Archaeological Heritage in the Historic Centre of Riga: Status, Management, Development

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Historical background
• 3. The Old Riga Archaeological Complex
• 4. Status and legal framework
• 5. Development and investigations
  • 5.1 Triangle Bastion
  • 5.2 Šēra Bastion
  • 5.3 St Gertrude cemetery
  • 5.4 Kobronskanst
• 6. Conclusions

Figure 1: A fragment of Riga's city defensive wall with the Ramera Tower, reconstructed in 1987. The tower was built in the 13th century, and in the 16th century was gradually built up with residential buildings on both sides. (Photo: S. Zirne)

Figure 2: Riga with its suburbs and planned new fortifications ((Die Stadt Riga mitt Ihren Vorstaetten und projecktirten Neuen Wercken. On the cartouche at the bottom left-hand side of the engraving: Die Stadt Riga in Lieffland. Author: Johann Stridbeck, Year: 1700 (from CD: Rīga 1621.-1710. gada kartogrāfiskajos attēlos. Rīga, LNB 2007)) https://digitalabiblioteka.lv/?id=oai:the.european.library.DOM:769089&order=asc&d=2007&of=163-15855)

Figure 3: The area of the Old Riga Archaeological Complex. (Photo: J. Dambis)

Figure 4: The area of archaeological excavations led by A. Tomsons on the bank of the former Rīdzene river. (Photo: A. Tomsons)

Figure 5: The fire at Riga Castle in 2013. (Photo: J. Dambis)

Figure 6: The remains of a 13th–14th-century heating stove discovered in the basement of Riga Castle: the oldest, almost completely preserved hypocaust oven of this volume discovered in Latvia to date. (Photo: National Heritage Board)

Figure 7: St Jacob's Cathedral in Riga. (Photo: S. Zirne)

Figure 8: Burials inside St Jacob's Cathedral. (Photo: National Heritage Board)

Figure 9: The protected area of ​​the Historic Centre of Riga: 1, Old Riga Archaeological Complex; 2, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Historic Centre of Riga; 3, cultural monument of urban development, Historic Centre of the City Riga. (Author: E. Lūsēna)

Figure 10: The central part of the Historic Centre of Riga. (Photo: National Heritage Board)

Figure 11: The location of the Triangle Bastion in Riga. (Photo: S. Zirne)

Figure 12: A fragment of the Šēra Bastion discovered during reconstruction of a street. (Photo: National Heritage Board)

Figure 13: Burials discovered during archaeological excavations led by M. Lūsēns in the St Gertrude cemetery. (Photo: M. Lūsēns)

Figure 14: Remains of the Kobronskanst fortifications discovered during the construction of the Academic Centre of the University of Latvia. (Photo: National Heritage Board)