Daugmale Hillfort
Dole Hillfort
Late Iron Age to Medieval (900–1200 CE)·Livonian / Latgalian·🇱🇻 Ķekava Municipality, Daugmale parish on Daugava, Latvia
About
About Daugmale Hillfort
Important Daugava port and hillfort at Daugmale (Daugava island) 12 km SE of Riga, with 3 ha hillfort (rampart 8 m high) plus 1st millennium trading place yielding 37,000 finds: Scandinavian brooches, Arab coins, weights and glass. Flourishing 10th–12th c before Riga founded 1201. Swedish-Latvian excavations (Šnore).
Why it mattersImportant Daugava port and hillfort at Daugmale (Daugava island) 12 km SE of Riga, with 3 ha hillfort (rampart 8 m high) plus 1st millennium trading place yielding 37,000 finds: Scandinavian brooches, Arab coins, weights and glass. Flourishing 10th–12th c before Riga founded 1201. Swedish-Latvian ex
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Was Daugmale a Gotlandic colony?
Theories
- 01Daugmale as Gotlandic–Livonian joint emporium preceding Riga
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.900 CE trading place; hillfort 10th century
- Period
- Late Iron Age to Medieval (900–1200 CE)
- Culture
- Livonian / Latgalian
- Purpose
- Daugava river port and Livonian trade hillfort
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
On the ground
Structures & features
56.8250° N · 24.4200° E · 18 m · 3 mapped features
Hillfort Rampart
rampart8 m high earthen bank with timber gateway
56.8255° N · 24.4205° ETrading Place Terrace
trading placeLower terrace craft area with Scandinavian finds
56.8245° N · 24.4200° EDaugava Harbour
harbourRiver beach landing for dugouts
56.8240° N · 24.4210° E
Gallery