Purtse Tarakallas hill fort in North-East Estonia: archaeological excavations validating the results of geophysical studies

Abstract

Purtse Tarakallas hill fort – the second largest Iron Age hill fort in Virumaa County, northeastern Estonia is part of a larger complex of monuments, which also includes a burial ground and a settlement across the river. The 2024 studies were prompted by geophysical surveys conducted in 2023, which identified several anomalies in the courtyard of the hill fort that could indicate the presence of buildings. Two trenches were established to investigate the anomalies. Based on radiocarbon dating and artefact finds, the hill fort was in use from at least the end of the 7th century until the end of the 13th century or even the 14th century. A sunken building into the ground was discovered, which is a rare and valuable find and adds to our knowledge of life in Estonia in the early 13th century.