ROMAN IRON AGE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN THE MICRO-REGION OF THE LOWER REACHES OF THE RIVER ŠVENTOJI. ARCHIVAL STUDIES AND OTHER INVESTIGATIONS

Abstract

The micro-region of the lower reaches of the River Sventoji in the Roman Iron Age falls into the range of flat cemeteries surrounded by stone circles. The territory to the north of the River Sventoji is considered the periphery of this culture, which has characteristic burial rites, one of which is the absence of stone circles. This peripheral culture in the territory of Latvia is described by using the results of the Mazkatuži (Rucava parish) cemetery investigations. The surviving research material and archival data about artefacts found in the lower reaches of the River Sventoji allow us to review and revise the data about burial rites and settlement structures in Kurzeme during the Roman Iron Age. Key words: southwest Latvia, migro-region, periphery of graves surrounded by stone circles, burial rites, Mazkatuži (Rucava parish) cemetery, Roman Iron Age. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15181/ ab.v1i0.1136