Hill fort with a stone axe and pottery hearth

Paspąsčio piliakalnis, also known as Sponstis or Maldokalnis, is a hill fort located in the Kelmės district of Lithuania near the village of Paspąštis. It is situated on a dominant hill with an altitude of 204 metres. The site features an oval courtyard measuring 25 by 20 metres, oriented east to west.

The fort features varied terrain with slopes rising 15 metres high. On the northwest side, there is a terrace 15 metres wide situated 1.5 metres below the courtyard level. The other slopes feature terraces up to 6 metres wide, located 2 metres below the courtyard level. Much of the courtyard and the southeast slope are covered in grass, while the site is surrounded by oaks.

Archaeological research conducted by Bronius Dakanis in 1999 examined a 10 square metre area in the middle of the courtyard and a 1 square metre area on a terrace. Excavations revealed a hearth containing smooth and grooved pottery as well as pieces of clay plaster. Additionally, a settlement at the base of the eastern and southeastern side of the hill yielded a stone axe. The hill fort is dated to the beginning of the first millennium.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons