Location
State: Latvia
Region: Kurzeme
County: Priekule
Parish: Bunka
Other references to the location
On the left bank of the River Vārtāja, in an air line about 6.5 km E – NE from the Krote centre, 250 m NE from the former Gravenieki homestead, in the forest.
Coordinates
lat=56.55763, lon=21.64079
56°33′ 27.5″ N 21° 38′ 26.8″ E
Description
The hill has overgrown with a thick mixed tree forest where trees of various ages can be found, among them a secular oak (circumference 4.82 m) on the W slope of the highest part of the hill. On the lowest part of the hill there is no wood, but rather a meadow. On the highest part of the hill the plateau is 30 x 60 metres large, even, on its S side 2 m below the plateau there are traces of a terrace. On the top of the S slope of the highest part of the hill there is a trench from the war. Altogether the hill is approximately 6 m high in relation to the spring running on the E side of the hill and considerably higher in relation to the Vārtāja River. The hill could still be studied to find out its role in ancient times — it could have been an ancient cult site, which is suggested by its name, a refuge or a temporarily populated hillfort which is suggested by its trimming as well as both of the roles together.
Narrative
Local people call the Idols’ Hill and its surroundings Idols’ Land. About 70 m S from the Idols’ Hill there is a very peculiar and old secular linden with the circumference 4.30 m. The peculiar feature of the linden is its slanting location at the side of a spring valley. The trunk is very much slanting towards E, moreover, the trunk is hollow as it is common with old trees. It is thought that the strange slant of the linden is due to the strong western winds.
Attraction
Good
Availability
Accessible with some difficulty. There are no information signs. The stone lies in an overgrown forest .It might be difficult to find because there are no good paths. One should walk 250 NE from the road to the former Gravenieki homestead.
Infrastructure, management, facilities
There have been no facilitation and maintenance works performed within the territory, no indication signs.
Local info
There is no information stand on site
Capacity
10 – 40
Publicity
Known
Legal Status
Private
Comments
The surroundings of the Gravenieki Idols’ Hill are little populated, however, picturesque.
