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During excavations at the Bernardinu garden, traces of Vilnius' past were uncovered: evidence of a residential neighborhood, part of a street, the foundation of a house, a furnace, and other findings, which will be soon presented to the public, writes LETA/ELTA.

"These findings could be a great attraction not only for the residents of Vilnius, but also visitors. It is a great opportunity to reinvigorate life at the park. That is why, once the work here has been completed, we will search for a way to make at least part of the findings for public display. If necessary, we might readjust the current plan for the reconstruction project of the Bernardinu garden," said Mayor of Vilnius Arturas Zuokas.

According to the archaeologist from the Preservation of Cultural Heritage organization, Mindaugas Maciulis, the most important discovery was that there used to be a neighborhood on the grounds, which shows that there is still little known about Vilnius in the seventeenth century. Also, over 500 coins have been found, making the findings at Bernardinu garden unique.

"Every time we have building developments and reconstruction projects in Lithuania, in major cities and historical places, especially the Old Town, archaeological research is carried out. The discoveries at the Bernardinu garden once again demonstrate the importance to carry these out consistently and professionally, because with these studies we open a new page in our city's history," said the director of the Cultural Heritage Department Diana Varnaite. Archaeological excavations were also expected to find the old river bank of the Vilnia.

The archaeological work and the Bernardinu garden reconstruction project (in Sereikiskiu Park) are partly financed by the Vilnius City Municipality. The European Union contributes with 10 million of the total cost of 18 million Lt.