The ‘Anfabrik’ cliff
The first cellars in the ‘Anfabrik’ cliff were carved around the time the ‘Anfabrik’ was built nearby in 1815–1816. The cellars served both for storing food and as warehouses.
The cliff with a height of 17 metres is currently listed as a natural monument of national significance, and no further carving or engraving is allowed. However, the ‘Anfabrik’ cliff reveals many ancient inscriptions, with the oldest one dating back to 1788, as well as other inscriptions from the 19th century. Researchers from the Latvian Petroglyph Centre have also found an engraved number ‘1711’; however, it remains unclear whether it refers to a year or a date –17 November. On the right corner of the cliff’s edge, there is an inscription that reads ‘1940.13.X Jānis Osis’. It is possible that it was left by the National Theatre actor and director Jānis Osis who used to spend time vacationing at the nearby ‘Tītmaņi’ homestead. Also visible is an inscription from 1917 – a carving with a sword and a sun in the background, which represents one of the insignia variants of the Latvian Riflemen battalion divisions.
The cliff reveals another well-preserved carving dated 8 May 1921. It is a skilfully carved relief depicting the cross of Mara within a heart-shaped outline, surrounded by a silhouette of a kneeling figure. Nearby are the words ‘cross in the heart’ and ‘electricity’, along with references to Bible verses. This engraving could be associated with the rebirth of the Līgatne Paper Mill, as it recovered one of the three paper machines that had been taken to Tsarist Russia during World War I and resumed its operation on 9 May 1921. Another inscription from 29 September 1965 appears to be made after the theatre performance ‘Tailor Days at Silmači’, where ‘VLT’ most likely stands for the State Theatre of Liepāja. In the see-through cave on the left side of the cliff, scenes with a witch casting spells were filmed for the fairy-tale film ‘Thumbling’ in 1985.
