Ėrika Striškienė. Archaeological Finds at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
The territory of Vilnius Lower Castle, which includes the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, is not a random site, but one with a continuous chronology going back to the first historical mention of Lithuania’s name (1009) and extending throughout the period of Lithuanian statehood. Until the end of the 14th century, the Vilnius castle complex consisted of three castles: the Upper (Aukštutinė), the Lower (Žemutinė) and the Crooked (Kreivoji). The most important state and church institutions were inside the walled Lower Castle. Over time, the Lower Castle became the main residence of the grand dukes of Lithuania and the kings of Poland.