EA E A ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN ESTONIA 1865 – 2005 IN ESTONIA RESEARCH ARCHAEOLOGICAL A R E – Archaeological Research in Estonia 1865 – 2005 ea.indb 1 27.02.2006 23:17:25 ea.indb 2 27.02.2006 23:17:43 Estonian Archaeology 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN ESTONIA 1865 – 2005 Tartu University Press Humaniora: archaeologica ea.indb 3 27.02.2006 23:17:43 Official publication of the Chair of Archaeology of the University of Tartu Estonian Archaeology Editor-in-Chief: Valter Lang Editorial Board: Anders Andrén University of Stockholm, Sweden Bernhard Hänsel Freie Universität Berlin, Germany Volli Kalm University of Tartu, Estonia Aivar Kriiska University of Tartu, Estonia Mika Lavento University of Helsinki, Finland Heidi Luik Tallinn University, Estonia Lembi Lõugas Tallinn University, Estonia Yevgeni Nosov University of St. Petersburg Jüri Peets Tallinn University, Estonia Klavs Randsborg University of Copenhagen, Denmark Jussi-Pekka Taavitsainen University of Turku, Finland Andres Tvauri University of Tartu, Estonia Heiki Valk University of Tartu, Estonia Andrejs Vasks University of Latvia, Latvia Vladas Žulkus University of Klaipeda, Lithuania Estonian Archaeology, 1 Archaeological Research in Estonia 1865–2005 Editors: Valter Lang and Margot Laneman English editors: Alexander Harding, Are Tsirk and Ene Inno Lay-out of maps: Marge Konsa and Jaana Ratas Lay-out: Meelis Friedenthal © University of Tartu and the authors, 2006 ISSN 1736-3810 ISBN-10 9949-11-233-8 ISBN-13 978-9949-11-233-3 Tartu University Press www.tyk.ee Order no. 159 ea.indb 4 27.02.2006 23:17:43 Contents Contributors 7 Editorial 9 Part I. General Trends in the Development of Archaeology in Estonia Th e History of Archaeological Research (up to the late 1980s). V. Lang 13 Estonian Archaeology from 1991–2005. M. Konsa 41 Part II. Research into the Prehistoric and Historical Periods Research into the Stone Age. A. Kriiska 53 Research into the Bronze and Early Iron Ages. V. Lang 77 Investigation of the Middle Iron Age. A. Tvauri 105 Research into the Late Iron Age. A. Mäesalu and H. Valk 127 Medieval Archaeology of the European Context: Towns, Churches, 159 Monasteries and Castles. E. Russow, H. Valk, A. Haak, A. Pärn and A. Mäesalu Post-Medieval Archaeology in Estonia. E. Russow 193 Medieval and Post-Medieval Archaeology of the Native Rural Population. 205 H. Valk Part III. Collections and the Conservation of Archaeological Heritage Th e Establishment of Archaeological Collections in Estonia and their 225 Current Situation. A. Tvauri Th e Formation of the Numismatic Collections of the Institute of History. 239 M. Kiudsoo Th e Conservation of Archaeological Heritage in Estonia. A. Tvauri 247 293 Part IV. Some Special Fields in Archaeological Research Scientifi c Methods in Estonian Archaeology. A. Kriiska and L. Lõugas 269 - 5 - ea.indb 5 27.02.2006 23:17:43 CONTENTS Settlement and Landscape Archaeology in Estonia. V. Lang 293 Investigation of Underwater Heritage in Estonia. M. Roio 301 Archaeology, Oral Tradition and Traditional Culture. H. Valk 311 References 317 Abbreviations 367 Index of Personal Names 371 Index of Archaeological Sites 379 - 6 - ea.indb 6 27.02.2006 23:17:43 Contributors Arvi Haak (MA student) works as an archaeolo- settlement and landscape archaeology, the history gist at the Museum of Viljandi. His main scien- of agriculture and land use systems, and the social tifi c interests include the medieval town and castle structures of prehistoric society. He has published of Viljandi, the Latest Iron Age and the medieval two monographs on prehistoric settlement in north- period in south-western Estonia. He has published ern Estonia (Lang 1996; 2000a), 120 articles on dif- 16 articles. ferent topics in archaeology, and edited a number of books on archaeology. Mauri Kiudsoo (MA student) is Keeper of the Numismatic Collection in the Institute of History at Lembi Lõugas (PhD) is Head of the Laboratory Tallinn University. His main areas of research are of Geoarchaeology and Ancient Technology in the in medieval and early modern times, hoards and Institute of History at Tallinn University. Her main monetary circulation, ornaments, the reasons for research area involves the history of fauna (par- depositing hoards, etc. He has published 23 articles ticularly fi sh and marine mammals) in Estonia and on these topics. northern Europe. On these topics she has published her doctoral thesis (Lõugas 1997) and 42 articles. Marge Konsa (MA student) works as a technician, researcher and teacher at the University of Tartu. Ain Mäesalu (MA) is Lecturer of Archaeology at Her fi elds of activity are the archaeology of death, the University of Tartu. His main interests in archae- culture and society, and digital methods in archae- ology are medieval weaponry, glasses, and the his- ology. She has published 30 articles. tory of late prehistoric hillforts and medieval towns and castles (particularly Otepää and Tartu). He has Aivar Kriiska (PhD) is Associate Professor of published 50 articles on these topics. In addition, Archaeology at the University of Tartu. His main he is the author of a number of popular-scientifi c areas of research are the Stone Age in Estonia and reviews and school books. neighbouring areas, especially from the point of view of the development of settlement, economy Maili Roio (MA student) works as a maritime and technology. He has published a monograph on archaeologist at the National Heritage Board. Her Stone Age settlement and economic processes in main area of research is historical settlement and Estonian coastal areas and islands (Kriiska 2001c), the exploitation of lakes in southern Estonia. She as well as 60 articles on different topics in archae- has published two articles about lake dwellings. ology and also some popular-scientifi c reviews and school books. Anton Pärn (PhD student) is Undersecretary for Cultural Heritage in the Ministry of Culture. His Valter Lang (PhD) is Professor of Archaeology at main areas of interest are medieval urban archae- the University of Tartu. His main areas of research ology (incl. the development of early urban settle- are the Bronze and Early Iron Ages in Estonia, ments, town planning and defence structures, build- - 7 - ea.indb 7 27.02.2006 23:17:43 Contributors ings and issues of the hinterland). He has published Tartu (Tvauri 2001a) and another on Late Iron Age 40 articles on different topics in archaeology and ceramics in Estonia (Tvauri 2005). He has recently heritage conservation. begun to study questions of industrial archaeology. Erki Russow (PhD student) is Research Fellow in Heiki Valk (PhD) is Head of the Kabinet of Archae- the Institute of History at Tallinn University. His ology and Senior Research Fellow at the University main research interests are medieval and post-medi- of Tartu. He is mainly involved in the study of the eval pottery, urban archaeology, historical archae- Late Iron Age and the medieval and post-medieval ology in Europe, and the history of consumption. rural archaeology of southern Estonia, including the He has recently published a monograph on medi- earlier history of the town of Viljandi. His studies eval and post-medieval imported pottery in western concern burial customs, religious syncretism, popu- Estonian towns, 15 papers on several subjects and lar culture, ethno-cultural questions, settlement his- edited a couple of archaeological books. tory and the meeting points of archaeology and oral tradition. He has published two monographs – on Andres Tvauri (PhD) is Senior Research Fellow the rural cemeteries of southern Estonia in 1225– at the University of Tartu. The main archaeological 1800 AD (Valk 2001a) and on the Iron Age and periods of interest to him are the Middle and Late medieval cemetery of Siksälä (with Silvia Laul; Iron Ages. In addition to 44 scientifi c articles, he Laul & Valk 2006) – and c. 100 scientifi c articles, has published two monographs, one on prehistoric and has also edited four books. - 8 - ea.indb 8 27.02.2006 23:17:43 Editorial In 2005 Estonian archaeology celebrated the anni- plenty of articles discussing specifi c questions and versaries of two important milestones. First, 140 even some monographs published in foreign lan- years since the publication of an account that could guages, there are still remarkable shortcomings in be regarded as the fi rst truly scientifi c analysis the systematized presentation of the archaeological (according to the existing criteria) of our prehistory evidence in its entirety. (Grewingk 1865). Since archaeology had until that As concerns general surveys written in Estonian, time signifi ed a mere interest in antiquities, or a col- the situation is understandably far better. Eesti lection of attractive and curious objects originating esiajalugu (‘Estonian Prehistory’), published in from the distant past, from that time it was provided 1982 (Jaanits et al. 1982), provides a thorough and with the scholarly dimension that grew increasingly exhaustive review of our prehistory as it was known stronger and broader in the following decades. Sec- in the mid-1970s. In the past 30 years, however, an ondly, it was 85 years since the Chair of Archaeol- enormous amount of fresh data has accumulated, ogy was established at the University of Tartu. Since which is still waiting to be included in the systematic before then only a few specialists of some other analysis and general surveys. In addition, the above- disciplines or antiquity afi cionados engaged them- mentioned work did not comprise the monuments selves in archaeology, aft er that time professional and fi nds of historical periods, which nevertheless archaeology began to develop. It is impossible to form a considerable part of both the investigated overestimate the signifi cance of either event in the sites and the stored artefacts. Th e general theoretical history of Estonian archaeology. Th erefore, these approaches and interpretation of the archaeological milestones impelled us not only to look back at the data have also undergone remarkable alterations in history of previous research but also to refl ect on the meantime.