Landscape Transformations in the Historical Capitals of Lithuania during the 13th-14th Centuries

Research challenges long-standing assumptions about the origins of the Peninsula Castle in New Trakai, revealing it was not artificially constructed but rather a transformed glacial hill. This finding contrasts with previous scholarly beliefs and sheds new light on landscape transformations during the 13th-14th centuries in Lithuania's historical capitals—Kernavė, Trakai, and Vilnius. The study, conducted between 2018-2019, employed advanced techniques such as LiDAR data analysis, geophysical surveys, minimal-destructive archaeological investigations, and pedological methods to reconstruct the paleorelief of these landscapes. In Kernavė, extensive landscape modifications were identified, including the creation of two hillforts separated by a defensive moat, while Trakai's brick castle was strategically built on a site that required minimal transformation. These insights highlight the Gediminid dynasty's ambitious approach to shaping power centers within Lithuania's nascent state.

Kuncevičius, A., Merkytė, I., Poškienė, J., Prapiestienė, R., Vengalis, R., Vėlius, G., & Volungevičius, J. (2019). Landscape Transformations in the Historical Capitals of Lithuania during the 13th-14th Centuries. Acta Archaeologica, 90(2), 181–201. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0390.2019.12219.x