Kepaluškalnis
Encyclopedia
Kepaluškalins is a mound located in Šilalė
district, close to Kaltinėnai
town, in Pilės village. It is thought to be founded in the beginning of 2nd millennium
AD. The size of the mound and the dimensions of its defence fortifications show that during the wars with Crusaders
there was one of the strongest castles in Žemaitija and the centre of Kaltinėnai
land defence as well as administration on Kepaluškalnis.
s which are flattened now. Spurs, stone projectiles and other finds have been found in this ground. The north side of the mound was fortified with even 5 bulwarks and moat
s, first 3 of which also encircled the eastern and western hillsides. There was also a moat in the southern hillside, and the bulwark behind it had a 2-metre-high outer side. Nowadays, these fortifications can be seen only in the south-western part of the mound, others are destroyed.
The mound was badly damaged by ploughing: most of the bulwarks and moats were flattened gradually. A homestead (now pulled down), located on the west side of the mound, also damaged the bulwarks. Cleaning works which took place in 2002-2004 were especially harmful for the mound historically: a path of stones leading to the upper ground was paved through the northern fortifications, and a parking lot
was built where the 5th moat had once been.
In 1990, J. Genys researched an area of 8,5m2 on the upper ground, but didn’t find any cultural layer.
and the remembrance of Žalgiris
battle was built at the foot of the mound. The place for this monument was chosen not accidentally. While fighting for power and after becoming the Grand Duke
of Lithuania
, Vytautas visited Žemaitija a lot of times. It is also very likeable that he has been to Kaltinėnai
, which was one of the most important centres of Žemaitija in those times.
, Šilalė
and Tauragė
often wave beside this altar.
St John’s Day and other festivals are celebrated on this mound. Crowds of people gather there on these days, performances are given and bonfires are burnt.
Šilale
Šilalė is a city in the Tauragė County, Lithuania. It is located north of Tauragė. River Lokysta flows through the city....
district, close to Kaltinėnai
Kaltinenai
Kaltinėnai is a little town on the west side of Lithuania, near Žemaičių highroad, Šilalė district municipality.In Kaltinėnai live about 1000 inhabitants. The town is in a hollow. People say that in the end of Ice age here was a big lake. There are many breathtaking views around Kaltinėnai...
town, in Pilės village. It is thought to be founded in the beginning of 2nd millennium
2nd millennium
File:2nd millennium montage.png|From left, clockwise: In 1492, Christopher Columbus; The American Revolution; The French Revolution; The Atomic Bomb from World War II; An alternate source of light, the Light Bulb; For the first time, a human being sets foot on the moon in 1969 during the Apollo 11...
AD. The size of the mound and the dimensions of its defence fortifications show that during the wars with Crusaders
Crusaders
The Crusaders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Christchurch that competes in the Super Rugby competition. They are the most successful team in Super Rugby history with seven titles...
there was one of the strongest castles in Žemaitija and the centre of Kaltinėnai
Kaltinenai
Kaltinėnai is a little town on the west side of Lithuania, near Žemaičių highroad, Šilalė district municipality.In Kaltinėnai live about 1000 inhabitants. The town is in a hollow. People say that in the end of Ice age here was a big lake. There are many breathtaking views around Kaltinėnai...
land defence as well as administration on Kepaluškalnis.
Remains of fortifications
The mound was founded on the edge of a highland, on a point formed by two hollows. Its hillsides are precipitous, to 20m in height. A 45 x 50m size upper ground was surrounded by bulwarkBulwark
Bulwark may refer to:*A bastion or fortifications in general*In naval terminology, an extension of a ship's sides above deck level*HMS Bulwark, any of several Royal Navy ships*USS Bulwark, any of several US Navy ships...
s which are flattened now. Spurs, stone projectiles and other finds have been found in this ground. The north side of the mound was fortified with even 5 bulwarks and moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
s, first 3 of which also encircled the eastern and western hillsides. There was also a moat in the southern hillside, and the bulwark behind it had a 2-metre-high outer side. Nowadays, these fortifications can be seen only in the south-western part of the mound, others are destroyed.
The mound was badly damaged by ploughing: most of the bulwarks and moats were flattened gradually. A homestead (now pulled down), located on the west side of the mound, also damaged the bulwarks. Cleaning works which took place in 2002-2004 were especially harmful for the mound historically: a path of stones leading to the upper ground was paved through the northern fortifications, and a parking lot
Parking lot
A parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
was built where the 5th moat had once been.
In 1990, J. Genys researched an area of 8,5m2 on the upper ground, but didn’t find any cultural layer.
Monument
In 1990, a wooden monument for Vytautas the GreatVytautas the Great
Vytautas ; styled "the Great" from the 15th century onwards; c. 1350 October 27, 1430) was one of the most famous rulers of medieval Lithuania. Vytautas was the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania which chiefly encompassed the Lithuanians and Ruthenians...
and the remembrance of Žalgiris
Žalgiris
Žalgiris is a translation of the German word Grunwald and can refer to:* Battle of Žalgiris, Lithuanian name for the Battle of Grunwald, a decisive battle in 1410* BC Žalgiris, a basketball team from Kaunas, Lithuania...
battle was built at the foot of the mound. The place for this monument was chosen not accidentally. While fighting for power and after becoming the Grand Duke
Grand Duke
The title grand duke is used in Western Europe and particularly in Germanic countries for provincial sovereigns. Grand duke is of a protocolary rank below a king but higher than a sovereign duke. Grand duke is also the usual and established translation of grand prince in languages which do not...
of Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, Vytautas visited Žemaitija a lot of times. It is also very likeable that he has been to Kaltinėnai
Kaltinenai
Kaltinėnai is a little town on the west side of Lithuania, near Žemaičių highroad, Šilalė district municipality.In Kaltinėnai live about 1000 inhabitants. The town is in a hollow. People say that in the end of Ice age here was a big lake. There are many breathtaking views around Kaltinėnai...
, which was one of the most important centres of Žemaitija in those times.
Use of the mound nowadays
On the top of Kepaluškalnis, an altar of stones was built for the remembrance of castle protectors. Flags of LithuaniaLithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, Šilalė
Šilale
Šilalė is a city in the Tauragė County, Lithuania. It is located north of Tauragė. River Lokysta flows through the city....
and Tauragė
Taurage
Tauragė is an industrial city in Lithuania, and the capital of Tauragė County. In 2011, its population was 26,444. Tauragė is situated on the Jūra River, close to the border with the Kaliningrad Oblast, and not far from the Baltic Sea coast....
often wave beside this altar.
St John’s Day and other festivals are celebrated on this mound. Crowds of people gather there on these days, performances are given and bonfires are burnt.