The eroding ramparts of Guogų piliakalnis

Guogų piliakalnis is currently experiencing significant erosion. The western side of the hillfort is unstable and sliding into the Nemunas, while the northern edge is currently covered in bushes and scrub. This site is located in the village of Guogų, about 2 km southeast of Piliuona, on the left bank of the Nemunas, near the Kaunas lakes.

Archaeologists have determined that the rampart was built four times, with the final three reconstructions likely occurring between the 13th and 14th centuries. Excavations have revealed a burnt wooden defensive wall approximately 7 metres long, featuring long-slatted walls joined by transverse beams. Additionally, researchers found two graves dating from the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD, one containing a skull and fragments of ribs.

The site contains distinct cultural layers spanning from the first millennium to the 19th century. Excavations revealed a 4.0 x 6.5 m stone floor from the first half of the first millennium, covered in ash, likely from a burnt building. Ceramics found at the site range from handmade pieces with grooved surfaces to dark red, profiled vessels dating from the 12th to 15th centuries.

Today, a 4-metre high rampart remains on the southern and southwestern sides of the enclosure. Settlements from antiquity were discovered on the northern slopes. The site continues to be affected by the water, with parts of the southern slope already washed away by the river.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons