The hillfort of Daugailių I

Rising 15 to 18 meters high, the Daugailių I hillfort sits on the northern edge of Daugailiai, just 150 meters from the Daugailiai church. The hillfort's courtyard measures 40 by 30 meters and was occupied by the Daugailiai church until 1766, when it was destroyed by lightning. Remnants of cultural layers remain today, and an ancient settlement is located on the northwestern slope of the site.

Archaeological investigations conducted in 1958, 1970, and 1985 revealed ceramics with smooth and grooved surfaces. In 1990, Gintautas Zabiela found foundation stones from the 18th-century church, a grave, and a 1764 coin while digging in the courtyard to prepare the site for a cross.

The history of the site dates back to 1254, the year a castle in Daugailiai was first mentioned. The church stood on the hillfort until it burned in 1766. During the late 20th century, the site was used for burials, and in 1990, a new cross was erected where the church once stood.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons