Studies into the Balts’ Sacred Places Vykintas Vaitkevičius Lithuanian Institute of History BAR International Series 1228 2004 British Archaeological Reports are published by John and Erica Hedges Ltd and by Archaeopress This volume has been published by: John and Erica Hedges Ltd British Archaeological Reports 7 Longworth Road Oxford OX2 6RA England Tel/Fax +44(0)1865 511560 E-mail:
[email protected] www.barhedges.com Enquiries regarding the submission of manuscripts for future publication may be sent to the above address Do look at the web site which has a list of all BARs in print. BAR S1228 Studies into the Balts’ Sacred Places © Vykintas Vaitkevičius 2004. Volume Editor: John W Hedges Printed in England by Biddles Ltd ISBN 1 84171 356 2 All BAR titles available from: Hadrian Books 122 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7BP England E-mail:
[email protected] www.hadrianbooks.co.uk The current BAR catalogue with details of all titles in print, prices and means of payment, is available free from Hadrian Books or access web site All volumes are distributed by Hadrian Book Ltd Translation: Dalia Minkutė Copy-editor: Jane Anson Layout: Aneta Ščepkauskaitė Review: Dr Audronė Bliujienė, Dr Vytautas Kazakevičius Vykintas Vaitkevièius. Studies into the Balts sacred places Preface Balts sacred places, the old common name of which is alkai, are one of the most interesting monument groups. They have not been properly protected or investigated for many years for various reasons: ideological, methodological, and finan- cial. A sacred place is not only a hill or a stone. Usually they have their own names and are shrouded in place-legends and be- liefs.