Gedžiūnėliai (Garšvinė) burial mound is the largest in Lithuania, covering an area of 40 ha. It consists of 560 burial mounds. The burial mounds are compact, reaching up to 12 m in diameter and up to 1.5 m in height. Burials occurred in the 6th–12th centuries. It is one of the most famous ancient burial monuments.
About 560 barrows have survived in the 33 ha area of the burial mound; the former ones were destroyed by plowing in the village fields. The barrows are located at a distance of 5–25 m from each other. Their mounds are 6–12 m, some 14–18 m in diameter and 0.3–1.5 m high. The mounds of most barrows are surrounded by pits or ditches. Some of the mounds are elongated – from 8–10 to 14–16 m long and 4–7 m wide, and they are surrounded by elongated pits.
In 1958, exploratory research was carried out by archaeologists from the Institute of History, in 1976, 1978 and 1985 by the Scientific Methodological Council for the Protection of Cultural Monuments. Finds from the 6th – 12th centuries were collected from the demolished burial mounds, and they are preserved by the National Museum of Lithuania.
Information updated 2025-12-12
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