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Born in Kaunas, Lithuania, Marija Gimbutas was a prominent archaeologist and anthropologist. She gained recognition for her groundbreaking work on the prehistoric societies of Old Europe, particularly her theory of a "Goddess-oriented" culture that existed prior to the patriarchal systems of the Indo-Europeans. Gimbutas' research and interpretations challenged traditional views in archaeology and influenced the fields of women's studies, mythology, and prehistory.