Milzkalne Church (Sacrificial) Hill

2019-12-14 In Cult Identity Hill Latvia Rīga region

Location

State: Latvia
Region: Riga
County: Engure
Parish: Smārde

Other references to the location

In Milzkalne centre at the school

Coordinates

lat=56.9794444444, lon=23.2255555556
56° 58′ 45″ N, 23° 13′ 32″ E

Description

Towards the Milzkalne – Apšuciems highway the Church Hill was partly dug off already in ancient times; later the excavations were levelled off. The Church Hill distinguishes itself in the relief only towards the school and the previously mentioned highway; in other directions it merges with the surrounding relief. It may be assumed that the hill is in average 150 x 100 m large and around 8 m high. No ancient hill transformations can be seen on the hill. In the former gravel excavations which have grown over by now, no cultural layer features or other kind of historic evidence has been found. In legends it is said that secret sacrifices were made in the Church Hill, however a larger forest area towards the sea was called the Sacred Furrow. At the end of the 19th century open-air dances took place on the hill and nearby there was a pub. There is a high-voltage transmission line running over the hill under which only bushes are allowed.

Narrative

“[…] The hill has strong shrine traditions all over the surroundings. A former mill owner of Slocene Austra Klamane, 45 years old, whose parents had already lived here say that two roads had lead from the hill to Tukums: “the church hill” (the current highway) and the “robbers’ road” (through the forest). The latter was used by people who came to make sacrifices at the hill which had been strictly forbidden. A vast forest section surrounding the hill towards the sea from the highway was called “Sacred Furrow”. […]” Report by K. Rozītis, 4 April, 1949, stored in the archive of the Department of Archeology of the National history Museum of Latvia.”