Archaeologia Lituana ISSN 1392-6748 eISSN 2538-8738

2025, vol. 26, p. 10–11

Preface

We present the 26th volume (2025) of Archaeologia Lituana, a continuous, annual, peer-reviewed diamond open access scientific publication.

Archaeologia Lituana is intended for the Lithuanian and international scientific community, specialists from museums and heritage institutions, archaeology students, and anyone interested in archaeology and prehistory. The publication features scientific archaeological articles on various topics, prepared not only by researchers from the Archaeology Department at Vilnius University, but also by Lithuanian and foreign scientists.

We are pleased to announce that, from now on, all articles received and positively reviewed will be immediately posted online on Vilnius University Press website dedicated to this journal1. At the end of the year, all texts accepted for publication are traditionally published in a printed annual volume.

This year, we have received confirmation from the Research Council of Lithuania that the publication of the journal Archaeologia Lituana will continue to be funded from the state budget from 2025 to 2027, in accordance with the implementation of the Programme for Implementing the Priority of Lithuanian Studies for 2025–2030 of the Research Council of Lithuania.

The publication is registered in the following international scientific databases: BASE, Cabell’s directories of Academic Journals, CORE, Dimensions, DOAJ Seal, EBSCO, ERIH PLUS, Google Scholar (h5-index 3, g5-index 3), JournalTOCs, Lituanistika, MIAR, QOAM, ROAD, Redalyc, ScienceGate, ScienceOpen, Scilit, Sherpa Romeo, and Scopus.

This 26th volume presents research on a range of topics.

Prof. Dr. Eugenijus Jovaiša, member of the journal’s editorial board, examines the ‘Sudinians’ mentioned in Roman sources of the 2nd century AD, specifically, by Claudius Ptolemy, in his Geography. Based on data from various sciences, E. Jovaiša analyzes whether the location of the Sudinians corresponds to the place indicated by Ptolemy and what cultural connections link them to the Danubian Antiquity and other Aestian tribes.

Research on the castle territories of Vilnius Kalnai Park is continued by the works of Darius Kontrimas, which analyze the topography of the Vilnius city foundation legend and the territory of the Crooked Castle (Kreivoji pilis) destroyed in 1390. Dr. Atas Žvirblys presents the archaeological research carried out in Vilnius, at Kosciuškos Street 1. Wooden buildings from the early 14th century were excavated, and their dendrochronological dates were obtained. Additionally, 2,292 finds were discovered and transferred to the museum. A wealth of zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical material was examined (Laura Banionytė, Rūta Karaliūtė). The Scientific Archaeology Commission recognized a detailed archaeological research report by A. Žvirblys as the most informative archaeological report of 2024.

Doc. Dr. Egidijus Šatavičius, Liudvikas Vasiliauskas, and Zenonas Baubonis published the results of Stone Age research on the shores of the Valiūniškiai lake (Slabada and Būda settlements).

Dr. Mantas Valančius upon defending his doctoral dissertation in 2025 and taking up a position at the Department of Archaeology, presents innovative insights into Iron Age pottery production technologies based on macroscopic, petrographic, and chemical data.

Matas Bodrijė, a Master’s student in archaeology, analyzes the problems of identifying Iron Age smithing sites in Lithuanian archaeology.

Rūta Karaliūtė, Dr. Žygimantas Buržinskas, Dr. Elina Ananyevskaya, Prof. Dr. Giedrė Motuzaitė Matuzevičiūtė examine the agro-economic system in the early 13th–14th-century towns of Southeastern Lithuania, based on the example of Merkinė.

Irina Olevska-Kairisa discusses crimes against archaeological heritage and their impact on heritage specialists.

Foreign colleagues present the results of research on Egyptian crocodile mummies found in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, which is a unique and little-known subject.

Archaeologia Lituana is an annual scientific publication of the Department of Archaeology at the Faculty of History of Vilnius University, which traditionally presents the most important works of the year. We are glad to announce that, in 2025, 23 students enrolled in the Bachelor’s program in archaeology (compared to 15 in 2023 and 18 in 2024). Meanwhile, 7 students chose the Master’s study program in archaeology (in comparison to 6 in 2023 and 8 in 2024). Seven doctoral students are currently studying at the department.

The modular archaeology study programs have been updated and revised. The highly successful cooperation with the National Museum of Lithuania, where practical classes are held in its archaeology collections, is still continuing to bear fruit. In 2025, a significant portion of the department’s publications and sources were inventoried, and the list is continually updated2.

The department staff are participating in seven projects funded by the Research Council of Lithuania and other foundations. Of particular importance is the Horizon ERC-2022-COG project Milways (2023–2028), led by Prof. Dr. Giedrė Motuzaitė-Matuzevičiūtė Keen.

On September 25–27, 2025, in collaboration with the National Museum – the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and the Lithuanian Institute of History, an international conference titled “Archaeological Journeys in Time” was organized. The conference was dedicated to the 120th anniversary of Dr. Habil. Jonas Puzinas, the 100th anniversary of Dr. Habil. Adolfas Tautavičius, and the 90th anniversary of Dr. Habil. Vytautas Urbanavičius. The scientific part of the conference took place at the Faculty of History and the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. Presentations were given by scientists from Latvia, Poland, and Lithuania. Articles based on the presentations will be published in a special conference publication.

Albinas Kuncevičius
Agnė Žilinskaitė