Researchers of the Faculty of Medicine were awarded for the scientific achievements investigating the remains of 1863–1864 years rebel commanders

By the resolution of the Rector of Vilnius University, Professor of the Faculty of Medicine the Department of Anatomy of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Dr Rimantas Jankauskas, Associate Professor Dr Žydrūna Miliauskienė and researcher Dr Justina Kozakaitė have been honoured by the commemorative awards for significant scientific achievements in 2019, in the category of the best applied research of Vilnius University researchers. Scholars were evaluated for the identification of the remains of 1863–1864 years rebel commanders and detailed anthropological investigation.

During 2017–2019 years archaeological excavations have been carried out by the Lithuanian National Museum on Gediminas Hill in the capital city of Vilnius, during which the remains of 1863–1864 years rebel commanders have been found. The research was carried out in cooperation with Vilnius University, the Lithuanian National Museum, the Lithuanian Institute of History and the State Forensic Medicine Service and the identities of all twenty persons have been made clear.

Prof Dr Rimantas Jankauskas coordinated identification works, analysed and summarized the data of archaeological, historical and anthropological research, Dr Justina Kozakaitė and Dr Žydrūnė Miliauskienė performed a detailed anthropological study of the remains. This research demonstrated the possibilities of interdisciplinary cooperation between Lithuanian researchers, and its results received a great international resonance. As a result of the research, an exhibition and a collective monograph, named “Identification of the remains of 1863–1864 years rebels found on Gediminas Hill” have been held at the Lithuanian National Museum.

Detailed research can be found in the publication “Identification of the remains of 1863-1864 years rebels found on Gediminas Hill”, compiled by Tamara Bairašauskaitė. Authors: Jankauskas, Rimantas; Kozakaitė, Justina; Kisielius, Giedrius; Miliauskienė, Žydrūnė; Jankauskienė, Jūratė. Vilnius: Lithuanian National Museum, 2019.