Hillforts in Latvia offered not only military and administrative functions but they were also cultural and economic centres of some regions. The Latvian word for hillfort is pilskalns (plural: pilskalni), from pils (castle) and kalns (hill). Latvian hillforts generally were a part of a complex consisting of the main fortress, the settlement around it, one or more burial fields and nearby ritual sites. The first hillforts in Latvia, such as Daugmale hillfort, appeared during the Bronze Age.[1] Some were continuously inhabited until the late Iron Age.[2][3]
Tērvete hillfort. Main Semigallian centre in the late Iron Age
During the Roman Iron Age, some of the Latvian hillforts (like Ķivutkalns) were abandoned or became sparsely populated. A new period in hillfort development started during the 5th-8th centuries AD, when many new hillforts appeared, in most cases, along the main trades routes - rivers. During the 10th-11th centuries, some of the hillforts became military fortresses with strong fortifications (like hillforts in Tērvete, Talsi, Mežotne). Some of them are considered important political centres of the local peoples, who in this period were subjects of serious social political changes. That period was known for unrest and military activities, as well as power struggles between local aristocracy. Most of the Latvian hillforts were destroyed or abandoned during the Livonian Crusade in the 13th century, but some were still used in the 14th century. In total, there are about 470 hillforts in Latvia.[2][3]
Bielenstein, August (1869). Die altlettischen Burgberge Kurlands. Riga.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Moora, H (1929) [1929]. Die Eisenzeit in Lettland bis etwa 500 (paperback ed.).
External linksedit
Hillforts in Latvia
Iron Age Hillforts in Latvia
Iron Age Hillforts in Europe
May 08, 2024
list, hillforts, latvia, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, fe. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources List of hillforts in Latvia news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message Hillforts in Latvia offered not only military and administrative functions but they were also cultural and economic centres of some regions The Latvian word for hillfort is pilskalns plural pilskalni from pils castle and kalns hill Latvian hillforts generally were a part of a complex consisting of the main fortress the settlement around it one or more burial fields and nearby ritual sites The first hillforts in Latvia such as Daugmale hillfort appeared during the Bronze Age 1 Some were continuously inhabited until the late Iron Age 2 3 Tervete hillfort Main Semigallian centre in the late Iron Age During the Roman Iron Age some of the Latvian hillforts like kivutkalns were abandoned or became sparsely populated A new period in hillfort development started during the 5th 8th centuries AD when many new hillforts appeared in most cases along the main trades routes rivers During the 10th 11th centuries some of the hillforts became military fortresses with strong fortifications like hillforts in Tervete Talsi Mezotne Some of them are considered important political centres of the local peoples who in this period were subjects of serious social political changes That period was known for unrest and military activities as well as power struggles between local aristocracy Most of the Latvian hillforts were destroyed or abandoned during the Livonian Crusade in the 13th century but some were still used in the 14th century In total there are about 470 hillforts in Latvia 2 3 Contents 1 Latgale 2 Selonia 3 Semigallia 4 Courland 5 Vidzeme 6 See also 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 External linksLatgale editAsotes hill fort nbsp Media related to Asote hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Gribulu hill fort Jersikas hill fort Kalvanu hill fort Kiuku hill fort Markovas hill fort Ratiniku hill fort Rezeknes hill fort nbsp Media related to Rezekne castle at Wikimedia Commons Siliniku hill fort Sokolades hill fort Volkenbergas hill fortSelonia editDignajas hill fort Grubeles hill fort Kalkunes hill fort Kaupres hill fort Knavu hill fort Lasu hill fort Selpils hill fort nbsp Media related to Selpils Castle ruins at Wikimedia Commons Serpinu hill fort Stupelu hill fort nbsp Media related to Stupelu hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Zilais kalns hill fortSemigallia editDaugmales hill fort Tervetes hill fort nbsp Media related to Tervete hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Incenu hill fort nbsp Media related to Incenu hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Mezotnes hill fort nbsp Media related to Mezotne hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Raktes hill fort Sparnu hill fort nbsp Media related to Sparnu hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Svetkalns hill fort Babites hill fort Sidrabenes hill fortCourland editAizputes hill fort Alsungas hill fort Arlavas hill fort Buses Matkule hill fort nbsp Media related to Matkule hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Dundagas hill fort Dzintares hill fort Embutes hill fort Grobinas hill fort Kandavas hill fort nbsp Media related to Kandava hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Kazdangas hill fort Mezites hill fort nbsp Media related to Mezites hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Padures hill fort Pures hill fort nbsp Media related to Pure hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Puzes hill fort Sabiles hill fort Talsu hill fort nbsp Media related to Talsi hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Tukuma hill fort Ugales hill fort Valtaiku hill fort Vartajas hill fort Veckuldigas hill fort nbsp Media related to Veckuldiga hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Vecmoku hill fortVidzeme editAizkraukles hill fort nbsp Media related to Aizkraukle hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Augstais hill fort Avotinkalns hill fort Beverina hill fort Darznicas hill fort Drusku hill fort nbsp Media related to Druskas Korneti hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Gribazu hill fort Kastranes hill fort Kartenes hill fort Kokneses hill fort Kubeseles hill fort kentes hill fort kivutkalns hill fort koderu hill fort nbsp Media related to koderu hillfort at Wikimedia Commons Metimnes hill fort Obzerkalns hill fort Olinkalns hill fort Pudulu hill fort Plavinu hill fort Remines hill fort Riekstu hill fort Satezeles hill fort Sarumkalns hill fort Tanisa hill fort Templa hill fort Ureles hill fort Zilaiskalns hill fort nbsp Media related to Zilaiskalns at Wikimedia CommonsSee also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hillforts in Latvia List of Estonian fortresses et contains a common list of castles fortresses forts an hillforts List of hillforts in LithuaniaReferences edit Ancient History of Latvia 11 000 BC 1200 a b Bielenstein 1869 a b Moora 1929Bibliography editBielenstein August 1869 Die altlettischen Burgberge Kurlands Riga a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Moora H 1929 1929 Die Eisenzeit in Lettland bis etwa 500 paperback ed External links editHillforts in Latvia Iron Age Hillforts in Latvia Iron Age Hillforts in Europe Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of hillforts in Latvia amp oldid 1184284572, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
