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Egils Jemeļjanovs,
leading specialist of Turaida Museum Reserve, archaeologist
Archaeological evidences about the medieval brick-kiln
of Turaida Castle
During long-term investigation of Turaida Castle, an issue has remained ambiguous – where was
the most ancient Turaida brick-kiln situated, in which the building materials – bricks, roof tiles and
floor tiles – for the castle were made. Such building that is so essential to the construction of a castle has
not been mentioned or marked in any known written sources from the late 16
th
century or the earliest
environment plan which has been preserved from the 17
th
century.
The earliest news about clay extraction for brick making in Turaida have been provided by priest
Johann Justin von Loppenowe who served in this parish from 1770 to 1818. He wrote down the history
of Turaida and among other things mentioned also the old folks’ stories about ponds of Turaida Estate
as ancient “clay pits of knights”. The exact place of brick making, according to tales, was situated on the
so-called “Brick Hillock” – about 150 m north-eastwards of the new dwelling house of Turaida Estate
manager (presently the building of the present administration of the Museum Reserve).
“Brick Hillock” – nowadays the most north-western part of Jāņkalns Hill – is a roundish mound
about 42 m in diameter. It raises about 1.5 m over the surrounding ground surface, and its surface is flat.
There is apple-garden, but especially in its northern part variously-sized fragments of ancient bricks are
seen in the soil on the surface of the mound, on the slopes and in the closest environment.
The old tales, brick fragments and the artificial shape of the mound suggested that this is the exact
place where the most ancient brick-kiln of Turaida Castle could be situated. To make sure of such a
probability, in summer 2014, archaeological trial excavation was made. The research area measuring
2 × 17 m was chosen in the south-eastern part of the mound so that it included the territory beside the
slope, the whole slope and part of the levelled hill surface. The investigation results showed that the
mound is not a natural formation but it is an artificial bank. It consists of medieval brick fragments of
different sizes as well as from separate fragments of roof tiles. The thickness of this bank made of building
ceramic fragments reached 1.5 metres. Under it grey sand was uncovered.
The mound surface was levelled and covered with burnt bricks which resembled a specially formed
pavement. In the excavation area it was uncovered almost at once after removal of sod. All the bricks of
the covering were laid flatwise – both beside each other in south-eastern – north-western direction and
athwart to them, in south-western – north-eastern direction. Closer to the south-eastern slope where a
bank of smaller brick fragments was uncovered the covering of flatwise-laid bricks probably had started
to sag. Therefore, there bricks were laid in three layers in order to make even, horizontal mound surface,
whereas the flatwise-laid bricks closer to the middle of the mound were laid only in one layer. The upper
layer was heavily damaged when already in ancient times bricks were broken out of the pavement. Only