The Sokiškiai Hillfort: A Fortress from the First Millennium BC

Located in the Ignalina district, east of Sokiškiai, the Sokiškiai hillfort and settlement, also known as Juodžeminis Kalnas, sits on a distinct hill along the western shore of Samanis Lake. The site features an oval enclosure measuring 68 by 56 meters, with a central mound rising 4 meters above the surrounding ground. While the hillfort was long plowed and its upper cultural layers destroyed, the site remains a significant archaeological landmark.

Excavations conducted between 1980 and 1983 revealed a complex system of fortifications and living spaces. Archaeologists identified a 1.7-meter wide gate secured by rows of 5.5-meter long posts. The findings include stone and wooden fortifications, ditches, and the remains of wooden buildings. In the final period of the site's use, metal tools such as axes and chisels were present, along with bronze jewelry like bracelets and chains.

The total archaeological finds from the site include about 700 artifacts, including 500 bone objects, 107 stone items, and over 10,000 fragments of molded pottery. The site, which dates to the fourth quarter of the first millennium BC, covers an area of 40,000 square meters. The artifacts and remains from this history are preserved by the Lithuanian National Museum.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons