The hillfort of Ižiniškių where a 14th-century castle may have stood

The hillfort of Ižiniškių is located in the Raseiniai district, near the village of Ižiniškis on the left bank of the Šešuvis river. It sits on a steep hill, 7 to 9 meters high, that was eroded by the river. A portion of the burial mound was leveled in 1956 to create a 16x9 meter dance floor, during which pottery glaze and human bones were found. A triangular part of this area, approximately 100 square meters in size, remains.

Research conducted by the Institute of Lithuanian History in 1961 revealed pottery with smooth and rough surfaces, pieces of burnt clay, animal bones, slag, and stones. An iron broad-bladed axe was also found in the burial mound. The hillfort was used during the 1st millennium and the beginning of the 2nd millennium, while the settlement is dated to the 1st millennium.

Archaeologist Gintautas Zabiela suggests that Pilėnai Castle may have stood on this hill in the 14th century. The site also includes a settlement with remains covering an area of 5 hectares.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons