Laima Vaitkunskienė
Lithuanian archaeologist
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Laima Vaitkunskienė (born 13 September 1936)[1] is a Lithuanian medieval archaeologist, who specialises in the study of burial practices. She has led extensive and numerous excavations, and led on the study of amber in the region.
Laima Vaitkunskienė | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 13, 1936 |
| Occupation | Archaeologist |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | Vilnius University |
| Thesis | (1967) |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Medieval archaeology |
| Institutions | Lithuanian Institute for Historical Research |
Biography
Born in Rokiškis, Vaitkunskienė graduated in 1956 with a degree in history and philology from Vilnius University. After graduation she worked for the Šiauliai Aušra Museum, before beginning work at the Institute of History in 1957.[1]
From 1958 to 1959, she led excavations at the Juodoniai Hillfort and settlement, in partnership with the Rokiškis Regional Museum.[2] She also led excavations at several burial sites, including: Bandužiai, Jurgaičiai, Kaštaunaliai, Pagrybis, Žąsinas and Žviliai cemeteries.[3] She was awarded a PhD in 1967.[1] Her work at Pagrybis investigated a cemetery dating to the 5th to 6th centuries CE, where she interpreted the site as showing an increased militarisation during the period they were in use.[4] The excavations at Žąsinas were undertaken between 1976 and 1979, and resulted in the exploration of Samogitian burial practice from the 10th to 12th centuries.[5] Her excavations at Žviliai were published in 1999 and described barrow use and burial goods deposited there.[6]
Vaitkunskienė also studied comb-shaped pendants from the region, made from amber, and connected their production to the Lithuanian mythology.[7] Her study of amber also led her to the conclusion that its use was restricted not just by its rarity, but by social and spiritual prohibitions.[8]
Selected works
- Vaitkunskienė, Laima. Sidabras senovės Lietuvoje. Mokslas, 1981.
- Vaitkunskienė, Laima. "Senovės Šilališkių šventiniai drabužiai." Šilalės kraštas/sudarytojas Edvardas Vidmantas. Lietuvos kraštotyros draugija, 1994. 26–38.
- Vaitkunskienė, Laima. "Archeologiniai šaltiniai apie mirusiųjų minėjimo apeigas (XIV–XVI a.)." (2016).