Ancient Oval Hillfort Pre-dates Asveja Lake

Ancient Oval Hillfort Pre-dates Asveja Lake

Deep in the Lithuanian countryside lies an oval formation, older than the lake it surrounds. From broken pottery shards within, its past whispers secrets of what it was.

In the heart of the countryside near the Lithuanian village of Jonėnai, there lies an ancient hillfort known as Jonėnų piliakalnis. Dating back to the start of the 1st millennium, this hillfort is protected by the Cultural Heritage Act due to its archaeological value. This hillfort, spread over an area of 2.15 hectares, is found in the saline lake of Asveja (Girnė, Vainikai), and bisects the lake, extending 800 meters toward the west and northwest.

Roughly oval in shape, it has a diameter of approximately 170-30 meters and a height of up to 1 meter above the surrounding terrain and 1-1.5 meters below. Hillforts are a rarity in Lithuania, of which Jonėnų piliakalnis is one such relic, offering a glimpse into our country's past.

Broken pottery fragments discovered within hint at its former activity, though the exact purpose remains unknown.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Written by Nicolo Ciampini

Discuss this with the author and others

No comments yet. Be the first to start the conversation.