Araisi Lake Dwelling Site

About

Between the 9th and 10th centuries, the Latgalians created a unusual fortified settlement on an island on Āraiši lake. Rather than sturdy stone structures, or even wooden walls, the Latgalians humble looking wooden buildings were protected by flooding the area, creating a wide moat. Archaeological excavations uncovered the remains of 151 wooden buildings, along with 3700 artefacts, and about a hundred thousand pottery fragments. The Araisi Lake Dwelling Site used the archaeological findings, ethnographic parallels, and replicas of ancient tools to reconstruct 14 buildings from the first period of the construction of the fortified settlement. On the mainland, visitors will find the ruins of a 14th century stone castle, which provides an interesting contrast to the seemingly primitive wooden settlement.