On March 11, 2020, in commemoration of 30 years since the restoration of Lithuania's independence, the exhibition Archaeological Discoveries: New Research at the Palace of the Grand Dukes is opening at the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.
Archaeological excavation work began in this territory during the National Revival years. It is symbolic that as the country was regaining its independence, archaeologists were simultaneously uncovering a wealth of cultural heritage testifying to Lithuania's historic statehood that had been non-existent, for all intents and purposes, for 200 years. Three decades of systematic excavation work provided a great deal of knowledge about the greatness of Lithuania's history and its European cultural identity. When the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania was reconstruced, it became possible to integrate the uncovered archaeological heritage into the museum's permanent expositions housed in the historic residence.
The exhibition presents artefacts found during archaeological research conducted in the cellars of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in 2019–2020: this includes ceramic works, jewellery, unique imported ceramic and glass beaker shards, Eastern abstracted chess pieces and zooarcheological material from the late 13th to the 14th centuries. The splendid late 13th–14th century works, and the variety of animals used for food shows that Vilnius was inhabited by people from a high social class, and reflects the significance of the castle as one of the most important residences of the Lithuanian grand dukes.
Exhibition organiser
National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
Exhibition authors
Dr Povilas BLAŽEVIČIUS
Dr Jolanta KARPAVIČIENĖ
Egidijus OŽALAS
Gintautas STRIŠKA
Dovilė URBONAVIČIŪTĖ-JANKAUSKIENĖ
Rasa VALATKEVIČIENĖ
Sigita VENCKŪNIENĖ
Eglė ZAVECKIENĖ
Sketch authors
Rasa ABRAMAUSKIENĖ
Ričardas RAČINSKAS
Exhibit researchers
Nomeda KARBOČIENĖ
Violeta KISIELIENĖ
Dr Giedrė PILIČIAUSKIENĖ
Dr Rūtilė PUKIENĖ
Dr Gražina SKRIDLAITĖ
Photograph and video image authors
Vytautas ABRAMAUSKAS
Mindaugas KAMINSKAS
Mindaugas PUIDOKAS
Exhibition consultants
Dr Vydas DOLINSKAS
Eduardas KAUKLYS
Exhibition coordinator
Gintarė DŽIAUGYTĖ
Exhibit restoration care coordinators
Mantvidas MIELIAUSKAS
Jurgita KALĖJIENĖ
Andrius SALYS
Medeina STEPONAVIČIŪTĖ
Dainius ŠAVELIS
Exhibition information coordinators
Mindaugas PUIDOKAS
Ramunė VAIČIULYTĖ
Exhibition technical installation coordinators
Kęstutis KARLA
Eduardas KAUKLYS
Saulius MARTECKAS