Austriņi Medieval Cemetery

2020-04-29 In Cult Identity Latvia Place Vidzeme region

Location

State: Latvia
Region: Vidzeme
County: Priekuļi
Parish: Mārsnēni

Other references to the location

Next to the Ābeles homestead, east of the Austriņi homestead. It can be viewed also from the side of the Lembji homestead where on the side of the pond a recreation house has been created.

Coordinates

lat=57.413029547814, lon=25.558576642651
57° 24′ 46″ N, 25° 33′ 30″ E

Description

The Austriņi Medieval Cemetery and cult site are local archaeological heritage (State Inspection for Heritage Protection, No 493). The hill is common. On its eastern side there is a well visible stone wall. The stones had been placed systematically in a row along the whole eastern part of the hill. The hill itself can be easily noticed in the nearby surroundings.

Narrative

It is also called the Austrene Ancient Burial Ground. Sacrificial rituals on the hill had been held for many centuries. A tale narrates that on the Austrene Hill there used to be a shrine dedicated to the goddess Austra and a cult site – an altar. The Austrene Hill was famous in far away parishes as well, those afflicted believed that if they woke up on the Austrene Hill at sunrise, they would be healed (SlideShare Inc 2012).

Attraction

Nearby is the holiday house “Mežaiņi”, spruced up. The hill itself, though, is overgrown with underbrush and is not visually attractive.

Availability

Almost on all hill sides there are signs “Privātīpašums! Aizliegts” (“Private Property! No Trespassing”). There are two indication signs to the holiday house. On the other side of the hill you can see the Austriņi homestead, the hill’s territory almost melts into the territory owned by the homestead. To get to the hill, one has to step over a beaver ditch or the ending of the pond owned by the holiday house. A freshly graveled road leads to the “Mežaiņi”, apparently newly constructed specially for the clients of the holiday house.