A Castle Hidden in the Baltic Countryside

A Castle Hidden in the Baltic Countryside

Excavations at the Gandinga Hillfort in Lithuania reveal a 1st and 2nd millennium AD castle, used by the Babrungas tribe, providing a surprising glimpse into the region's pre-Christian past.

Located in Gandinga, Plungė District Municipality, in the region of Žemaitija, the Gandinga Hillfort is the primary site of the Gandinga archaeological complex. Designated by the Lithuanian Heritage Act, it sits on a high promontory enclosed by the river, the valley, and another high promontory. Its exact location is protected under code 23967, while the principal castle hill carries its own code, 5468. Excavations by the Lithuanian History Institute in 1949 and 1964 unearthed non-Christian burials from the XI-XII centuries, along with pottery, coins, weapons, and other artifacts. The hillfort has ties to an ancient Lithuanian tribal system that eventually evolved into a kingdom with religious functions.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Written by Nicolo Ciampini

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