Apšukalns Hill

They say that there used to be a summer solstice celebration place at the Apšukalni homestead; the place being leveled down into the gravel during the contemporary times. The Apšukalni is a large homestead located on top of a wide and gently sloping hill. The hill stands out for several meters above the nearby surroundings. Its NWW edge had been dug off into the gravel in former times. Nowadays the gravel pits have been facilitated and transformed into a water storage. While talking to the old homestead’s proprietor, it was established that before the World War II there was indeed a small hill at the homestead, overgrown by pine-trees, with a fixed-up stage where there were open-air dance parties held and summer solstice celebrated. During the years after the war, the hill was partially leveled into the gravel. This place is located between the Apšukalni homestead and Staicele – Mazsalaca highway. From the highway side, the hill, now overgrown by birch trees and marked, stands out significantly; however, its central part against the Apšukalni homestead and wider surroundings have been dug off for the needs of the gravel-pit. The gravel-pit is still being used in E direction from the hill; the proprietor has intention to transform the gravel-pit into a water storage.

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At the upper layer of the gravel-pit, when moved aside, there was a nonessential cultural layer established with split and burnt stones; however, there was no ceramics found.

Archive of the “Cult Identity” project

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  Graudiņi Jāņkalns Hill
• 
  Līciems Burial Ground and Church Site
• 
  Ozoliņi Holy Stone
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  Tauči Stone with a hollow
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  Īģe (Graudiņi) Devil's Cave