Lithuania: Days of live archaeology in Kernavė ⋆ The Baltic Review

Festival of experimental archaeology is dedicated to the commemoration of the Coronation of Mindaugas – the Statehood Day

Each year at the beginning of July the magnificent solitude of mounds is disturbed by the awakening past.

Just like many centuries ago archers’ arrows fly and many skilled craftsmen demonstrate their art on the Castle Hill and in the Pajauta valley… The indescribable impression is emphasised by the sounds of ancient music and flavours of delicious meals prepared according to medieval recipes.

The festival introduces the restored crafts of prehistoric and early medieval periods, ancestors’ lifestyle.

Visitors have an opportunity to strike the flint, throw pottery, mint a coin, and try their hand at archery. Visitors will gain enjoyment from spending time in the historical environment in nature, immersing into the merry festival uproar and sensing the genuine medieval spirit.

PROGRAM

4 July (Saturday)

10.45 Parade of the festival participants
10.55 The event opening
11.00 – 19.00 CRAFT DEMONSTRATION
11.15 – 11.40 Music of „kanklės“
11.15 – 18.00 Archaic games and contests
12.00 – 13.30 (Museum hall) Dialogs with archaeologists of Kernavė: „Recent archaeological discoveries and modern methods of archaeological research in Kernavė“
12.00 – 12.40 Presentation of Hungarian nomadic lifestyle, archaic music concert
12.00 – 13.00 Competitions for children: best hand modelled pot, archery, spinning
12.10 Presentation of fire starting techniques, music and rituals
12.40 Presentation of bronze casting
12.50 – 13.00 Medieval court of justice
13.10 – 13.50 Medieval fights
14.00 – 14.40 Archaic music concert
14.45 – 15.10 Presentation of Iron age warrior costume and riding horse tack reconstruction
15.15 – 16.00 Children competitions: best hand modelled pot, archery, spinning
15.15 – 16.00 Presentation of XIII-XIV c. Kernavė town history, daily life and reconstructed woman’s costume
16.10 – 16.55 Medieval fights
17.00 – 17.20 Presentation of silver articles casting
17.00 – 17.30 Archaic music concert
17.30 – 17.50 Presentation of reconstructed costumes and lifestyle of Vikings
17.50 – 18.10 Presentation of medieval bathing traditions
18.00 – 19.00 Archaic music concert

5 July (Sunday)

11.00 – 19.00 CRAFT DEMONSTRATION
11.30 – 18.00 Archaic games and contests
11.45 – 12.30 Presentation of reconstructed costumes and lifestyle of Vikings
11.45 – 12.45 Competitions for children: best hand modelled pot, archery, spinning
11.50 Presentation of fire starting techniques, music and rituals
12.30 – 13.15 Presentation of XIII-XIV c. Kernavė town history, daily life and reconstructed woman’s costume
13.20 – 13.50 Period cooking contest
13.30 – 14.15 Archaic music concert
13.30 – 14.30 (Museum hall) Dialogs with archaeologists of Kernavė: „Recent archaeological discoveries and modern methods of archaeological research in Kernavė“
13.40 Presentation of silver articles casting
13.45-14.15 Performance of medieval entertainer
14.15 – 14.35 Medieval court of justice
14.40 – 15.10 Medieval fights
15.20 – 16.10 Performance of medieval entertainer
15.30 – 16.30 Competitions for children: best hand modelled pot, archery, spinning
16.00 – 16.45 Archaic music concert
16.50 – 17.35 Medieval fights
17.35 Presentation of hand modelled pottery firing
17.45 Presentation of bronze articles casting
17.45 – 18.05 Presentation of medieval bathing traditions
18.00 – 19.00 Archaic music concert

6 July (Monday)

11.00 – 19.00 CRAFT DEMONSTRATION
11.30 – 18.00 Archaic games and contests
11.45 – 12.15 Presentation of Iron age warrior costume and riding horse tack reconstruction
11.45 – 12.45 Competitions for children: best hand modelled pot, archery, spinning
11.45 Presentation of fire starting techniques, music and rituals
11.50 – 12.35 Presentation of XIII-XIV c. Kernavė town history, daily life and reconstructed woman’s costume
13.00 – 13.30 Commemoration of the Day of Statehood. Word of welcome by the organizers to sponsors of the Festival
13.30 – 14.15 Archaic music concert
13.45 – 14.35 (Museum hall) „Searches and discoveries at the Old Kernavė“ – meeting with the initiator of scientific archaeological researches in Kernavė
13.45 – 14.15 Viking lifestyle, costume, jewellery. Presentation of silver articles casting
13.50 – 14.15 Presentation of medieval thrown potery production and firing
14.15 – 14.35 Medieval court of justice
14.40 – 15.10 Medieval fights
15.20 – 15.50 Presentation of the log boat scorching
15.30 – 16.30 Competitions for children: best hand modelled pot, archery, spinning
16.00 – 16.45 Archaic music concert
16.50 – 17.35 Medieval fights
17.35 Presentation of hand modelled pottery firing
17.45 Presentation of bronze articles casting
17.45 – 18.15 Presentation of iron smelting, dismantling the furnace
18.10 – 18.30 Presentation of medieval bathing traditions
18.15 – 19.00 Archaic music concert