Lithuania Invites Scientists to Research Vilnius Cathedral Basilica Complex

Lithuania is launching a comprehensive research initiative inviting scientists from both domestic and international institutions to delve into the Vilnius Cathedral Basilica complex. The call for proposals aims to explore the basilica's multifaceted dimensions, including its historical, architectural, heritage preservation, archaeological, and art history aspects.

The Lithuanian Council of Science (LMT) will provide significant funding for selected projects, with up to 1.5 million euros available for each initiative lasting up to 48 months. Applications are due by August 14 and will be evaluated by an international expert commission. The LMT emphasizes the importance of research quality, data management, and ethical considerations in the application process.

Beyond understanding the basilica's significance within the context of world heritage, the project seeks to develop evidence-based solutions for its preservation and public presentation. A key focus will be on ensuring the research results are accessible to the public. Lithuanian research and educational institutions registered in the relevant registry are eligible to apply, with the possibility of including local or foreign partners.

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This invitation aims to bring together researchers from Lithuanian and foreign scientific and educational institutions. The project plans to examine the historical, architectural, heritage preservation, archaeological, and art history dimensions of the cathedral complex, reveal its significance in the context of world heritage, and prepare research-based solutions for its preservation and presentation to the public.

This initiative follows a recent government approval of a plan for complex research on the Vilnius Cathedral Basilica. The plan includes five types of scientific studies: historical and source-based, architectural and masonry, bioarchaeological and paleogenetic, and art research. A special working group, established earlier, will oversee these studies.

Notably, the research may also investigate hypotheses regarding the burial sites of Grand Duke Vytautas and his brother Butautas. Proposals include a pilot minimal invasive study estimated at 35,000 euros to explore potential locations for Grand Duke Vytautas's remains. Additionally, there are suggestions to commemorate Butautas's burial site in Prague and establish a pantheon for Lithuanian rulers within the cathedral.

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In the application, it will be necessary to justify how ethical issues related to research will be addressed, how data will be collected and stored, how the project's progress will be publicized, and how the results will be used. Methods for the restoration, preservation, and presentation of the cathedral to the public must also be outlined.