Archaeological Ensemble

Grobiņa Archaeological Ensemble: A Gateway to the Viking Age

Brief Description
The Grobiņa Archaeological Ensemble is considered a key to understanding the unique transformation of global communication during the Viking Age. Its distinct components—including the hillfort and settlement structures, burial mounds, flat cemeteries, and the unearthed artifacts—represent exceptionally well-preserved evidence of the earliest overseas activities of Scandinavian Vikings. During the pre-Viking period (7th–9th centuries), Grobiņa became the earliest and most significant Scandinavian overseas settlement.

Situated in the southwestern part of Latvia, near the Baltic Sea and along the banks of the Ālande River, the Grobiņa Archaeological Ensemble marks the origins of the extensive Scandinavian Viking overseas expansion. Between the 7th and 9th centuries, Scandinavian settlers coexisted with the local Western Baltic ethnic group, the Curonians, mutually adopting elements of each other’s culture and lifestyle over time.

The ensemble consists of a 6.24-hectare settlement area encompassing Grobiņa Hillfort (Skābarža Hill), the ancient town, and burial sites including Priediena, Atkalni, Smukumi, and Porāni (Pūrāni). This rich and scientifically significant archaeological heritage provides evidence of the interaction between ethnically diverse communities and cultures in pre-Viking Northern Europe, heralding a new era of overseas activities.

The ensemble is a globally unique, authentic, and well-preserved archaeological site showcasing the interaction between Scandinavian settlers and the Curonian people. Grobiņa’s significance as a Scandinavian hub is highlighted by a Gotland-style 6th–7th century stone stela featuring a carved waterfowl image and over 2,000 other artifacts discovered during excavations.