Vilkiautinis – Archaeological Traces in the Surroundings

In the immediate vicinity of Vilkiautinis lie a prehistoric settlement and burial mound fields, dated to the period from the 5th to the 12th century. For travelers who also choose a destination for its historical connections, this provides a tangible point of reference. The archaeological evidence raises various questions: When are the sites dated, how do the grave goods differ, and what shape did a burial mound field have?

Dating the Settlement and Burial Mound Fields

The ancient settlement of Vilkiautinis dates to the second half of the first millennium. The dating of the burial mound fields and the prehistoric settlement covers the period from the 5th to the 12th century overall. Thus, the more precise dating of the settlement sits alongside the broader time frame of the archaeological sites: it dates one part of that period more precisely and makes the different chronological scales clear.

Burials and Grave Goods

The dead were cremated and buried in both burial mound fields. In the first field, grave goods included spearheads and combat knives, brooches and rings, as well as fragments of equipment for riders and horses. The second burial mound field was discovered in 1996. There, too, the dead were cremated and buried; grave goods included spearheads, axes and a shield boss, fragments of equipment for riders and horses, as well as pottery fragments. The two groups of finds have cremation burials, spearheads, and equipment fragments in common. Combat knives, brooches, and rings are among the grave goods from the first field; the second also yielded axes, a shield boss, and pottery fragments.

The Elongated Vilkiautinio pilkapynas

One burial mound field in the immediate vicinity is called Vilkiautinio pilkapynas. It was elongated and measured 40 to 100 meters long, 4 meters wide, and 0.6 meters high. Even the shortest stated length is therefore ten times its width. These measurements illustrate its elongated, low profile and complement the dating with a concrete description of its shape.

Finds and Their Storage

Finds from the burial mound fields and the prehistoric settlement of Vilkiautinis are held at the Lietuvos nacionalinis muziejus and the Warsaw Archaeological Museum. This makes it possible to distinguish the archaeological sites in the immediate vicinity from the two collections where finds are kept. Provenance and storage are part of the same history of the finds, but refer to different places.

If you also choose a travel destination for its historical connections, Vilkiautinis offers a specific archaeological focus in the surrounding area. The more precise dating of the settlement and the different grave goods provide distinct points of reference for understanding the sites. When searching for a hotel in Vilkiautinis, these historical connections can be part of your decision about the destination.

Discover more destinations: Kibyšiai, Pamusiai, Genionys, Roduka, Marcinkonių seniūnija, Viršurodukis, Merkinė

For the broader travel overview: Varėna District Municipality.