Phenomenality of landscape memory: a case study of Tverai

Kraštovaizdis pasižymi išskirtine geba „pasakyti“ gerokai daugiau, negu „pasako“ pavieniai jo komponentai kiekvienas atskirai arba yra išlikę visuomenės atmintyje. Tuo pasireiškia kraštovaizdžio fenomenalumas (Tilly, 1994). Kartais tas iškalbingumas stulbina, kai sugretinus įvairius požymius paaiškėja, kiek daug informacijos apie paleogeografinę ir kultūrinę raidą slypi jame, tik dažnai į tai neatkreipiame dėmesio, nemokame to suprasti. Šio straipsnio tikslas – apžvelgti Tverų apylinkės kraštovaizdžio bruožus, saugančius informaciją apie jo paleogeografinę ir kultūrinę raidą. Tai viena įdomiausių vietovių geomorfologiniu, taip pat ir istoriniu požiūriu Lietuvoje.Deeper analysis of the environs of Tverai borough (Rietavas Municipality) revealed a number of features indicative of landscape memory power. The exceptional features of this locality such as, for example, a large-scale wave-shaped swell at the bottom of the hill ridge (the seat of the borough) indicate the correlation between the archaeological monuments and intensity of soil cover anthropogenization. The repetition of the name of the Pilsupis Stream in two places of this locality prompted to take a closer look at its landscape and to go deeper into the historical background. Tverai is one of the Lithuanian localities mentioned in the oldest historical sources: in 1251, it is mentioned as Tvirimet town of Samogitian Duke Vykintas and since 1289, it has been referred to as the Tverai Land. The article contains information about the specific features of the Tverai landscape, which coincidentally or as regularity is in close correlation with the historical events. A hypothesis is presented as to the possible location of the ancient Tverai town. The structure of the fields is discussed as one of the main evidences of landscape memory