Kernavė Archaeological Site (Cultural Reserve of Kernavė)

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Kernavė Archaeological Site (Cultural Reserve of Kernavė) from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• The Belarusian-Lithuanian borderlands of the 10–13th centuries: from Krevа to Kernavė

  New archaeological and historical research reveals that the Belarusian-Lithuanian borderlands of the 10–13th centuries, particularly centers like Kreva, Halsany, Kernavė (Kernave), and Vilnius, played a pivotal role in the emergence of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Contrary to traditional perceptions, these regions exhibited advanced state formation processes during a period when East Slavic Europe faced deep crises. The study highlights significant Slavic influence on Baltic pagan settlements, fostering administrative and sacred urban functions. Kreva and Kernavė emerged as regional centers, with Kreva later becoming a domain of notable Lithuanian dukes like Alhierd (Olgierd) and Jagiello, while Kernavė served as the main residence of Duke Trojdzien. These findings suggest that ethno-cultural interaction between Slavic and Lithuanian elites drove political and economic development, laying the groundwork for the Grand Duchy's formation.

  Dziarnovich, A. I. (2020). The Belarusian-Lithuanian borderlands of the 10–13th centuries: from Krevа to Kernavė. Doklady of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 64(5), 632–640. https://doi.org/10.29235/1561-8323-2020-64-5-632-640

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• Functional Evolution of the Kernavė Hillforts in the Iron Age: New Intepretations of Old Data

  A reassessment of archaeological data from the Kernavė hillforts reveals a more complex functional evolution than previously understood, with significant changes in their use over time. The study challenges the term 'hillfort' for these sites and questions their contemporaneity within complexes. By reclassifying pottery sherds as primary, secondary, or refuse, researchers identified distinct phases of settlement, short-term activities, and long-term habitation, providing new insights into Iron Age occupation patterns in Lithuania.

  Vengalis, R., & Vėlius, G. (2019). Functional Evolution of the Kernavė Hillforts in the Iron Age: New Intepretations of Old Data. Archaeologia Lituana, 20, 75–115. https://doi.org/10.15388/archlit.2019.20.4

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• 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

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• Lithuanian Troy: Preservation and Interpretation of Kernavė, a UNESCO World Heritage Archaeological Site

  Kernavė, known as the 'Troy of Lithuania,' stands out as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich archaeological and historical significance, spanning from the Final Palaeolithic era to the present. This study highlights the critical importance of preserving and interpreting such sites, which not only shed light on the origins and development of modern society but also underscore the necessity for their conservation. The research focuses on Kernavė's unique cultural landscape and numerous archaeological objects, emphasizing its role as a 'Mecca for archaeologists.' By examining preservation, management, and interpretation strategies, the study provides valuable insights into safeguarding similar heritage sites globally.

  Poškienė, J. (2018). Lithuanian Troy: Preservation and Interpretation of Kernavė, a UNESCO World Heritage Archaeological Site. Ana­Lecta Archa­Eolo­Gica Res­so­Viensia, 13, 463–486. https://doi.org/10.15584/anarres.2018.13.22

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• XIII–XIV amžiaus Kernavės keramika

  Analysis of medieval pottery from Kernavė (13th–14th centuries) reveals the role and evolution of ceramic production in early urban society. By examining technological, morphological, and ornamental properties, researchers identified stylistic vessel groups and traced their dispersion, providing insights into functional significance and development over time and space.

  Baltramiejūnaitė, D. (2017). XIII–XIV amžiaus Kernavės keramika. Archaeologia Lituana, 17, 112–141. https://doi.org/10.15388/archlit.2016.17.10686

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• Christians in Late Pagan, and Pagans in Early Christian Lithuania: The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries

  A shift from large-scale political strategies to the personal religious preferences of dukes and their entourages was pivotal in Lithuania's Christianization, beginning with Grand Duke Jogaila. This study reveals that individual lifestyle choices, rather than grand political decisions, drove the incremental adoption of Christianity among the ruling elite during the 14th and early 15th centuries. While Christians were primarily concentrated in Vilnius and Kernavė, their presence, often encouraged by pagan rulers for skilled labor needs, solidified Christian influence. Pagans, lacking cohesive religious identity, posed no significant opposition to the grand-ducal conversion decrees of 1387. The study also highlights a syncretic religious landscape post-conversion, where folk practices persisted among lower strata and rural populations, complicating the distinction between paganism and early Christianity.

  Baronas, D. (2015). Christians in Late Pagan, and Pagans in Early Christian Lithuania: The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries. Lithuanian Historical Studies, 19(1), 51–81. https://doi.org/10.30965/25386565-01901003

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• New¹⁴C Dates of Neolithic and Early Metal Period Ceramics in Lithuania

  New radiocarbon dating of Neolithic and Early Metal Period ceramics in Lithuania has significantly revised the chronology of prehistoric pottery styles, shifting some by hundreds to a thousand years. The study, involving 23 samples from 14 sites, identified Textile Ware sherds as the oldest known in the East Baltic (4230–2920 cal BC) and dated Narva and Combed-like Wares to 3970–3370 cal BC. Bay Coast Ware, including cord-impressed vessels, was found to predate the Corded Ware/Battle Axe horizon in Europe (3940–3540 cal BC). Additionally, Globular Amphorae Ware was placed beyond the Bay Coast chronology (3450–2920 cal BC), while Žalioji type coarse ware was dated to 760–515 cal BC instead of the previously assumed 2nd millennium. Cremated human bones from urns were dated to 790–380 cal BC. The study used accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) but noted potential freshwater reservoir effects in dates derived from charred food remains.

  Piličiauskas, G., Lavento, M., Oinonen, M., & Grižas, G. (2011). New¹⁴C Dates of Neolithic and Early Metal Period Ceramics in Lithuania. Radiocarbon, 53(4), 629–643. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033822200039096

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• Archeologija „su Lietuvos TSR istorijos katedros vėliava“

  Kernavė Archaeological Site, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004, emerged as a pivotal research base for Vilnius University (VU) archaeology students during Soviet-era excavations. From 1979 to 1989, VU-led expeditions introduced students to fieldwork methods while conducting extensive investigations, including excavations at Maišiagala and Narkūnai hillforts. These efforts laid the groundwork for the establishment of the State Archaeology and History Reserve in 1989. The study highlights how limited resources during the Soviet period—despite producing only 120 graduates from the Archaeology-Museology specialty (1973–1990)—enabled foundational research, including one habilitation, one doctoral dissertation, and key monographs. Post-independence reopening of VU's Archaeology Department in 1990 marked a turning point, but the site's significance was cemented earlier through its role as a training ground for archaeologists, blending fieldwork with natural science and chemical-physical analyses on artifacts.

  Luchtanas, A. (2010). Archaeology “Under the flag of Lithuanian SSR Department of History”. Archaeologia Lituana, 11, 15–19. https://doi.org/10.15388/archlit.2010.11.5301

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