From 29 June, 2021 at the Museum shop (Brīvības bulvāris 32) it is possible to buy the new book “The 13th-14th Century Cemetery of Dundagas Laukmuiža”. The authors of the book are Vitolds Muižnieks, Baiba Vaska, Irita Žeiere, Kristīne Ducmane and Renāte Siliņa-Piņķe. The book is in two languages – Latvian and English. Also a notebook (limited edition) is available at the Museum shop.
The cemetery of Dundagas Laukmuiža is an outstanding medieval archaeological monument in the Kurzeme (Courland) region of modern-day Latvia. It is notable for a rich range of finds – jewellery, household items, coins and unique specimens of textiles. The archaeological material obtained in the medieval cemetery reflects the material culture of a specific period (13th – 14th centuries), and allows to draw conclusions about the traditions, religious beliefs and cultural affiliation of the population. Finds obtained in the cemetery have also enabled the reconstruction of the visual appearance of folk dress as worn at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries in the Dundaga district. Notwithstanding the relatively small scale of the studies carried out at the burial site in the first half of the last century, the results of these investigations have not lost their relevance today.
This publication presents the excavation materials and provides an in-depth analysis and interpretation of it, using the experience acquired through working with the museum collections of artefacts. The publication is intended not only for researchers and specialists, but also for all persons interested in the history of Latvia. The book, as a kind of guide, could also be useful for applied art professionals, craftspeople who may wish to reproduce ancient artefacts, and reconstructors of costumes. The text of the book has been translated into English, so as to provide an opportunity for foreign researchers and other interested parties to become acquainted with the materials, while at the same time serving to promote and introduce Latvian cultural heritage to a wider audience.