A hillfort veiled by ancient terror: Menkupiai's hidden relic

A hillfort veiled by ancient terror: Menkupiai's hidden relic

Could an ancient curse be hiding in Menkupiai, Lithuania? Unearth the mystery surrounding the earthen hillfort that's haunted locals for generations.

Situated near the village of Menkupiai, this hillfort is built on an earthen mound, surrounded by a ditch that is still visible today. The oval shape of the hillfort is approximately 40x49 meters in size, with a width of 1.5 meters. The site of the hillfort is enclosed by a ditch, which is most prominent in the southeastern part.<br>The ditch around the hillfort is approximately 2 meters high, 11 meters long, and 50 centimeters wide in the southeastern part.

The height of the hill is approximately 11-12 meters.<br>The hillfort was built using timber and earthen materials. The ditch around the hillfort was filled in. There are two platforms on the hill, one 10 meters long and the other 3 meters long. The platforms are located 11-12 meters above the ditch.<br>The hillfort covers an area of approximately 0.5 hectares and contains a settlement with pottery. Menkupių piliakalnis is dated to the Iron Age (I millennium – II millennium).

The site of Menkupių piliakalnis is protected by the Lithuanian Government since 1998. It is included in the list of cultural heritage sites of Lithuania.<br><br>Local villagers have told of a curse that has fallen upon the site, as soldiers from the Red Army supposedly disturbed the burial site of a King and his army, causing death and destruction in the nearby villages.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Written by Nicolo Ciampini

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