The locals call it Pilale, or Pilalių kalnas. It is a hillfort situated on the left bank of the Žibos river in the village of Rūdaičiai. The site dates from the 1st millennium to the 13th century and is recognized as a state-protected cultural heritage object.
During the 16th century, as the village of Rūdaičiai formed, the hillfort entered common use. It was surrounded by a pine forest until soldiers cleared the trees during a world war. Following the war, the hill fell into private ownership and was used as farmland.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, a triangulation tower stood on the summit. In 1944, soldiers dug anti-tank trenches into the northern side of the hill. Archaeological records show that while plowing the area, stone axes, iron spearheads, and bronze necklaces, bracelets, brooches, and beads were found, these items did not enter a museum.
Today, the site includes a resting area with outdoor furniture where the triangulation tower once stood. Wooden stairs on the western slope lead to a path that passes through a former ancient settlement toward a parking area. The area is protected and encompasses 2.07 hectares.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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