[gothic-l] Gothic influence on Baltic Prussians

[dirk at SMRA.CO.UK]

We had a short discussion about a possible Gothic influence on the 
later Prussians (Prussen, a Baltic people) before. However, I have now 
received some Russian material about the recently rediscovered Prussia 
Collection in Kaliningrad/Koenigsberg, which contained among others 
early Prussian and Gothic artefacts and the text suggests a certain 
continuity between the Vistula Gothic Willenberg/Wielbark culture, the 
so called Masovia- Germanic culture of the 6th/7th century and the 
early Prussian culture. Interestingly, Wolfram suggests in his book 
'The Goths', that parts of the Baltic Galindi joined the Goths, which 
is also attested by Gothic personal names like Galindai. 

The Galindi were a Prussian subtribe like the Samen (not to be 
confused with the Scandinavian Saami) and Kuren. The Galindi settled 
in the Masovia (Masuren) region were also Willenberg/Wilbark is 
situated and which may provide the link between the Gothic and the 
Prussian culture. From the 12th century the Prussians were absorbed 
into a population of German settlers, but the name Galinden remained 
in use until the 18th century.

cheers
Dirk

For the Masovia-Germanic culture see:
V. I. Kulakov, "Mogil'niki zapadnoi chasti Mazurskogo poozer'ia 
konca  V-nachala VIII vv. " _Barbaricum_ 1 (1989),148-276; 
                  
            -- "Gräber pruzzischer Stammesführer aus Warnikam," 
Eurasia Antiqua_ 3 (1990), 595-628].


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