Daibji Devil’s Boat – ancient stone layer burial ground

2020-01-05 In Ancient burial ground Cult Identity Latvia Rīga region
Daibji Devil’s Boat – ancient stone layer burial ground
2020-01-05 In Ancient burial ground Cult Identity Latvia Rīga region

Location

State: Latvia
Region: Riga
County: Tukums
Parish: Irlava

Other references to the location

On the right side of the Viesata – Vaski road, about 0.5 km NE from Daibji

Coordinates

lat=56.8302333333, lon=22.9801111111
56° 49′ 48″ N, 22° 58′ 48″ E

Description

Daibji Devil’ Boat (Vella, Velna laida) is rock-hill ancient burial site. The first data about the ancient site reach back to 1925. At that time the hill was 12.2 m long, 5.8 m wide and about 1 metre high with a distictly oval shape. In 1926 when a part of the Devil’s Boat was dug off to fill a swamp several antiquities were found. In 1928, during the excavations in the Daibji Devil’s Boat guided by archeologists E. Šturms and E. Vilciņa test excavations were made which established that this is a burial site dating back to the early iron age (2nd-4th century). In the after-war years the site was partly destroyed during the straigthening of the highway. A tale has been recorded which says that there was a church instead of the Devil’s Boat. Daibji Devil’s Boat is an ancient burial site, however, the place-name and the tale about the church indicate the sacred character of the site.

Attraction

Unattractive

Availability

On the side of the road

Infrastructure, management, facilities

None

Local info

None

Capacity

0 – 9

Publicity

Unknown

Legal Status

Legal Entities

Comments

Although the Dalbji Devil’s Boat as a monument is under the state protection and it lies next to the road, there are no signs about it. However, it might be good in order not to tempt the treasury seekers to make excavations.