Ancient Europe, Northeast Europe, 11 LATVIA: Pre-Roman Iron Age (500-00-50)

During this period the proto-Balts (c.2500-500 BC), a specific branch of Indo-Europeans, settled the southeastern Baltic shores and the upper Daugava and Dnieper rivers. They gradually integrated with the indigenous Narva (c.5300-1750 BC), Pit-Comb Ware (c.3900/3800-2000 BC), Corded Ware (c.2900-2300 BC), and Brushed Pottery (c.1100-00-500).

This period marked the transition from bronze to locally produced iron. It saw a move away from fortified hillforts (or the earlier hilltop settlements) towards open farmsteads, alongside the introduction of barrow and stone-cist burials. While iron production began, it was incredibly scarce at first. For several centuries (roughly 500-100 BC), people still relied heavily on bone, antler, and stone for everyday tools because local bog iron processing was still in its infancy.

Several key sites – including the hillforts at Daugmale, Skaņkalne, Mūkukalns, Ķivutkalns, and  (Krievukalns) on the right/east bank of the Venta – were either continuously inhabited or reoccupied from the Bronze Age through to the Roman Period. Consequently, their archaeological records reflect a technological evolution rather than distinct cultural breaks, making it difficult to assign specific finds to a single period.

Latvian barrow burials are characterized by stone-covered mounds that typically contain cremated remains, stone cists, or occasional inhumations. Major sites along the Daugava River, such as the Reznes barrow cemetery, exhibit continuity from the Bronze Age. Other significant sites include the Pukuļi barrow cemetery in southwestern Latvia, which, while starting later in some regional sequences, represents one of the earliest appearances of the tradition in the country.

Some cemeteries with both inhumations and cremations in pit graves are known in the interior of Latvia and Lithuania. For instance, a hundred and ten pit graves have been excavated at Raganukalns in central Latvia, but they were totally lacking in grave goods.

Wool production was a developing domestic craft, wool was the essential material for everyday protection and warmth in the northern climate. Research suggests that early Latvian cloth-makers used a range of techniques passed down from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. This included hand-spinning with drop-spindles (used to spin raw wool into yarn by twisting it while suspended) and weaving on simple looms. With the introduction of iron tools during this period, agriculture was greatly improved and became the dominant economic activity. Bronze, traded from foreigners since Latvia has no copper or tin, was used for making a wide variety of decorative ornaments.