The archaeological site of Būtkiemio piliakalnis

Hidden in the middle of Šventininkų forest, Būtkiemio piliakalnis is an archaeological site dating from the 1st millennium to the beginning of the 2nd millennium. To reach the site, take the Kruonis - Būtkiemis road, turn left toward the north-east into the fields, drive 900 meters, and turn right 50 meters toward the south, passing the second farm on the right.

The hillfort is situated in a separate hill in a ridge. It features a small arena with an embankment on the northern side that is 17 meters wide. Because the ends of the embankment were lower than the center, the hillfort appears to have a sunken top. During the preparation of the arena for dances, the gravel embankment was leveled by a bulldozer in 1969. This left the hillfort in the shape of a cut log with an oval arena measuring 16x18 meters and the remains of a 0.5 meter high embankment on the northern side.

The site features slopes of 8 meters on one side and 1.5 meters on the other, as the embankment was leveled toward the latter. The western slope of the hillfort is covered in young maple trees and bushes. The site covers an area of 12,600 square meters and was officially declared a cultural monument in 1998.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons