Gedimino pilis ant Padievaičio piliakalnio
LTŠiemet minime Vilniaus 700-mečio jubiliejų, siejamą su pirmuoju Lietuvos valdovo, didžiojo kunigaikščio Gedimino miesto ir sostinės paminėjimu 1323 m. sausio 25 d. laiške Vokietijos miestams, kuriuo j Vilnių kviečiami atvykti amatininkai ir pirkliai. Mažiau kam žinomas kitas istorinis faktas, kad Lietuvos valstybę valdant didžiajam kunigaikščiui Vyteniui pirmoji Gedimino pilis buvo Žemaitijoje, ant dabartinio Padievaičio piliakalnio (Šilalės r.). Neseniai, 2020-2021 metais, Klaipėdos universiteto archeologai Gintautas Zabiela ir Vykintas Vaitkevičius ten surengė archeologinę ekspediciją ir sutiko pasidalinti savo atradimais.
ENInterview with an archaeologist of the Klaipėda University Institute of Baltic Region History and Archaeology, Dr. Gintautas Zabiela, about the exploratory research of the Padievaitis mound (Šilalė district) in 2020-2021. In this place, from the end of the 13th century, stood Gediminas Castle (as it is called in the chronicles of the Teutonic Order, from 1307 to 1329). It is believed that under the rule of the Grand Duke Vytenis, Gediminas, as a sub-monarch, ruled Samogitia from this castle and organised its defence. The well-fortified castle withstood several attacks from the Teutonic Order but was burned to the ground in 1329. Gediminas, who became the Grand Duke of Lithuania in 1316, was already residing in Vilnius. Research revealed that from the 1st to the 4th centuries there had already been a large early settlement related to trade, and its cultural layers (up to 80 cm) remain. Later, not only a castle but also a proto-city was built in this place.
