Castle Hill (228.1 m above sea level) in Szurpiły is one of the most interesting archaeological sites in Poland, picturesquely situated among four lakes. In the 9th century, the Yotvingians built a massive defensive hill fort here, complete with double ramparts, a bridge, a water canal, and other fortifications. It served as a place of refuge while life unfolded in the surrounding settlements. The complex's greatest development occurred in the 13th century; sources from this period mention the Yatvingian magnate Sjurpa , from whom Szurpiły likely derives its name. Although the conquest of Yatvingia by the Teutonic Knights in 1283 ended its independence, traces of settlements survived until the 14th century. Today, Castle Hill can be visited via an educational trail that leads through the most important elements of the former hill fort.
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