol yra reikšmingos Lietuvos archeologijoje: išsamiai ištirta aikštelė atskleidė retas galimybes nagrinėti priešistorės gyventojų gyvenamosios vietos organizavimą ir gynybines strategijas. Svarbu ir tai, kad iki šiol piliakalnio archeologiniai duomenys detaliau nagrinėti tik Elenos Grigalavičienės1, todėl iki šiol trūko kritiškesnio žvilgsnio į juos. [Iš straipsnio, p. 109]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Piliakalniai; Archeologija; Valsčiai; Archaeology; Hillforts.

ENThe archaeological heritage of Skapiškis district as a collection from at least 10 different archaeological sites and finding places is stored in the Lithuanian National Museum, as well as Kaunas Vytautas Magnus Military and Kupiškis Ethnographic museums. There are also messages about 6 more potential archaeological sites. The earliest findings, stone axes, reach the times of the Neolithic/ Bronze ages. Iron Age heritage has been found at the Vaduvos Village, as a neckring (tore) with conical ends; finds of the same period have been also detected in the islands of Lake Mituva, which were the activity zones of a nearby larger settlement. Traces of iron metallurgy have been found in one of these islands. From the heritage of historical times, there is only the Čivai gravesite dated as the 17th century and investigated in detail by Stasys Juodelis. There are two approved hillforts in the area of the former rural area of Skapiškis; one of them is Kereliai, which attracted more attention of researchers. In 1984-1985, Elena Grigalavičienė has investigated nearly entire plot of the hilltop top, while Andra Simniškytė in 2001 explored all the environs; and the data have also been mainly collected about the prehistory of the area of the former Skapiškis rural district. The Kereliai hillfort had been formed at a certain time from the 8th to the 4th centuries BC (there are no data for adjusting the dating). The community inhabiting it made things of bone, stone and clay, but the archaeological collection contains also clay moulds for making bronze articles. One of most expressive articles produced there might be a bronze axe of Mälar-type made under the Scandinavian influence.At that time, sedentary communities were engaged mainly in agriculture and husbandry, while hunting had not been important for the local communities. It was more important to protect the collected food stores and domestic animals, because the survival of the community in winter depended on this. It may be that due to such circumstances, the community decided to settle on the hill surrounded by swamps. Later, after a break of nearly half thousand years, the Kereliai hillfort was inhabited again during the initial ages of AD. At that time, the hill was better fortified, a 2 m wide and 0.5 m deep ditch was dug, moreover a wooden barrier of hammered 30-cm diameter poles was made and reinforced with stones. The local community had already fully mastered metal technologies. A forge for coloured metallurgy, as well as remains of a bloomery for iron metallurgy has been detected there. Such iron instruments as knives-razors are typical of that period; and the clothes were being worn with iron pins.Concluding, at the first half of the 1st millennium AD, many changes and rather active development of the society have been fixed in the area discussed. One of the most impressive changes is a new type of burials: the mounds with stone wreaths of stones, a tradition that came from adjacent lands, of course. Possibly, conflicts between neighbouring communities were rising; therefore, in mid-1st millennium, the hillfort was fortified again with even now seen ramparts and new wooden defence system. According to the archaeologist who investigated this hillfort, burnt material found in the upper layer of the hill might be a reflection of a fire broken out, after which people left the hillfort. However, people inhabiting the environs remained. The 10th century hoard found nearby contained a glass bead dated as the beginning of the 2nd millennium and a cross plating of a later period. The hillfort is important for local people up to now; it is one of the most impressive sites of memory in the area of Skapiškis. [From the publication]