Riga district Iron Age to early modern collection
The collection includes finds from archaeological excavations and stray finds found in the former Riga District. The collection’s greatest asset is items recovered during the rescue excavation on the Daugava right bank from Pļaviņas to Riga in connection with the construction of a hydropower cascade. The chronological framework of these artefacts ranges from the last centuries BC to the 19th century. The collection consists of Liv, to a lesser extent Latgalian and Semigallian, as well as Baltic (Northern Lithuanian–Southern Latvian) artefacts from tumulus graves with a stone ring.
The collections of early Iron Age and the first half of the middle Iron Age tumulus graves with a stone ring burial sites at Krape Lejasoķēni, Ķeipene Ūsiņi and Vecpiebalga Ezēni are important for understanding Semigallian, Latgalian and Selonian ethnic history. The Semigallian presence in the Lower Daugava region in the 5th–6th centuries is reflected in the outstanding collection of the Katlakalns Pļavniekkalns burial site. The collection of the fully excavated Ķente hillfort and settlement feature artefacts characteristic of the Semigallians and their successors the Latgalians. This is the most significant collection of artefacts from middle Iron Age settlements in Latvia. The issues of the middle Iron Age in Latvia cannot be studied without the middle and late Iron Age Aizkraukle Lejasbitēni collection.
The collection contains most of the artefacts recovered from Liv archaeological sites. The most outstanding among them are the collections of the Salaspils Laukskola, the two Dole Vampenieši, Dole Rauši, Krimulda Liepenes and Turaida Pūteļi burial sites and the Aizkraukle hillfort. The Daugmale hillfort archaeological material presents ethnically mixed but predominantly Liv late Iron Age artefacts. The Daugmale hillfort collection with its 20,000 items, is the largest and most important collection of late Iron Age artefacts in the Baltics and illustrates the importance of the Daugava trade route during this period. Significant are also the collections of the Latgalian hillforts of Koknese, Oliņkalns and Lokstene.
Among the collections of stone castle artefacts, the collections of the fully researched first Baltic stone castles in Ikšķile, Mārtiņsala and Vecdole are the most noteworthy. Their significance is underscored by the collections of artefacts from the archaeological excavations of the corresponding burial sites – the churches of Ikšķile and Mārtiņsala with their respective cemeteries. The Koknese stone castle finds form the most comprehensive collection of early modern (17th century) artefacts, especially weapons, in Latvia. This collection also contains artefacts found in Riga, the most important of which are the collections of Riga Castle and the archaeological excavation site at the Audēju and Kalēju streets.
The Riga District collection contains several hoards, the most outstanding of which is the Lielvārde Ipši hoard of silver bars and jewellery which also includes two gold rings.
Head curator of the collection Ilze Mālkalniete
In order to research the museum’s collection in person, those interested are invited to fill out the contact form, indicating the topic of interest and the chronology. After receiving the form, a museum specialist will contact you.