2019

Cibla Ancient Burial Ground has been Cleaned up

At the beginning of a new year we are looking back at what has been done last year. In the autumn of 2018, JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) carried out clean-up works in the archaeological monument of national significance Cibla (Djatlovka) Ancient Burial Ground. In 2015, the ancient burial ground in Cibla was demolished by grave robbers.

Cibla ancient burial ground is the largest known hill cemetery in Latgale that dates back to the 11th and 14th centuries. After receiving the permission of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, under the supervision of an archaeologist the pits on the damaged hills were filled. During the clean-up works, pits of different shapes and sizes were measured in 115 hills, and fragments of human skeletons as well as various archaeological values were found in the areas damaged by the grave robbers. After photo fixation, the excavated material was inspected.

Different antiques or their fragments such as bronze rings, spirals, beads and fragments of forgings were found in the land of excavated pits next to the hills. These antiques were handed over to the National History Museum of Latvia.

The clean-up works of Cibla ancient burial ground were carried out with the help of the state financial support within the framework of the Cultural Monument Research, Rescue and Restoration Programme and the co-financing of LVM.

LVM calls on residents to be alert and report any suspicious persons walking around forests with metal detectors. It is only by joint effort that the cultural and historical heritage can be saved for future generations.