A Ruthenian city in Vilnius: according to the latest archaeological research

Archaeologist Dr Rytis Jonaitis, together with Dr Irma Kaplūnaitė, for six years has performed scientific research at Bokšto street in Vilnius. In 2006 this was the place of the discovery of the oldest known cemetery in the city, which, according to the researchers, dates back to the origins of Vilnius’ Ruthenian city, the so called Civitas Rutenica in the 13th c. Calling it a city is only conditional — in reality it is merely the city’s territory where a certain community, belonging to a particular confession, lived. According to archaeologists, the first Orthodox settlement on the northern foothill of Gediminas Hill formed in Vilnius already in the second half of the 13th c.; it is possible that they were invited here by Grand Duke Traidenis. During the reign of Grand Dukes Vytenis and Gediminas, Orthodox Christians formed as a separate community in the eastern part of the city, in the neighbourhood of Bokšto street. In the cemetery at Bokšto g., the deceased were first buried during the reign of Grand Duke Traidenis until the early 15th c