Medininkų pilies datavimo problemos

ENA common opinion reflected in literary sources is that the Medininkai Castle was built at the end of the 13th - first half of the 14th century. Yet scanty historical sources are insufficient for determining the precise date of building. The first mentioning of this historical monument is found in the descriptions (1387) of itineraries of the scouts of the Teutonic Order. Therefore, archaeological investigations are very important. The architecture of the Medininkai Castle is dominated by Romantic and Gothic styles. The castle is actually built at the junction of these styles. This is best demonstrated by the alcoves of the first storey of castle donjon and rib bricks. Based on historical architectural analysis, we can assume that the castle might have been built in about the second quarter-the middle of the 14th century, i.e., in the reign of GD Gediminas. This enclosed castle is an indicator of fortification of sovereign’s domain. The archaeological finds from the lowest cultural levels of the Medininkai Castle are dated to the second half of the 14th century.