Laima Vaitkunskienė

Laima Vaitkunskienė (born 13 September 1936) is a Lithuanian medieval archaeologist, who specialises in the study of burial practices. She has led extensive and numerous excavations, and led on the study of amber in the region.

Biography Born in Rokiškis, Vaitkunskienė graduated in 1956 with a degree in history and philology from Vilnius University. After graduation she worked for the , before beginning work at the Institute of History in 1957. She also led excavations at several burial sites, including: , Jurgaičiai, , , and cemeteries. She was awarded a PhD in 1967. The excavations at Žąsinas were undertaken between 1976 and 1979, and resulted in the exploration of Samogitian burial practice from the 10th to 12th centuries. Her excavations at Žviliai were published in 1999 and described barrow use and burial goods deposited there.

Vaitkunskienė also studied comb-shaped pendants from the region, made from amber, and connected their production to the Lithuanian mythology. Her study of amber also led her to the conclusion that its use was restricted not just by its rarity, but by social and spiritual prohibitions.

Selected works Vaitkunskienė, Laima. Sidabras senovės Lietuvoje. Mokslas, 1981. Vaitkunskienė, Laima. "Senovės Šilališkių šventiniai drabužiai." Šilalės kraštas/sudarytojas Edvardas Vidmantas. Lietuvos kraštotyros draugija, 1994. 26–38. Vaitkunskienė, Laima. "Archeologiniai šaltiniai apie mirusiųjų minėjimo apeigas (XIV–XVI a.)." (2016).