Gandinga mound

Gandinga belongs to the oldest network of Lithuanian settlements, which was formed on the eve of the formation of statehood as a system of tribal gathering centers with a defensive function. Gandinga was famous for its comfortable defensive position in the footsteps of the deep-seated Babrungas Valley. Unfortunately, written sources about this are very poor. From the letter of the Livonian Order and Bishop Heinrich's Curse on the division of the southern Curonian lands from April 5th, 1253 it is known that there was a castle of Gondinga (now Gandinga) on the mound.
The origins of the creation of Gandinga, as well as the origin of the place name, is closely related to the ethnogenesis of Samogitians and the Curonians who once lived there. This is evidenced by the abundance of legends and prevalent mythological images. There are even 14 legends collected on the Gondinga Mound.
The mound is dating from 1st millenium to the 13th century. Behind the mound, in the base area of 4 ha there is a settlement. And 400 m from the mound and to the north from the settlement there is a necropolis from the 5th-8th century.
Archaeological finds from 2007 show that this area is the only one in Lithuania with five hills in a small area. The researchers found the settlement dating the end of 1st millennium and the beginning of the 2nd millennium and the mansion. There is speculation that Gandinga could have been a city located along Babrungas and thriving in the 13th-17th centuries. In the 16th century it has even been included in the list of non-privileged Lithuanian cities. At that time, its significance equaled to Telšiai, Ukmergė, and it paid the same fee size. After the influx of Sweden, Gandinga's prosperity has ended – the settlement was extinct and the administrative center was moved to Plungė.