Jaunpils Jānis’ Hill

2019-12-12 In Cult Identity Hill Latvia Rīga region

Location

State: Latvia
Region: Riga
County: Jaunpils
Parish: Jaunpils

Other references to the location

Among fields around 300 m NE from Sparvas homestead and Sparvas Cemetery, around 400 m E from Jaunpils Kartavu Kalns (Gallows Hill) – the hillfort N from Jaunpils – on the country road of Sparvas homestead.

Coordinates

lat=56.7158333333, lon=23.0244444444
56° 42′ 56″ N, 23° 1′ 27″ E

Description

The Jānis Hill is a picturesque, well-separated, rounded elevation with a rather steep sides located among fields with the average length around 40 m, height above the nearest surroundings of 3 m, but compared to further surroundings its height increases to 5 – 6 m. On all sides of the hill there are World War II trenches. The hill is surrounded by a field which forms a 1 metre high uncultivated area towards the elevation. There both clay and gravel can be found. The N side of the hill at its foot and slope features big stones; some of them are split. Old pine-trees grow on the hill, some of them have broken off. Close to the hill there is the Jaunpils Gallows Hill – a hillfort and Sparves cemetary which has been indicated as a shrine corresponding to the hillfort in the 19th century writings. The function of the Jānis Hill is unclear, however, its name and proximmity to the hillfort might indicate the once sacred meaning of the site.