The Verknė River has washed away almost the entire plateau of the Paverknių hillfort, leaving behind only its southwestern corner. This remaining section consists of steep 14-metre high slopes with a 6x8 metre corner of the former plateau at the top. Because the river eroded so much of the site, there is no data on the previous layout of the courtyard and fortifications.
Archaeologists who excavated a 10 m² area in the northwestern part of the site discovered that the fortress was attacked and burned twice. In the lower layer, dating to the 11th century, researchers found remains of a defensive wall with post constructions, along with charred bronze jewelry such as bracelets, rings, and necklaces, as well as a single iron arrow. After this attack, the fortress was restored; the fire pits were filled with a 60 cm thick layer of sand from the riverbanks, and the edge of the courtyard was reinforced with stones.
In the 12th century, the fortress was attacked and burned again. During this second siege, the site was fired upon from a nearby settlement, where arrows with fletching were found, and broad-bladed axes were used during the assault. Today, the site is a protected cultural monument covering 38,300 m², featuring a settlement on the lower slopes where both smooth and coarse ceramics have been found.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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