Valgale Church Hill

2020-05-06 In Cult Identity Hill Kurzeme region Latvia
Description

The protuberance of the main riverbank overgrown with trees, about 10 meters high, between two ravines of the small rivers. The hill has not been artificially modified. At its foot, there are alluvial meadows where archaeologists have discovered cairns. It is evidence that on this site ancient agriculture was developed. Stones had been taken away from areas where fields were laid out.

Narrative

According to a tale, on the hill there used to be a church; when it collapsed its bell rolled down the hill and was taken to Sabile. The tale is quite traditional, which proves that on the hill there was some ancient site. It is presumed that its origin is attributed to the hill fort located on the opposite riverbank, but it has not yet been archaeologically proved. On the hill, no remains of a building or foundation have been found. The church hill nowadays is used as a neo-pagan holy site.

Status
Information in the Register of the State Inspection for Heritage Protection.
Location
Coordinates: 57.06361, 22.45305

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Comments

On the opposite bank of the Valgale River, there is a visually inexpressive Valgale Hill Fort, which has suffered a lot in the course of time. But in the valley between both hills, there are cairns of the 3rd –7th centuries heaped when cultivating agricultural land.

Photo, video

Archive of the “Cult Identity” project








Added by



Gatis Kalniņš
Founder and maintainer of www.latvijas-pilskalni.lv, www.senvietas.lv and hillforts.eu.