During the Archaeological Excavations, the Layers Dated to the Late 14Th

auThenTic finds: miliTary accessories During the archaeological excavations, the layers dated to the late 14th century off ered researchers many various bone crossbow parts, wooden arrows and metal arrowheads for crossbows and longbows. Written sourc- es note that the army of the king of Lithua- nia Mindaugas already had crossbow-armed mercenaries, and that from the fi rst half of the Rapier hilt, early 17th century, LDKVR 14th century crossbows had become wide- spread in the army of the Grand Duchy of Spearhead, early Lithuania. Besides the components of cross- Crossbow, longbow and arcuballista arrowheads, late 14th–early 15th century, LDKVR 15th century, bows and arrowheads, during the excava- LDKVR tions numerous other military-related fi nds from the 14th–17th centuries were also dis- Horse-grooming comb, covered: swords, battle knives, fragments of Dagger, late 15th century, LDKVR late 14th century, LDKVR small swords and rapiers, leather knife and sword scabards, battle axes, halberds, can- Bolt grooves and crossbow nut, bone or antler, non balls, parts of armour, armour plates and late 14th–early 15th century, LDKVR spurs. Some of these fi nds bore the master craft sman’s mark, or featured ornamentation Battle knife, early 15th century, LDKVR or gold gilding. Wooden crossbow arrow shaft , late 14th–early 15th century, LDKVR Of the chain mail and plate armour parts that were discovered in the territory of the Vil- Spur, mid-17th century, nius Lower Castle’s Palace of the Grand Dukes LDKVR of Lithuania, the larger sets of late 14th–early 15th-century lamellar and scale armour are Spurs, late 14th–15th century, LDKVR of particular interest. In the lamellar suit of Scaled armour plates, iron, gilding, armour, the plates were tied together rather late 14th–early 15th century, LDKVR tightly with narrow leather belts. In the scale armour suit, the plates were positioned ac- cording to a fi sh scale (or roof tile) pattern and were either rivetted or sewn onto a fab- ric or leather base. Seals also happen to off er researchers valu- able information on the armoury utilized within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Scale armour laced together, 14th–15th centuries: the soldier depicted on reconstruction by Paulius Bugys, LDKVR the seal of Grand Duke of Lithuania Kęstutis from 1379 is wearing lamellar armour. A Scale armour plates, late 14th–early 15th century, LDKVR Breastplate, late 16th century, Breastplate (cuirass), mid-17th suit of scale armour found in Vilnius is simi- LDKVR century, LDKVR lar to the so-called “Dovmont armour” which was discovered in 1960 during archaeological excavation work in the city of Dov- mont in Pskov Oblast (Russia), which along with some seals was kept in the state archive until 1510. Couter or elbow guard, Decoration with seal from the handle late 16th century, LDKVR of a sword (?), copper alloy gilt, Lamellar armour pieces laced Th e territory of the grand ducal palace in early 17th century, LDKVR together, reconstruction by the Vilnius Lower Castle also revealed plate Paulius Bugys, LDKVR armour details from the 16th–17th century: a German style breast plate dated to 1550– Stove tile with St George, with A set of lamellar armour and pieces of chain mail, a clearly visible cuirass, knight’s late 14th–early 15th century, LDKVR 1560, an Italian style elbow plate and a frag- belt, bascinet helmet with a raised visor, aventail – a curtain ment of Hussar armour (16th century), and of chainmail attached to the helmet, and a lance, thigh and neck armour plates (17th century). late 15th century, LDKVR Piece of a fl at stove tile depicting a halberdier, early 17th century, LDKVR.

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