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Category: LHFA

Published on Saturday, 16 March 2013 18:21

Written by Petras (LY2KM)

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Hill fort (castle hill) is a type of hill or mountain upon which a castle is standing or used to be standing, i.e. castle hill. Objects called as hill forts are usually very different in appearance and internal structure, ranging from the early hill forts mostly similar to regular hills to clearly visible trenches and mounds of fortified castle locations. The hill fort as a defensive structure is comprised of the following two main elements: the fortified location itself and its earthwork. It is considered that the Lithuanian name of hill fort (Lith. piliakalnis) was not derived from the word castle (Lith. pilis) but rather from the verb to pour (Lith. pilti). Most often the Lithuanian hill forts are naturally formed hills and capes with human-made earthworks of defensive purpose (mounds, steeps, terraces and ditches). A settlement was usually located near the castle and sometimes a fortified outwork was constructed.

 

Hill forts date back to 1000 years BC. They are the most important heritage of the pagan Baltic culture. The hill forts were not that predominant in other ethnic groups and nations, including Lithuania’s neighbors, because most often people had sufficient natural resources to construct stone castles. Hill forts can be divided into groups based on ethnic principles as the hill forts of each Baltic tribe had their own distinct features.

 

At first, fortified settlements used to be built on hill forts. Later on, in the 5^th – 6^th century they became shelters to people living at the base of the hill to hide away from attackers. In the beginning, the hill forts served their purpose by protecting people from the attacks of the local tribes and later – from the forces of the Teutonic Order, the Swedish and the Slavs. Ever since the 10^th century people have started to reside on the hill forts and build wooden castles where the dukes lived. The hill forts stated losing their value at the end of the 14^th century and the beginning of the 15^th century. The hill forts in Lithuania are mostly from the later period as they were best fortified and largest in size.

 

Currently, hill forts are deemed archeological monuments protected by the State. They are included in the cultural heritage lists as places of interest and in the respective catalogues. The hill forts are cared for by the institutions responsible for protecting monuments. The present Lithuanian territory used to have over 1000 hill forts, 800 of which remained intact. Only about 10% of the hill forts were researched. Most of the hill forts are concentrated in the eastern part of Lithuania and Užnemunė. The smallest number of hill forts is recorded in the northern and the middle Lithuania. Back in the 19^th century, the interest in the country’s history increased and so did the researches of the hill forts. The hill fort studies of the 20^th century were not suspended despite the wars and other hardships. Lithuania is one of the European countries that have the highest number of remaining hill forts.

 

In 2005, the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania announced on its website the Atlas of the Lithuanian Hill Forts which was created by Zenonas Baubonis and Gintautas Zabiela. Printed copied of the atlas were also published; however, the circulation was scarce.