Iron Age, medieval and early modern collections - Latvijas Nacionālais vēstures muzejs

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Museum collection

Archaeology Department

Iron Age, medieval and early modern collections

The Iron Age, medieval and early modern collections are preserved in the LNMH Archaeology Department by the cultural regions of Latvia – Latgale, Vidzeme, Riga District, Kurzeme, Zemgale and Sēlija – which largely correspond to the territories inhabited by the ancient peoples.

The collection is further subdivided topographically, according to the 1939 administrative division of Latvia, which has been a fixed system. It has to do with the fact that in multi-layered sites, settlement often lasted throughout the Iron Age and continued into the Middle Ages and early modern period (e.g. a medieval stone castle built on a hillfort) therefore it is not possible to divide the archaeological material of these monuments chronologically.

Latgale Iron Age to early modern collection

The collection of Latgale Iron Age, medieval and early modern periods includes finds from archaeological excavations and stray finds found in the former Abrene, Ludza, Daugavpils and Rēzekne districts. Its chronological framework ranges from the last centuries BC to the 18^th century.

Vidzeme Iron Age to early modern collection

The collection of Vidzeme Iron Age, medieval and early modern periods includes finds from the archaeological excavations and stray finds found in the former districts of Cēsis, Madona, Valka and Valmiera. The chronological framework of the collection’s artefacts ranges from the last centuries BC to the 19^th century.

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 19^th century.

Kurzeme, Zemgale and Sēlija Iron Age to early modern collection

The collection features archaeological artefacts from the Daugava left bank (from Kurzeme, Zemgale and Sēlija), which chronologically range from the last centuries BC to the 18^th century.