Kernavė, city in Lithuania
Kernavė is an archaeological site with ancient mounds and settlement remains near the Neris River in Lithuania. The place shows layers from different periods, from stone tools to medieval fortifications, documenting thousands of years of human activity.
People arrived at Kernavė after glaciers melted roughly 13 000 years ago, initially hunting reindeer in the area. During the Iron Age, a fortified settlement grew here and became a major tribal center in the 13th century before the capital moved to Trakai.
The name Kernavė comes from Baltic language roots and connects to the ancient settlement on the hills. Local tradition links the mounds to stories of priests who kept sacred fires burning on the hills after the region converted to Christianity.
Visitors can explore the site on foot, with paths leading between the mounds and ruins, and a museum displays thousands of excavated objects. Parking is available, and the site is about half an hour from Vilnius by bus or car.
Although King Mindaugas is often linked to Kernavė, there is no historical proof he lived or ruled there. This long-standing misconception shows how legends and facts blur at historic sites.
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