Hill fort (castle hill) is a type of hill or mountain upon which a castle is standing or used to be standing, i.e. castle hill. Objects called as hill forts are usually very different in appearance and internal structure, ranging from the early hill forts mostly similar to regular hills to clearly visible trenches and mounds of fortified castle locations. The hill fort as a defensive structure is comprised of the following two main elements: the fortified location itself and its earthwork. It is considered that the Lithuanian name of hill fort (Lith. piliakalnis) was not derived from the word castle (Lith. pilis) but rather from the verb to pour (Lith. pilti). Most often the Lithuanian hill forts are naturally formed hills and capes with human-made earthworks of defensive purpose (mounds, steeps, terraces and ditches). A settlement was usually located near the castle and sometimes a fortified outwork was constructed.

Hill forts date back to 1000 years BC. They are the most important heritage of the pagan Baltic culture. The hill forts were not that predominant in other ethnic groups and nations, including Lithuania’s neighbors, because most often people had sufficient natural resources to construct stone castles. Hill forts can be divided into groups based on ethnic principles as the hill forts of each Baltic tribe had their own distinct features.

At first, fortified settlements used to be built on hill forts. Later on, in the 5^th – 6^th century they became shelters to people living at the base of the hill to hide away from attackers. In the beginning, the hill forts served their purpose by protecting people from the attacks of the local tribes and later – from the forces of the Teutonic Order, the Swedish and the Slavs. Ever since the 10^th century people have started to reside on the hill forts and build wooden castles where the dukes lived. The hill forts stated losing their value at the end of the 14^th century and the beginning of the 15^th century. The hill forts in Lithuania are mostly from the later period as they were best fortified and largest in size.

Currently, hill forts are deemed archeological monuments protected by the State. They are included in the cultural heritage lists as places of interest and in the respective catalogues. The hill forts are cared for by the institutions responsible for protecting monuments. The present Lithuanian territory used to have over 1000 hill forts, 800 of which remained intact. Only about 10% of the hill forts were researched. Most of the hill forts are concentrated in the eastern part of Lithuania and Užnemunė. The smallest number of hill forts is recorded in the northern and the middle Lithuania. Back in the 19^th century, the interest in the country’s history increased and so did the researches of the hill forts. The hill fort studies of the 20^th century were not suspended despite the wars and other hardships. Lithuania is one of the European countries that have the highest number of remaining hill forts.

In 2005, the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania announced on its website the Atlas of the Lithuanian Hill Forts which was created by Zenonas Baubonis and Gintautas Zabiela. Printed copied of the atlas were also published; however, the circulation was scarce.  

1. General Provisions

1.1. The Lithuanian Hill Forts Awards (hereinafter referred to as the LHFA) are designed for the purpose of spreading amateur radio activities and encouraging people to learn more about the Lithuanian history.

1.2. The LHFA awards shall be awarded for contact (observation) with the amateur radio stations from the hill forts located in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania which have the LHFA identification number and are enlisted in the LHFA hill fort list.

1.3. The LHFA identification numbers shall be assigned to the hill forts by the Award Manager who also announces the hill fort list.

1.4. The hill fort list shall be updated no more than twice a year and shall be valid till the date of announcing the new list.

1.5. The hill fort identification number shall consist of two letters which are the abbreviations of the regions and the hill fort number, e.g. KL-01.

1.6. The following are the abbreviations of the regions used in the LHFA program:

AL – Alytus Region

KA – Kaunas Region

KL – Klaipėda Region

MA – Marijampolė Region

PA – Panevėžys Region

SI – Šiauliai Region

TA – Tauragė Region

TE – Telšiai Region

UT – Utena Region

VI – Vilnius Region

2. Activation of hill-forts

2.1. Amateur radio station, activating hill-forts, during the establishing of QSOs:
        - should not exceed the 100 meters distance to the top of hill-fort (according to hill-fort
         coordinates, published in LHFA list) and must operate with portable call ... /p);                                   - cannot be mobile (/m, /am, /mm);
        - cannot use active repeaters.

2.2. The hill-fort is valid and counts for activator in case 30 different stations are worked during the activation. If operation is on 50 MHz and above, minimum requirement is 5 different correspondents.

2.3. There is no limit to power, type of modulation and frequencies used, but the activator must observe the requirements of his license. It is recommended to use as many as possible frequency bands in order to give an opportunity to score the hill-fort for foreign amateur radio stations.

2.4.  Every radio amateur is obliged to honor and preserve nations cultural heritage,therefore during activation is forbidden to ride around hill-fort territory in unappropriated places, to litter, dig and destroy downhills or damage hill-forts in any other way.

3. Awards

The program includes the following awards:

LHFA - 50            for contacts  with 50 different hill forts

LHFA - 100          for contacts  with 100 different hill forts

LHFA - 150          for contacts  with 150 different hill forts

LHFA - 200          for contacts  with 200 different hill forts

LHFA - 250          for contacts  with 250 different hill forts

LHFA - 300          for contacts  with 300 different hill forts

LHFA - 350          for contacts  with 350 different hill forts

LHFA - 400          for contacts  with 400 different hill forts

LHFA - 450          for contacts  with 450 different hill forts

LHFA - 500          for contacts  with 500 different hill forts 

LHFA - 550          for contacts  with 550 different hill forts

LHFA - 600          for contacts  with 600 different hill forts

LHFA - 650          for contacts  with 650 different hill forts

LHFA - 700          for contacts  with 700 different hill forts

LHFA - 750          for contacts  with 750 different hill forts

LHFA - 800          for contacts  with 800 different hill forts

LHFA - 850          for contacts  with 850 different hill forts

LHFA - 900          for contacts  with 900 different hill forts

LHFA TROPHY  is awarded for contacts with all listed hill forts at the time of submitting the application.

LHF - ACTIVATOR     for 25 activated different hill forts

For activated 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 and 175  different hill forts issued stickers.

The awards shall be given to the activators automatically, having complied with the necessary requirements. The activators shall submit a log in ADIF format so that the activation of the hill fort is duly recorded. This should be done within 10 days.

SWL awards are issued under analogous conditions. The higher level awards and the LHFA Trophy shall only be issued when the person already has the lower level awards. The LHFA awards and LHFA Trophy shall be awarded according to the applications of the amateur radio operators. The applications shall be prepared according to the radio station journal.

QSO since 01.June  2005 are valid.

As of 2010, all the contacts shall be confirmed by LHFA e-Log

The awards may be received in electronic copy, JPG or PDF format, free of charge.

 LHFA TROPHY -  plaquette.

Please submit your applications to the Award Manager at: lhfa@qrz.lt

4. Final Provisions

4.1. Each amateur radio operator respects and preserves the cultural heritage of the nation, thus, when activating the hill forts it is strictly prohibited to drive around in the territory of the hill fort in locations not intended for such use, litter, dig, destroy the slopes or damage the hill forts in any other way.

4.2. The Award Manager shall not be held liable for the actions of the hill fort activators.

4.3. The Award Manager retains the right to change and amend the LHFA program and his decision is final and inappellable.

             AL  -   Alytus region                                 SI  -  Šiauliai region

               KA  -   Kaunas region                              TA  -  Tauragė region

           KL  -   Klaipėda region                            TE  -  Telšiai region

            MA  -  Marijampolė region                       UT  -  Utena region

            PA  -   Panevėžys region                         VI  -  Vilnius region

Elektroninis žurnalas ( e-Log ) leidžia greitai pasitikrinti patvirtintus ryšius su Lietuvos piliakalniais.

Ryšiai, kurie yra bazėje, užskaitomi LHFA diplomams gauti. Tuo pačiu galite pasitikrinti ryšius diplomams pagal WAL ir LYFF programas. Tai universali QSO bazė, kurios autorius Saulius - LY1VP.

Suaktyvavus piliakalnį, logą ADIF formate prašome atsiusti adresu: vdurk.award@gmail.com

Piliakalnių paieška qso bazėje   -    LHFA - Logsearch.

qso.qrz.lt