The Oldest Preserved Wooden Building in Vilnius
Unveiling a hidden gem, a 13th-century wooden building reveals a rich history in the heart of Vilnius
The oldest surviving wooden building in Vilnius (Late 13th Century) by UnknownNational Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
The Dawn of Gediminas’ City
Even though Vilnius' birthday is commonly associated with the first time it was mentioned in historical sources (the letters of Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas), in 1323, by this time a city was already established at this location.
Remains of the building in situ (Late 13th Century) by UnknownNational Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
The barn
When conducting archaeological research in a relatively small excavated plot, the lower cultural layer exposed the remains of a wooden log cabin (a barn) with a small cellar formed from vertical boards dug into the ground below.
A utilitarian building
No heating structure was found in the building, which is why it was not considered a residential. The massive wooden floorboards, which survived in good condition, and the nature of the artefacts suggest that this structure was once a barn used for storing various goods and food
The oldest surviving wooden building in Vilnius (Late 13th Century) by UnknownNational Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
Cat in the barn?
We know that cats were found in the Vilnius Castles territory already in the 13th–14th centuries from the discovery of a cat’s jawbone. This suggests that the opening cut into the barn doorsill was meant for a cat, which would have protected the contents from rodents.
6 Precious Treasures
A plethora of high-quality artefacts, found in the wooden barn discovered in the territory of the residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, testifies to the fact that representatives of the local elites were settling here already in the late 13th century.
The gold ring (Late 13th Century) by UnknownNational Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
1. The gold ring
It is a banded ring, made from a high quality gold alloy, decorated with a deepened foliage branch ornament. Similar plant motifs are typical decor elements found on medieval European artworks. This particular ring’s ornament has also been filled in with a bluish enamel.
The saddle (Late 13th Century) by UnknownNational Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
2. The saddle
the wooden saddle masterfully decorated by a professional artist with a polychromatic ornament dating to the late 13th century is one of the most unique examples of applied art from the Middle Ages not only within Lithuania’s archaeological material, but in a Europe-wide context.
The leather saddle cover with wings (Late 13th Century) by UnknownNational Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
3. The leather saddle cover with wings
The leather saddle cover with wings is a part of the saddle whose main purpose was to provide more comfort for the rider and protect the horse’s sides while riding.
Hames (Late 13th Century) by UnknownNational Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
4. Matching hames
Hames are the wooden part of the horse-collar, which consists of two connected hoops. These are the only example demonstrating a complete set and the earliest and most ornately decorated pair of hames to have been found in the present-day territory of Lithuania.
The ritual staff with a mace head (Late 13th Century) by UnknownNational Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
5. The ritual staff with a mace head
This work is one of the earliest, most carefully and elaborately decorated staffs. Its mace head is decorated with sun symbols, plant and geometrical motifs. The staff’s ornamentation is similar to the decor on other works found nearby (the saddle, hames and gold ring).
The pair of shoes (Late 13th Century) by UnknownNational Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania
6. The pair of shoes
This unique pair of shoes dating to the end of the 13th century stands out for its construction, the colour of the leather and the subtle work of the cobbler.
Created by Eglė Nemeikaitė
Model created by Deimantė Baubaitė
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