An Iron Age fort hidden in the woods

An Iron Age fort hidden in the woods

An ancient hillfort dating back to the 1st millennium BC nestles unassumingly within the Ignalina Forest, unknown to most passersby. Located near the village of Vaškonių, this oval fort was excavated in 1991, revealing clues about the Balto-Slavic populations that once inhabited the region.

The hillfort known as Vasfons pilys in Lithuanian, is hidden within a separate valley on a hill slope, 0.6 kilometers west of Vaškonių village. The hillfort, oval in shape, has a diameter of 25x10 meters and a height of 2 meters. A natural terrace 4 meters below the hillfort is also present. However, the exact purpose of the hillfort remains debated. Its data suggests a registration on March 19, Av1855 (Balandžio 19 d.), which indicates it might have been excavated much earlier than stated in the story, in 1991, when it seems to have gained wider public attention.

The excavation revealed that the hillfort was occupied continuously for several centuries, and artifacts indicate that it was used by the Balto-Slavic populations. The hillfort is currently managed by the Ignalina Forestry Authority and remains a fascinating glimpse into Lithuania’s ancient past, hidden among the trees of the Ignalina Forest.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Written by Nicolo Ciampini

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