Archaeologists in Dikļi search for Livonian Metsepole castle, find first pottery shards
During excavations at Grebu hillfort and the nearby Grebu Bļodas hill in Dikļi parish, Valmiera municipality, the first pottery fragments have already been found. Researchers hope to determine whether the Livonian castle of Metsepole, mentioned in written sources, once stood here.
Archaeological work has begun in Valmiera municipality's Dikļi parish, with the largest excavations to date being carried out at Grebu hillfort and the adjacent Grebu Bļodas hill. In the initial phase, researchers have already uncovered pottery fragments just a few centimetres beneath the turf, which may point to ancient human activity in the area. These finds, however, are only the beginning, as the team is aiming to explore much deeper layers in search of answers to a long-standing historical question.
Written sources mention the Livonian castle of Metsepole, but its exact location has remained uncertain. The current excavations are intended to test whether this site could be the place described in historical records. The discovery of pottery shards provides encouragement that further work may yield more significant material.
According to the researchers, the findings may not only help solve existing questions but also raise new ones about the site's role in Latvian history. The hillfort and the nearby Bļodas hill could contain cultural layers that have yet to be studied in detail. For now, the excavations are continuing, with every find carefully documented to help reconstruct the story of this potentially important historical site.
