Archaeologists uncover defensive wall of medieval castle

In Cēsis, in the “Konrāda kvartāls”, archaeological excavations are being carried out alongside construction. Archaeologists are currently working on the second excavation site. The castle's defensive wall has been uncovered.

“The wall that was visible dates back to at least the 19th century. In order to enclose the castle territory, the real defensive wall was much more massive – 1.90 meters high and at least a meter wide,” says Oskars Ušpelis, an archaeologist at SIA “Arheoloģiskā izpēte” and adds that a defensive wall has not been uncovered in such a large area in Cēsis in recent decades. It is eight meters long. There is a known defensive wall in the courtyard of the Vanadziņa restaurant, the outcrops of which were visible when the house on Rīgas Street was rebuilt in the 1980s. Here, in the courtyard on Torņa Street, a pavilion will be built, where the preserved old defensive wall will also be exhibited.

“Just like in the first area, we will dig up to three meters below street level. There could also be a wooden building here. In the 14th century, there was one here, it was destroyed and forgotten. The 17th century plans do not show plots of land in this place, but there are some nearby. Usually, in medieval cities, the buildings are very dense, but in this place there was emptiness. We made sure that there were both wooden buildings and human burials. During the excavations, we found one burial that was carved into a log. The burial was under a basement from the second half of the 19th century. Over time, a layer of culture has accumulated. The diggers stumbled upon the ancient wooden building and carved a grave pit in the crown of the tree,” says the archaeologist. Two wooden buildings were discovered in the previous excavation area. 21 wooden samples from these buildings were transferred to the dendrochronology laboratory of the Institute of Latvian History of the University of Latvia to determine their age. Analyses show that both wooden buildings were built in the 1420s–1440s, i.e. between 1320 and 1340. The building material was common pine. There is no answer yet as to how these buildings were used.

Archaeologists have also found a 13th century oven, which is not a very common find, but the objects extracted from the ancient cultural layer will allow us to judge how the people of Cēsis lived in the Middle Ages. Confirmation has been obtained that the beginnings of the city can be attributed to the beginning of the 13th century. “In the second half of the 18th century, the city archive burned down. A large part of the written evidence was lost, there is no more older information about the 17th century. There is no evidence about earlier times, what the layout was, what the construction was like,” recalls O. Ušpelis.

Summer with torrential rains, rainy autumn did not help archaeologists in excavations. The working day often began with pumping water out of the excavation pit. “Groundwater is also seeping in at a depth of two meters. Where the tourist agency is now, there used to be a pond where the water gathered, now it has nowhere to stay,” says the archaeologist.

Every excavation brings a surprise, but what was found last summer is significant historical evidence. The finds include a metal jug with a lid, probably dating from the 16th century, a half of a 15th-16th century casting mold made of stone, intended for casting metal objects. There are also combs, writing instruments, which can be attributed to the 14th century. But this month, a 1536 Riga shilling was found near the defensive wall.

The yard area is 800 square meters. O. Ušpelis says that there will be another excavation area and an idea will be gained of what centuries have accumulated to a depth of three meters. The finds from the archaeological excavations will be transferred to the Cēsis Museum.

CENTURIES HAVE BEEN REVEALED. Archaeologists have found the defensive wall of the medieval Cēsis Castle on Torņa Street in Cēsis. It was at least 1.90 meters high and a meter wide.

Photo: Archaeological research