Šiaulių ekonomijos miestų ir miestelių raida XVI-XVIII amžiais

Favourable conditions for the development of the towns in northern central Lithuania occurred only as late as in the 15th–16th c. In the 16th and early 17th c., part of the settlements developed into the so-called small towns of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It was at that time that a mixed urbanistic system with a radial street network and a rectangular market square got formed. The absolute majority of the 16th–18th c. buildings in the towns of the Šiauliai royal estate, just like in the bigger part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, were built of timber. Only from the early 17th c., the construction of brick buildings intended for sacral or public purposes (the town hall in Joniškis) began. A more distinct separation line between the development of towns and villages can be drawn on the basis of the specific features of finds. These are finds related to trade, handicrafts and businesses: coins and coin hoards, certain types of pottery, tiles, and work tools related to specific handicrafts, products and semi-products