The Primeval relief of the Lower castle of Vilnius and the earliest building

LTIn the 13,h-14th centuries intensive life took place at the foot of the Upper Castle (Gediminas Hill). Wooden and masonry buildings were built, curtain defence walls were put up. The territory of the Lower Castle was formed anew by moving the river-bed of the Vilnia further off the western foot of the slope of the cape. Works on such a grand scale requiring great means could be executed only by the Grand Duke in his residence. Research data concerning the evolution of Vilnius Lower Castle presented in our report let us maintain with great probability that in the middle or in the second half of the 13th century Vilnius was the capital of Lithuania. Vilnius is the only place on the territory of Lithuania where early masonry building on such a great scale has been found. Sometimes Kernavė (there are some mounds there) is considered to have been the first capital of the Grand Dukes’ of Lithuania, however, up to now no traces of masonry buildings dating from the 13,h-14lh centuries were found there. [p. 109]