A Medieval Hillfort Renamed in Honor of Duke Margiris

Pašilių piliakalnis, a hillfort located in the village of Pašiliūs, in Jurbarko municipal district, is one of the most interesting archaeological sites in the Marijampolė region. The hillfort's square shape is formed by a set of east-west walls, 60m long and 16m wide, with an average height of 3m. It features a central tower 16m high, 3.5m tall, and 15m wide, with a 4m high staircase allowing access to the upper level. The tower is surrounded by two earthen walls and was excavated in the mid-13th century to the early 14th century.

The hillfort, located near the Dubysa riverbanks, was built on the western edge of the marsh. The remains of a 0.5-hectare settlement were found near the west gate, and the hillfort is included in the Cultural Heritage Register of Lithuania. It is believed that the hillfort may have been renamed after Duke Margiris, who lived during the 13th and 14th centuries. The hillfort's new name, 'Aškalys', is thought to be a derivative of Mantvydas, the official name of Duke Margiris.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons