Lithuania searches for Vytautas the great’s remains in Vilnius cathedral
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Archaeologists in Lithuania began examining the walls of Vilnius Cathedral this month to determine if the remains of Vytautas the Great, a 15th-century ruler who never became king, are buried there.
The Lithuanian History Institute initiated the research, identifying 20 previously unexplored cavities within the cathedral’s structure. They will begin by investigating a cavity in the western wall of the St. Casimir Chapel, prompted by a hypothesis proposed by historian Saulius Poderis. Dr.
Aurimas Švedas, director of the Lithuanian History Institute, explained the team is taking a cautious approach, emphasizing the complexity of the investigation and avoiding definitive predictions about finding Vytautas’s remains. He noted that previous research into the cathedral was hampered by the political instability of the 20th century and a lack of systematic documentation.
Archaeologist Saulius Sarcevičius detailed the initial steps, which involve drilling from outside the cathedral wall to avoid damaging a historic interior wall built in the interwar period. The team will use cameras and 3D scanning technology to assess the contents of the cavity before considering any further, more invasive measures. Determining the identity of any remains found will be a secondary challenge, but the team assures they will take steps to protect any discovered artifacts.
Even if the search proves fruitless in this location, researchers plan to continue exploring the remaining cavities within the cathedral.
