Research

The National Museum the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania Scientific Research Center organizes, systematizes and carries out cultural, artistic, historical, archaeological and other scientific research. Together with education, science and scientific research institutions, it also organizes national as well as international conferences and seminars, implements other cultural heritage research and actualization projects related to the Palace of the Grand Dukes, holds permanent and temporary expositions, organizes exhibitions and other cultural and educational events as well as publishes research results.

The Scientific Research Center consists of Archaeology, Architecture, Archive, Culture and Art History, and Restoration Groups.

The main task of the Archaeology Group is the scientific analysis of the archaeological data that have been collected during the long-standing investigations of the territory of the Palace of the Grand Dukes. While investigating archaeological objects, the specialists of the Archaeology Group reconstruct the development and the settling of the territory of the Palace and the Vilnius Lower Castle, the change in the quality of daily life and activities, and the reflections in archaeological material of social, political as well as economic changes and events. In the Dendrochronology laboratory, research on the wooden constructions excavated during the archaeological investigations of the Vilnius Lower Castle and the reconstruction of the development of the housing of the territory are done.

The Architecture Group analyzes and summarizes the material of the previous investigations of the Palace of the Grand Dukes and the whole ensemble of Vilnius Castles, prepares the architectural development model of the former buildings of the Palace of the Grand Dukes and the Lower Castle, analyzes the artifacts related to interior and exterior architecture of the Palace that were discovered during the archaeological investigations and prepares catalogues of these details.

The Archive Group takes care of and digitizes the graphic material on the archaeological investigations transferred to the National Museum the Palace of the Grand Dukes, documents the process of investigations and records the cultural life activities of the National Museum the Palace of the Grand Dukes as well as builds up an archive of digital images.

The Culture and Art History Group explores the history of the residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in the Vilnius Lower Castle, the milestones in the development of Lithuanian statehood, the peculiarities of manor culture and the role of rulers and other historical personalities.

The priority task of the Restoration Group is the preservation of the archaeological finds discovered in the territory of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, their conservation and restoration: the preparation of the exhibits for storage and display as well as ensuring proper conditions for their storage, display and transportation. The field of preventive conservation also covers the historical exhibits owned by the National Museum the Palace of the Grand Dukes.