Latgalei zudušie pilskalni
Lost Hillforts for Latgale

Summary/Abstract: Hillforts in Latvia are one of the more spectacle monuments of the past. for the investigation of the hillforts in Latvia and particularly in Latgale all the time a great attention were devoted. Investigation of hillforts in Latgale started later as the investigation of the hillforts in Vidzeme and Kurzeme. The most basic invest in the discovery and description of the hillforts of Latgale gave Ernests Brastiņš, who in his book in 1928 presented 76 hillforts. Also later new other hill forts were discovered. In general 106 hillforts have been registered in Latgale From this number in the second half of 20th century seven hillforts were lost. In the remains of two hillforts of them small scale archaeological rescue excavations were undertaken. A line of other hillforts in Latgale in the second hall of 20th century was considerably demolished. All seven lost hillforts of Latgale were dug off for gravel or sand. In some cases the process of digging started before the Second World War, but total destroying were completed in 1960s - beginning of 1970s. Destroying of the hill forts were further by the lack of knowledge or ignorance of the local authorities. when the everyday needs for gravel and sand and handy access were considered as the main. Also the ruling opinion was not favourable for the protection of the hillforts and even in those situations, when the authorities or the institutions try to interrupt the process of the destroying of the hillforts to protect the hillforts was not ordinary. In many cases no official interference have been undertaken. Very possibly, that in many cases the particular destroyers of the hillforts and their supervisors do not understand that they are destroying the cultural monument. No great significance for the destiny of the hillforts played the fact, that they all were listed as protected archaeological sites. Seven destroyed hillforts of Latgale were situated in five from six regions of Latgale. This shows that the process of destroying of hillforts in Latgale was not determinate by specific local circumstances, but it was as particular segment in the general scope of particular age.

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