In August of 2024, I was lucky to be part of the crew that excavated the ancient sacred stone in Lūžų Miškas (Lūžai Forest). Led by archaeologist Vykintas Vaitkevičius, the hope is that the working of the stone and creation of the shrine can be dated more accurately using modern techniques.

In the 1960s, local researcher Algimantas Žilėnas began to research more about this at-least-700-year-old site, and in 1970, an archaeological dig led by Vytautas Urbanavičius was undertaken. Upon excavation, it was discovered that rather than the stone below the surface being unworked, it sat upon a base made of the off-cuts remaining after the stone was originally worked. These still serve to stabilize the stone.

In addition, two small firepits on the south and northwest sides of the stones were discovered. These were believed to be used to light sacred fires to Perkūnas.

Stones like these, worked with simple iron tools likely by Curonian tribes, are found mostly in Northwestern Lithuania and Lithuania Minor (now Kaliningrad) as well as Western Latvia. They typically date to the X-XIII century. The stones in Eastern Lithuania are dated to the later period and it is believed that this tradition was brought by the Curonians who sought refuge in Eastern Lithuania from the Christian invasion (Crusades) of their lands.

The bowl or well in the center of the stone is not, as one might think, for fire, but for water. In fact, some stones have been irreparably damaged due to fires being built on them. The rainwater that collects there is thought to have tremendous healing powers. Similar natural depressions in stones that collect water are referred to as “Laima’s footsteps”.

Unfortunately, little is left of the original archaeological expedition with the exception of some photographs and reports. No artifacts or samples from that excavation are known. So the goal of the new expedition was to re-excavate the previous site and extend the excavation out and down in the hopes of finding charcoal from the original site, as well as undisturbed soil that could date from the original creation of the shrine. In addition to Carbon-14 dating charcoal (particularly that found below the original excavation), additional tests will be done on soil samples.

Still to come: Anatomy of an Excavation, Buried Treasure!, Sober Reminders of WWII and the Partizanai, and Small Beauties