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Intact cultural remains with antiquities from the Semigallian period found in the castle ruins of the Livonian Order in Dobele

The Dobele Livonian Order castle ruins are currently under construction, ancient walls are being preserved, a part of the old Livonian Order castle convent building is being restored and new premises are constructed with a multifunctional exhibition hall, exposition and observational area. Along with the construction works, archaeological research works are also taking place, bringing valuable new antiques at the end of April. During the construction works, intact cultural remains were discovered in the basement of the chapel, revealing antiquities from the Semigallian period dating back to the 13th/14th centuries.

Among other valuable findings, there are rings, brooches, bells, pendants, spirals, chain jewellery fragments, wristband fragments, beads, buckles, spikes, spearheads, crossbow arrows, awl, needles, key, sandstone knife-grinder fragments, fishing hook, lead fishing weight and even hazelnuts found on site. The archaeologists have also found a medieval coin (artiga) with the inscription of Johannes Bertkow (1473-85), Bishop of Tartu, and a pfennin minted in Osnabrück in honour of Bishop Baldewin von Russel (1259-1264).

By uncovering the walls under the ground and finding antiques, we gain new information about the resistance of the Semigallians to the invasions of the Crusaders and the construction of the Livonian Castle in Dobele. The antiques will end up in the Dobele Regional History Museum, and the best-preserved objects later will definitely be exhibited in the exposition of the castle museum.