Vilniaus raida iki XIII a ; Genesis of vilnius up to the 13th c

Abstract

The beginning of Vilnius is often dated year 1323. When the grand duke of Lithuania Gediminas wrote inviting letters to the merchants and craftsmen of Western Europe. However archaeological material shows that before that there was a specific culture with its distinctive heritage. The main problem of this work is that the topic isn`t researched enough. And that in process of time many archaeological objects might have been destroyed. Although the period of this topic is problematic enough in many aspects saying that there was nothing in Vilnius area till middle- ages isn`t correct. Archaeological findings tell something else. First people in Vilnius area appeared in late Paleolithic. In various places of Vilnius some flint artefacts were found. In the Palace of President area, in some layers of barrows of Gudeliai – Lenkiskes traces of Stone Age people were found. As well as in the suburbs. The culture of lined pottery appeared in the territory of Eastern Lithuania. Including Vilnius. Later in the same area the culture of eastern Lithuanian burial mounds appeared. In modern Vilnius there were left few objects belonging to this culture: Gudeliu – Lenkiskiu burials, Staviskiu burials, Zvirbliu burials. Hoards found in the territory of Vilnius show that at 10th -12th centuries there already was developed money system. And some trade connections with merchants from far distant countries. The shrouds of Zvirbliai burials show far distant connections as well. In latest burials dated 9th – 11th centuries there were found iron and glassware from Scandinavia, Byzantium, Hungary. Therefore in the course of time from Stone Age village Vilnius had developed to a cultural, economical, political and trading center.