Zervynos

Etymology

The name Zervynos is of uncertain origin. There are some lakes in southern Lithuanian called Zervynas, Zervylios. It may be of Sudovian origin and it is possibly a cognate to 'to stream rapidly', 'a river mouth', 'a source'. Otherwise, it may be a cognate to and Semigallian dzerve 'a crane'.{{cite book |author-link=

History

Zervynos was first mentioned in written sources in 1742. However, 24 campsites, dating from the Stone and Iron Ages, show that people lived in the area for much longer time. The right bank evolved from a village owned by a noble and the left bank from a settlement of forest workers. Combined, both sides had about 10 homesteads and a hundred inhabitants.

Architecture

The village was untouched by agricultural reforms because it is isolated by forests and sandy soil is unfit for agriculture. Therefore, the village has preserved its original layout from the 18th century. The farm houses are aligned to the central street, running in a narrow strip between the river and slopes of river's valley. Various structures in the homestead are arranged depending on the terrain and size of the plot. All buildings are wooden, constructed mostly from pine logs by the families based on old architectural traditions. Older houses are simple with symmetrical composition and plain exterior. They are divided into three areas: two living rooms at the end and an anteroom and larder in the middle. As family sizes decreased, newer houses replaced one living room with a proper kitchen.

In the middle of the village there is a group of 3 crosses built in different years. Another two crosses are built on the bank of the Ūla River and at a crossroad near the cemetery.

Culture

Films Nobody Wanted to Die (1966) about post-World War II resistance and Faktas (Fact, 1981) about Pirčiupiai massacre were filmed in Zervynos. Folk artist Algis Svirnelis, who rebuilt the crosses of Zervynos village lives there, as well as the 2005 Lithuanian National Prize laureate writer Juozas Aputis. In 2001, the villagers hosted annual Mushroom Festival inviting people, including Speaker of the Seimas Artūras Paulauskas and U.S. Ambassador John F. Tefft, to hunt for mushrooms in the surrounding forests. The village is also known for beekeeping: two old pines with hallows for bees are declared natural monuments.

References

References

1. "Rodiklių duomenų bazė - Oficialiosios statistikos portalas".
2. BNS. (2002-10-01). "Į UNESCO Pasaulio paveldo objektų sąrašą siūloma įtraukti Kernavės rezervatą-muziejų". Delfi.lt.
3. Dumalakas, Arūnas. (2006-07-18). "Zervynos dūsta nuo baidarininkų". L.T..
4. (1985–1988). "Zervynos". Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija.
5. (2002). "Alytaus apskrities kaimo gyvenamosios vietovės ir jų gyventojai". Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
6. "Gyvenvietės". Dzūkija National Park.
7. (1970–1978). "Zervynos". Juozas Kapočius.
8. Jankevičiūtė, Giedrė. (2006). "Lietuva". R. Paknio leidykla.
9. Averkienė, Rūta. (2004-12-15). "Prisimintas "Fakto" kūrimas". XXI amžius.
10. Rafanavičienė, Genovaitė. (2001-10-01). "Grybų šventę apraizgė politika". [[Lietuvos rytas]].