Archaeologia Baltica

The purpose of the article is to determine the typological characteristics of decoration of the delmonas of Lithuania Minor and of the national costume pockets of neighbouring nations. This article discusses Klaipėda region delmonas, the pockets of Estonian, Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian costume, and the attachable pockets of noble class’s attire of various nations preserved in museums. The decorations of the pockets were studied to support or refute the influence of the fashion of nobility and of international relations on folk costume decor formation and change. The research allowed to identify the decorating techniques, pattern variation and matching features of the pockets.

Iron metallurgy in Lithuania has been a little-researched theme so far. More attention has been paid to smithery (Stankus) and iron smelting technologies (Navasaitis), but not much is known about the archaeological finds of iron smelting equipment, their functions, and interconnectedness. Archaeological research of the last few decades in the Kereliai hill-fort (Kupiškis district), Lieporiai (Šiauliai), Kernavė (Širvintai), Bakšiai (Alytus), Žardė (Klaipėda) and Virbaliūnai (Kaunas) settlements, as well as the Lazdininkai (Kretinga) cemetery, has afforded much new data to investigate the iron smelting occupation, and has provided the opportunity to examine more broadly and deeply the problem of iron metallurgy in Lithuania. Iron metallurgy’s research objective includes iron smelting equipment, tools, and the products of manufacture. The sources of research are the iron smelting archaeological finds stored in museums, archaeological research documentation, and reference as well as scientific publications. Part 1 of this article is devoted to an analysis of the archaeological finds related to the preparatory stage of iron smelting and the making of charcoal. Iron ore has been found in Baitai (Klaipėda district), Lieporiai, Norkūnai (Prienai), Lavoriškės (Vilnius) and Krūminiai (Varėna). Roasted ore was additionally found in Varnupiai (Marijampolė) and Lieporiai. Ore washing equipment, roasting pits and crushing tools were found only in Lieporiai. It was established that the hydrated ore in Lieporiai was mined in an open fashion, washed with well water on a wooden flooring, and roasted in open fires in shallow pits. Flat rocks and ground stone were used for crushing and grinding it (comminution). Charcoal for the iron smelting was made in round pits or stacks (Lieporiai, Žygmantiškės).