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Archaeological collection

 

One of the oldest collection in the Panevėžys Local Lore Museum is the Archaeological Collection, its formation is a significant part of the museum’s history. Collection and preservation of archaeological exhibits in the museum began since the establishment of the museum. The foundation of this collection was the personal collections of the members of the Society for the Study of the Homeland: teacher J. Elisonas, notary J. Moigys, teachers P. Bliumas and P. Butėnas, donated to Panevėžys Local Lore Museum established in 1925. Most of the collection was assembled with the help of the students. At that time, the collection consisted of about 500 finds. In the exploration of archaeological monuments of Panevėžys region during the interwar period, including famous scientists: P. Puzinas, P. Tarasenka, E. Volteris, participated employees of Panevėžys Museum A. Banelis and A. Kasperavičius, who stored individual finds in the museum.

 

The first archaeological digs of demolished burial monuments in Uliūnai and Paželvaičiai were organized by the Panevėžys Local Lore Museum in 1959–1960. (supervisor D. Andrašiūnaitė). As of 1975, the museum's archeology collection has been formed and supervised by Alfreda Petrulienė, a long-term employee of the Panevėžys Local Lore Museum, an archaeologist and real estate heritage protection specialist, who has studied over 40 heritage sites of Aukštaitija, and has accumulated for the museum a larger part of the collection - more than one and a half thousand archaeological finds of various periods. Under her initiative, the archeological collection was managed professionally and systematically. The finds were selected according to groups, types, then preserved, and detailed inventory descriptions, files, drawings of the findings were compiled, and the fund of archaeological reports was accumulated. Archeological monuments significant for the national culture were researched individually and together with Lithuanian archaeologists in Panevėžys region: Tarnagala mound, Pašiliai, Tiltagaliai, Berčiūnai, Pajuostis burial mounds, Barinė, Baroniškiai – Jutiškės, Kučiai – Linoniai, Užkalniai, Drąseikiai, Upytė, Panevėžys and other cemeteries. The material of the studied cemeteries is stored in the archeological collection.

 

Currently, the archeological collection contains nearly 4,000 exhibits. Almost half of them are Stone Age and Bronze Age work tools and weapons. An inventory of flint articles (axes, scythes, split, special purpose items), which has come from the vicinity of Panevėžys: Karsakiškis, Pukiškis, Uoginiai, Piniava, etc. is stored in the department. The exclusive collection of the set is stone axes, about 500 pieces of them have been collected. Recently, the archeological collection was supplemented by finds from the cemetery of Panevėžys Old Town, the historical part of the city, and the manors of Panevėžys region. The collection of finds of 16th c. – early 18th c. from Panevėžys city old cemetery, consists of 626 protected exhibits. They consist of 341 coin, costume accessories (138 pcs.), symbolic grave goods (rings, god depictions, etc., 67 pcs.), household items (knives, razors, 33 pcs.). A significant part of the collection consists of the findings from the latest archaeological dig of the the historical part of Panevėžys city (old town) of 17th – 19th centuries: fragments and shards of pottery bowls, pots, dishes, tiles, household utensils, and coins. The stored exhibits of the archeological collection are preserved, and undergone restoration and accounting.

 

 

Pictures:

 

1. Flint polished axes, 2900–1700 BC

2. Narrow blade bearded axe, 5th – 8th c.

3. Band bracelet with widening ends, 18th – 11th c.

4. Double-ended belt

5. Ort of Jonas Kazimieras, Poland, 1668

6. Glassware found in Panevėžys new area of the city, 19th – early 20th c.