WOODEN CROSSES IN THE OLD CEMETERIES IN THE REGION OF SILUTES 

Purviniene Marija, Purvinas Martynas. Mediniai kryziai Silutes apylinkiu senosiose kapinese // Kulturos paminklai. V, 1996. T. 3. P. 189-194, iliustr. (Summary)

During the years of Soviet occupation almost 90% of tombstones were badly destroyed in the cemetery of Evangelists and  Lutherans in Lithuania Minor. They were not investigated as monuments of art, as well as the monuments of material and spiritual culture.
Some time ago an interest was taken into the "Krikstas" tombstones of Lithuania Minor at the turn of the century only few wooden crosses were fixed in that region.
During the years of Soviet occupation wooden crosses were destroyed. In 1994-1995 fourteen wooden crosses (or the  remnants) were found in the region of Silute during the explorative expeditions in 112 cemeteries.
In the region the Clover-Leaf crosses of the particular shape were popular. The remnants of the crosses were detected. It is interesting that the monuments of this region are simple in their shape - similar crosses were fixed in the 19th century.
At present all tombstones that have been preserved in the cemeteries of Lithuania Minor should be fixed as they are considered to be our earliest ethnocultural heritage.