Vilnius trading places localization in the 14th-16th centuries

Main trading places are often mentioned in written sources, so fixation of their location usually does not cause any problems. That is the case with Vilnius, where according to the documents state the location of the main trading area of the city near the town Hall since the 15th c. However, written sources do not speak about the location of the earlier trading places. The constructions used in places where trade was conducted not on a regular basis were temporary, so localization of such places is difficult. In this case, one is to keep in mind a few basic aspects of urban spatial structure: distribution of certain articles of trade; archaeological analysis of the alleged trade places. The trading places of Vilnius were mentioned only in the written sources of the 15th century. However, the formation of Vilnius can be traced back to the late 13th century. Without any doubt, one can assume the existence of the trading places in the city at least in the 14th century. Unfortunately, any written information about the location of the earliest places of trade has not been preserved. The article will focus on the earliest trading places of Vilnius localization