Stone, Bronze and Early Iron Age collections
LNMH collections of the Stone, Bronze and early Iron Age cover a period of more than ten thousand years (10,500–1 BC). The collections consist of stray finds and material from archaeological research of settlements, hillforts and burial sites – artefacts and pottery sherds.
The flint tools found at the Laukskola settlement give us an insight into the life of the Palaeolithic (10,500–9,000 BC) reindeer hunters. The most important archaeological monument of the Mesolithic (9,000–5,400 BC) is the settlement and burial site of Zvejnieki II. The flint and bone tools in this collection represent the hunter-fisherman lifestyle, while the burial site contains the oldest known burials in Latvia. The Neolithic (5,400–1,800 BC) collections contain a wide variety of tools: axes and chisels, spear- and arrowheads, scrapers, daggers, etc. The period is also characterised by the earliest finds of pottery and the extensive use of amber. The most important are the collections of finds from the settlements of Osa, Zvidze, Kvāpāni II, Nainiekste and Abora I, as well as the diverse material found at the Sārnate settlement, including wooden objects such as oars, hoes, small rods, pottery, etc.
The beginning of the Bronze Age (1,800–500 BC) is represented by the Lagaža settlement collection with the oldest bronze melting crucibles. The late Bronze Age is well-reflected by the collections of the Ķivutkalns and Brikuļi hillforts with bronze neck rings, bracelets, decorative bone pins, stone and bone tools, clay crucibles and moulds. The collections of Rezne, Kalnieši and Ķivutkalns burial sites also pertain to the Bronze Age.
The late phase of the early Iron Age (500–1 BC) is represented in the collections of the Laidze Lazdiņi tarand graves which are significant on the Baltic scale.
Significant are also collections of stray finds. The collection of bone items from Lake Lubāns features Stone Age tools – harpoons, fish spears, arrowheads, daggers and fishing hooks – which reflect the craft skills and aesthetics of hunter-fishermen. Another important part of stray finds are stone axes and chisels, spanning the period from the Stone Age to the early Iron Age. The stray finds of bronze jewellery, tools and the first weapons – bronze axes and spearheads – are remarkable.
In order to research the museum’s collection in person, those interested are invited to fill out the contact form, indicating the topic of interest and the chronology. After receiving the form, a museum specialist will contact you.