Specialists from the Castle Research Center Lietuvos pilys over
ten-year period proceed with archaeological investigations at the
territory of the Vilnius Upper and Lower Castles.
Walls, towers, palaces, churches as well as other premises of the
castle were repaired, rebuilt under new styles and requirements of
the rulers of that time. At the territory of the Lower palace a layer
of a 6-8 m thick had abundance of archaeological finds. Junior generation
of scientists have accumulated valuable experience under the leader
of outstanding famous historians dr. Adolfas Tautavičius, dr. Vytautas
Urbanavičius, dr. Napoleonas Kitkauskas. Castle Research Center Lietuvos
pilys took part in a competition of the projects for the reconstruction
of the Royal palace. At present time the workers coordinate research
works of the territory. Dr.
N. Kitkauskas is nominated as a scholarly leader for the Project.
Archaeologists and architects carried out investigation of the palace
territory and its old masonry. Historians collect information, masters
of restoration conserve and restore artifacts found in the Palace.
A dendrochronological laboratory, under
the leadership of dr. Rūtilė Pukienė, was founded in 2003 (dating
of timber and wooden finds).
From 1989 the results of investigations are published in continuous
edition Royal Palace of the Vilnius Lower Castle (five volumes).
Other publications - dr. Adolfas Tautavičius
- 1. Middle Iron Age in Lithuania (the 5th-9th centuries), 2. Bibliography
of Lithuanian Archaeology (1782-1998); Dr.
Gintautas Rackevičius Crossbow and bow in Lithuania (the 13th-16th
centuries); Eduardas
Remecas Money hoard of Vilnius
Lower Castle; dr. Stasys Samalavičius An outline of Lithuanian
History and Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Vilnius; Daiva
Steponavičienė Petras Tarasenka and etc.
Constantly we organize scientific conferences,
also participate in conferences both in Lithuania and in foreign countries.
Reports and information material from conferences usually are published
in various popular editions.
The Castle Research Center Lietuvos pilys investigates both the
territory of the Royal Palace
and other objects such as the Cathedral
Square and its basements, the Upper
Castle, Vilnius old city,
the Medininkai Castle, a lot of
cemeteries from Lithuania, as well
as the territory of the Tuskulėnai estate
(searching for genocide victims of the KGB).
The Castle Research Center Lietuvos pilys collaborates with the National Museum The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania and the Royal
Palace Restoration Foundation, which supports research works,
expeditions, publications about the Royal Palace, the restorations
of the artifacts and art values from the Royal Palace, as well as
other projects related with the reconstruction works.
The Center can investigate objects of history, archaeology, architecture,
also conserve and restore archaeological finds.
The Castle Research Center Lietuvos pilys
was founded in 1993, a promoter of which is the Institute of Lithuanian
History.
