Medvegalis : A GPR Study of the Medieval Hillfort in Lithuania

Abstract

Located on the western border of the Baltic state of Lithuania, Medvėgalis was one of the strongest and most important Middle Age hillforts in the region. First mentioned in written text in 1316, Medvėgalis served as a strategic defense point against invading Crusaders until its destruction by the Teutonic Knights in 1329. Due to Lithuania being the last European country to be Christianized, the hillfort is a significant historical and cultural symbol for Lithuanians. In July of 2016, ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted at the fort’s location with the purpose of non-invasively locating areas for future archaeological investigation. Two transects and a 10x7 meter grid were collected using a pulseEKKO 1000 system with 225 MHz antennae, and a step size of 0.05 meters. Topographic data was gathered and geometrically corrected with a TopCon laser leveler. Using GFP Edit, EKKO_Project and Voxler visualization software, the data was processed resulting in 2D profiles and 3D images of the subsurface, which highlighted areas of strong radar reflections and anomalies where the remains of Medvėgalis are thought to be preserved. The findings will provide a better understanding of the fort’s location, and assist archaeologists in locating areas for future excavation.