Grobiņa
Grobiņa — Grobin und Seeburg · Grobiņa Curonian-Viking Emporium · Grobin (Latvia) · Seeburg (Grobiņa)
Migration → Vendel → Viking Age 650–850 (Curonian–Scandinavian)·Curonian Baltic + Gotlandic–Swedish Vendel–Viking (Seeburg)·🇱🇻 South Kurzeme (Courland) Region, Grobiņa Municipality, Grobiņa town on Ālande River 8 km east of Liepāja Baltic coast (Curonian–Viking zone), Latvia
About
About Grobiņa
Grobiņa (Grobin/Seeburg, Cur. 650–850, Great Migration → Viking Age) on Ālande River 8 km east Liepāja, South Courland, largest Scandinavian settlement east of Baltic. Excavated B. 5 ha with 7th c rampart, and Salaspils? Actually Ālande trading settlement 2 ha with Scandinavian brooches (animal-head), Gotlandic picture stones, Curonian pottery, Arabic dirham. Historical Seeburg (Vita Ansgarii 863). Curonian–Vendel–Viking hybrid of Gotlanders and Curonians before Latvian shift.
Latvia's Viking heart. UNESCO 2017 nomination.
Why it mattersLargest Scandinavian east-Baltic emporium 650–850 — 3,000 Gotlandic–Curonian graves Seeburg
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why Gotlanders at Curonian Ālande?
Theories
- 01Gotlandic pre-Viking east Baltic colony
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.650 Gotlandic Vendel foundation; 750–850 emporium peak (Vita Ansgarii 863 Seeburg)
- Period
- Migration → Vendel → Viking Age 650–850 (Curonian–Scandinavian)
- Culture
- Curonian Baltic + Gotlandic–Swedish Vendel–Viking (Seeburg)
- Builders
- Gotlandic–Curonian emporium traders (Seeburg merchants)
- Purpose
- Ālande River Baltic emporium controlling Liepāja lagoon–Gotland–Birka corridor
- Abandoned
- c.850 (Curonian takeover)
- Rediscovered
- Nerman 1929–30 3,000 barrows; 863 Vita Ansgarii Seeburg
- Excavation
- Excavated
650 CE
Gotlandic Vendel foundation Ālande Grobiņa Seeburg
863 CE
Vita Ansgarii Seeburg in Courland
1929
Nerman excavates 3,000 barrows Priediens
On the ground
Structures & features
56.5370° N · 21.1660° E · 20 m · 3 mapped features
Ālande River Trading Settlement 2 ha
settlement2 ha Ālande settlement with Gotlandic brooches and dirham Seeburg 863
56.5375° N · 21.1665° EPriediens Flat Grave Cemetery
cemeteryGotlandic Vendel flat graves at Priediens 800 barrows with picture stones
56.5360° N · 21.1640° EGrobiņa Hillfort 0.5 ha
hillfort7th c hillfort 0.5 ha 8 m rampart above Ālande, Curonian–Scandinavian mixed
56.5380° N · 21.1678° E
Gallery