Sēlpils
Sēlpils pilskalns — Babītes · Sēlpils Hillfort Daugava · Selburg (German) · Selpils Selian Hillfort
Late Iron Age Selian 9th–13th c Selonia (Baltic) Livonian horizon·Selian Baltic (Sēļi) — Selonia tribe between Latgals and Semigals·🇱🇻 Jēkabpils Municipality, Sala Parish, Sēlpils village on Daugava right bank 15 km south Jēkabpils (Selian tribal centre) opposite Staburags rock, Latvia
About
About Sēlpils
Sēlpils (Selburg, Selian *Sēlija*) — Selian tribal hillfort (Late Iron Age 9th–13th c, Livonian 1208 burning, Order stone castle 1373) on Daugava right bank 15 km south Jēkabpils opposite Staburags travertine rock, Central Latvia. Selian tribal centre of Sēlija (Selonia), rampart 5 m high timber-earth with stone facing, plateau 100×60 m 40 m above Daugava, lower town 3 ha. Henry of Livonia 1208 ‘Selonia fortissima’. Excavated E. Mugurēvičs: Selian pottery, Daugava trade beads, 1373 Livonian Selburg stone ruins. Pļaviņas reservoir now laps rampart base. Selian language island between Latgallians and Semigallians. View Staburags 18 m cliff opposite (now submerged).
Why it mattersSelonia capital — Selian 9th–13th c hillfort 100×60 m opposite Staburags rock Henry 1208 fortissima
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Selian language — Balt–Finnic island?
Theories
- 01Selonia buffer Latgals–Semigals Daugava
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.9th c Selian foundation; 1208 burned Henry; 1373 Selburg stone castle
- Period
- Late Iron Age Selian 9th–13th c Selonia (Baltic) Livonian horizon
- Culture
- Selian Baltic (Sēļi) — Selonia tribe between Latgals and Semigals
- Builders
- Selian Sēļi hillfort builders (Selonia centre)
- Purpose
- Selonia Selian capital 100×60 m controlling Daugava opposite Staburags rock
- Abandoned
- 1208 burned then 1373 castled; later floodplain
- Rediscovered
- Henry 1208 Selonia fortissima; Mugarēvičs excavation
- Excavation
- Excavated
9th c
Selian Sēlija centre 100×60 m Selpils Daugava
1208 CE
Henry burns Selonia fortissima Sēlpils
1373 CE
Livonian Selburg stone castle over hillfort
On the ground
Structures & features
56.3000° N · 25.6100° E · 80 m · 3 mapped features
Selian Plateau 100×60 m
plateau100×60 m 40 m above Daugava right bank Selian centre opposite Staburags
56.3005° N · 25.6105° ERampart 5 m Timber-Earth
rampartTimber-earth rampart 5 m high stone-faced burned 1208 Henry
56.2995° N · 25.6090° E1373 Selburg Stone Ruins
castleLivonian Selburg 1373 stone ruins above Selian lower town 3 ha
56.3010° N · 25.6120° E
Gallery