NOVE NAJDBE IZ ČASOV PRESELJEVANJA NARODOV 
V SPODNJI VIPAVSKI DOLINI
NADA OSMUK
Z avod za sp o m en iško varstvo , G orica
Z ah o d n o o d vasi B ilje p r i N ovi G orici je v ja n u a r ju le ta 1976 k ra je v n a 
s k u p n o st p rip ra v lja la odk o p n o v e gram o zn ice n a p a re . št. 146 k. o. B ilje. P ri 
s tro jn e m o d s tra n je v a n ju h u m u s a n a d p eščen im i slo ji so n a šli n ek aj železnih 
p re d m e to v in k o sti. P riso tn i o pazovalci so m e d n a jd b a m i videli »turški m eč 
in živ alsk e kosti« ; n a srečo p a je la stn ik b liž n je hiše, K om el Iv an iz Bilj št. 3, 
vse p re d m e te ta k o j z b ra l in jih sh ra n il. Za n a jd b o sm o izvedeli po n a k lju č ju 
p r i en em iz m ed te re n sk ih o b h o d o v v B iljah in B u k o v ici; h ra n ite lj n a jd b e je 
o k o liščin e o p isa l po n a jb o ljš ih m očeh, saj je p re d m e te dob esed n o p o b ra l 
z b u ld o ž e r j evega p lu g a.1 K o sti n i sh ra n il v p re p rič a n ju , d a so živalske, v en d a r 
njeg o v o p is govori le o n ek aj d o lg ih k o steh , m e d te m ko lo b an je ali n je n ih 
delov n iso op azili.2
P ri o g le d u n a jd b je bilo ta k o j razvidno, d a gre za g ro b n o n ajd b o , v en d a r 
n i bilo v eč n iti m isliti n a k a k ršn o k o li razisk o v an je. V ju n iju 1976. le ta je n a 
te m m e s tu b ila o d p rta že o b sežn a, p rib ližn o 50 m širo k a , 100 m dolga in 2 do 
5 m g lo b o k a g ram oznica. N a d n u ja m e n am erav a jo u r e d iti nog o m etn o igrišče, 
za to b o d o ro b o v e ja m e še p re u re ja li v trib u n e ; o b te j p rilik i bo p o tre b e n 
n ad z o r za m o re b itn e p o sa m ič n e n a jd b e m ed h u m u so m , ki n a severnem ro b u 
se d aj č a k a v velikih k u p ih . P o se b n ih u sp e h o v p a si od tega n e ob etam o . 
Iz o p isa n ih ok o liščin n a jd b e je razu m ljiv o , d a o d o k u m e n ta c iji n a jd b e, o legi 
p o sa m e z n ih p red m e to v , n iti o zan esljiv i p rip a d n o sti k eni g ro b n i celoti n e 
m o rem o g o v o riti. N a v zh o d n em ro b u gram oznice so š o la rji p ri isk a n ju m e d 
p esk o m n a š li še kose železne p lo čev in e in eno o d zakovic, k a r vse so deli 
en eg a šč itn e g a um b a. N a k u p ih h u m u sa ob sev ern em ro b u p a so n ašli štiri za­
kovice, k i n ed v o m n o so d ijo p ra v ta k o k o k o v ju u m b a (v te j o b jav i so risa n e 
poleg o h ra n je n e g a kosa), d asi n jih o v a p rip a d n o st se v ed a ni zanesljiva.
Opis predmetov
1. Dvorezen železen m eč-spatha je dobro ohranjen. K onica lista in zaključek trn a 
m anjkata. Po vsej dolžini lista teče širok žleb. P rečka na prehodu lista v trn 
je ojačana; na njej in na trn u so sledovi lesene obloge (tab. 1, sl. 1). Mere: dolž. 
86 cm; dolž. rezila 74,5 cm; šir. rezila 5,1—3,3 cm.
464 Arheološki vestnik 29 (1978)

2. E norezen železen nož; list rezila je širok, z m očno ojačanim hrbtom . T ik pod 
h rb tišč em in po sredini lista tečeta na obeh stran e h kaneluri. Prehod iz rezila 
v tr n je zvonasto oblikovan. K onica lista in zaključek trn a sta odlom ljena (tab. 
1, sl. 2). M ere: dolž. 48 cm; dolž. rezila 38,5 cm; šir. rezila 3,8 cm.
3. E norezen železen nož; list je nekaj ožji, z m očno ojačanim hrbtom . Po sredini 
lista teče n a vsaki stran i kanelura. H rbtišče klekasto p reh a ja v zelo dolg trn a st 
n astav ek za ročaj. K onica lista in zaključek trn a m a n jk a ta (tab. 1, s l.3). Mere: 
dolž. 40 cm; dolž. rezila 26,5 cm ; šir. rezila 3,6 cm.
4. Železen ščitni um bo. Pri izkopu precej poškodovan, vendar so opazne še tudi 
sta re jše poškodbe. Je valjasto-konične oblike, gum b n a vrhu stožca m anjka. 
S podnji rob je nekoliko poševen, ohranjena je ena luknjica za zakovično p ritrje ­
v an je um ba n a podlago. K ovan je m asivno iz enega kosa (tab. 2, sl. 1). M ere: 
p re m e r um ba spodaj 15,7 cm ; viš. 9 cm.
5. K onična, tanko skovana železna prečka je m orda del ščitnega okova. T rikotno 
ra z širje n in m očno sta n jša n zaključek je poškodovan, širši in m asivnejši del 
p a odlom ljen (tab. 2, sl. 3). M ere: dolž. 14,7 cm; šir. 1,4 cm.
6. Železen predm et v obliki ta n k o skovane prečke, z d v ak ra t pravokotno zapognje­
nim zaključkom , drugi, širši del odlom ljen (tab. 2, sl. 2). Mere: viš. 14,2 cm ; šir.
6,6 cm .
7. Železna ost kopja. Stožčasto zožen tulec je v spodnjem delu odlom ljen, v njem 
so o stan k i lesenega držaja. L ist je ozke podolgovate oblike z m očno poudarjenim 
reb ro m . Robove lista sp rem lja plitva, slabo o h ran jen a dvojna kanelura. K onica 
lis ta je odlom ljena (tab. 1, sl. 5). Mere: dolž. 20,5 cm ; šir. lista 3,2 cm; največji 
p re m e r tulca 3 cm.
8. V ečji železen nož, prelom ljen v dva kosa. H rbet rezila je ojačan, p rehod iz 
lis ta v trn klekast; na n je m je opazna ojačana prečka (tab. 1, sl. 4). Mere: 
o h ran je n a dolž. 22,5 cm; šir. lista 3,3 cm.
9. M anjši železen nož. H rb et lista m očno ojačan, rezilo izrabljeno (tab. 1, sl. 7). 
M ere: dolž. 14,8 cm, šir. 2,1 cm .
10. D vodelna b ro n asta pasna spona, s trikotnim m asivnim okovom. T rn ni ohranjen. 
O kvir spone je ovalen, m asiven, n a gornji stran i o krašen s skupinam i globokih 
p reč n ih zarez; ram e za tr n in okov okroglega p resek a sta m očno stan jšan a. 
T rik o tn i okov je obešen n a ram enu s ta n jše skovano dvojno zanko, ki je bila 
p ri izkopu prelom ljena. Z gornja ploskev okova kaže sledove posrebritve; okra­
šena je z nizi krožcev in m režasto šrafiranih trikotnikov. O hranjeni s ta jedri 
dveh železnih zakovic za p ritrjev a n je , vendar oblika njihove glave ni spoznavna 
(ta b . 2, sl. 5). Mere: dolž. 9,2 cm.
11. M anjši kosi železnega ščitnega um ba: del stožčaste izbokline in dva dela pošev­
nega oboda z eno zakovico (tab. 1, sl. 8). M ere rekonstrukcije: prem er spodaj 
20,8 cm ; viš. 9 cm.
12. M anjši, popolnom a o h ran jen železen nož s širokim rezilom (tab. 1, sl. 6). Mere: 
dolž. 12,4 cm ; šir. rezila 1,6 cm.
13. Dva kosa železne, polkrožno zaključene pločevine. M orda del ščita, n a obeh 
n a eni stran i sledovi lesene obloge (tab. 2, sl. 4). M ere: 4,8 X 3,3 cm in 3,2 X 2,3 cm.
14. Š tiri velike železne zakovice s široko ploščato glavico so nedvom no del ščitnega 
okovja; p ri dveh dobro o h ran jen ih je viš. 1,5 in 1,6 cm, prem er glavic je 2,8 cm 
in p ri eni 3,1 cm. (Risane p ri u m b u tab. 2, sl. 1.)
Po opisu najdiščnih okoliščin (Kom el Ivan), zanesljivo bolj ali m anj, sodeč 
spadajo k grobni celoti n aslednji predm eti: dvorezen m eč-spatha, veliki nož, um bo, 
ost kopja, zlom ljeni veliki nož, nožič in p asn a spona. K ot že rečeno, so ostale 
p red m ete zbrali v okolici te skupne najdbe, osteoloških ostalin, najdenih skupaj 
s predm eti, ni bilo m oč zbrati, saj so jih ob izkopu zavrgli.3
Interpretacija
Z a tip o lo šk o in k ro n o lo šk o o p re d e lite v slu č a jn e n a jd b e iz B ilj u p o šte v a m o 
sam o p re d m e te iz d o m n e v n e g ro b n e celote, saj o s ta li ko si u g o to v itv a m n e 
o p o re k a jo . A nalogije za g ro b n o ce lo to im a m o v in v e n ta rju v o ja šk ih g ro b o v

g e rm a n sk ih p le m en iz časa p re se lje v a n ja n aro d o v .4 D olg, dvorezen m eč, im e­
n o v an s p a th a je p o g o st p rid a te k v v o ja šk ih g ro b o v ih iz teg a o b d o b ja ; za n a š 
p rim e re k je m o ž n a le o k v irn a d a ta c ija v 5.— 6. sto le tje , saj n i v celoti o h ra n je n .5
Dolgi, en o rezn i, b o jn i noži, p r i g erm a n sk ih p le m e n ih im enovani saxi ali 
sc ra m a sa x i, p ra v ta k o so d ijo k b o jn i o p rem i, p o vezani so z novim n ačin o m 
b o je v a n ja n a k o n jih , k i se je u v eljav ilo s p o ja v o m H u n o v v E vropi. Za an a lo ­
g ijo se sta v a g ro b n e celo te im a m o p rim e r v g ro b u 44 iz S zen te n d ra v P an o n iji.6 
V rezane žleb iče o ziro m a k a n e lu re n a noževem listu , k i jih zarad i slab še o h r a ­
n je n o sti p re d m e to v a v to rji s ic e r n e o m e n jajo , p a p o z n a m o z n ekaj m a n jše g a 
p rim e rk a iz d veh sk e le tn ih g ro b o v , o d k ritih 1943, v G orici.7 O kvirna časovna 
d o lo čitev tu d i za n je je 5.— 6. sto le tje .
O st k o p ja k o t m e taln o o ro ž je je p ri v elik o sti n a še g a p re d m e ta gotovo 
u p ra v ič e n o p o im en o v an je. N aj b liž jo k ra je v n o a n a lo g ijo im am o sp e t v o b eh 
g ro b o v ih iz G orice, ki ju S. S tu c c h i okvirno d a tira v 6. sto le tje .7 3
O b lik a n a še g a ščitn eg a u m b a sodi po J. W e rn e rju v čas p an o n sk e faze 
la n g o b a rd sk e zgodovine. V s re d in i 6. sto le tja naj b i cilin d ričn o -k o n ičn a o b lik a 
u m b a z a č e la p o sto p n o p r e h a ja ti v p o lk ro žn o obliko, k i jo pozna sev ern a I ta ­
lija .8 A n alo g ijo n aši o b lik i im a m o tu d i v gro b o v ih št. 44 v S z e n ten d ru in št. 31 
v K a jd a c s u .9
B ro n a s ta p a s n a sp o n a je p o sv o ji obliki tip o lo šk o in k ro n o lo šk o n a jz a n e slji­
v eje o p re d e ljiv p re d m e t v se sta v u groba. Z. V inski je v svoji o b širn i analizi 
o b lik o v n eg a z a k la d a k asn e a n tik e p oim enoval ta tip s p o n e : d v o d eln a m e d ite ­
ra n s k a p a s n a spona, k i se v te j v elik o sti v d ru g i p o lo v ici 6. sto le tja začne p o ­
ja v lja ti v g ro b o v ih g e rm a n sk ih vojščakov, izv ira p a iz k asn o a n tič n ih ozirom a 
z g o d n je b iz a n tin sk ih delavnic.1 0 M ed štev iln im i z b ra n im i p rim e ri n a jd e m o za 
n a šo sp o n o n ajb liž jo an a lo g ijo v sponi iz g ro b išč a S. G iovanni v Č edadu,1 1 
o b lik o v n o n a js o ro d n e jš a p a je sp o n a iz G u n d o lfin g en a.1 2 P o m em b n a e lem e n ta 
za ožjo č a so v n o določitev sp o n e, to je tr n in o b lik a glavic n a zakovicah, m a n j­
k a ta . O k ra s iz nizov krožcev, p o Z. V inskem tip iče n elem e n t k asn o an tičn eg a 
u s tv a rja n ja ,1 3 je n a te j sponi d o p o ln je n z v m e sn im a n izo m a m rež asto šrafira- 
n ih trik o tn ik o v , k a r že kaže v p liv o k u sa in že lja g e rm a n sk ih n aro čn ik o v v d e ­
lav n icah s sta ro se lsk o tra d ic ijo . D vodelne sp o n e s trik o tn im okovom , ki jih 
p o z n a ta k ra n js k o in rifn išk o g ro b išč e 1 4 in za k a te re d o m n e v a Z. V inski d elav­
n ico n e k je v jugovzhodno a lp sk e m p ro s to ru ,1 5 se p o izdelavi in o b lik i to lik o 
ra z lik u je jo o d k o sa iz B ilj, d a g a n e m o rem o p r iš te ti v n jih o v kro g , čerav n o 
jim je s k u p e n o k ras v tis n je n ih k ro žcev na trik o tn e m o k ovu.
A naliza p o sa m ez n ih p re d m e to v je to re j p o k azala, d a sm em o n a jd b o b re z 
p rid rž k o v p rip is a ti v o ja šk e m u g ro b u g erm an sk eg a p o re k la ,1 6 časovno glede n a 
p asn o sp o n o p o sta v lje n o v d ru g o polovico 6. s to le tja . O stali p re d m e ti te 
slu č a jn e n a jd b e n ek o lik o o p o z a rja jo n a p re v id n o st p r i o p re d e lje v a n ju obsega 
n a jd b e : d eli dru g eg a šč itn e g a u m b a kažejo n a m re č , d a je b il n a te m m e stu 
vsaj še e n v o ja šk i p o k o p , če n e več. P red o d p ira n je m gram o zn ice n a te m m e stu 
so ležale to d obd elo v aln e p o v ršin e in m ožno je , d a so p o ljs k a dela v p re te k lo sti 
že u n ič ila k a te re g a izm ed g ro b o v .1 7 V se d a n ji situ a c iji, k o je k ak ršn o k o li ra z ­
isk o v a n je v te j sm eri nem ogoče, p a se m o ram o z a d o v o ljiti s h ip o te tič n im i 
p re d p o sta v k a m i.

1 S lučajna najd b a oljenke v Biljah. — O il la m p a t B ilje (chance fin d )
Ob te m je tr e b a p o v e d a ti n e k a j b esed tu d i o š irš e m o k o lišu g ro b n e n a jd b e 
iz č a s a p re se lje v a n ja . N a jd išč e (sl. 2, 6) leži o k ro g sto m e tro v ju ž n o o d p r i­
b liž n eg a p o te k a rim sk e itin e r a r s k e ce ste A q u ile a -E m o n a ,ls v v zh o d n e m d elu 
v asi še o h ra n je n e v o b lik i širo k e g a n a sip a (sl. 2, 5), k i p o te k a n ek a j ju ž n e je 
o d s e d a n je ce ste M iren — B ilje — B ukovica— V o lčja d rag a . V z a h o d n e m d elu 
v e rje tn o te č e tr a s a a n tič n e c e s te p o d se d a n jo v s m e ri p r o ti k rižišču za M iren 
in N o v o G orico, sa j so to d n a o b e h s tra n e h c e ste , še p o se b ej p a n a ledini 
P ra p ro tn o zah o d n o o d k rižišča , z n a n e s ta re jš e a n tič n e g ro b n e n a jd b e 1 9 (sl. 2,
1, 2). N a b iv še m g ra šč in sk e m v r tu so zn an e n a jd b e g ro b o v in n a g ro b n ik a (sl.
2, 3).2 0 S ev ern o o d ce ste in se d a n je g a v ašk eg a p o k o p a lišč a je F ra n c V o lk p ri 
rig o la n ju p r e d n e k a j leti n a š e l k a s n o a n tič n o o lje n k o h ru š a s te o b lik e (tip 
Iv an y i XII), k i je o k v irn o d a tir a n a v čas 4.—5. s to le tje ( sl. 1 ).2 1 V n e p o s re d n i 
b liž in i je b ila p o le ti 1976. le ta n a p are . št. 201/1 in 201/7 k. o. B ilje v p ro filu

PRAPROTNO
KRIŽCIJAN
006
O
A ntično g ro b išč e ob c e s ti-s ta r e jš e n a jd b e . - R ö m is c h e s 
G rä b erfe ld - a lte F u n d e .
N ajd išče oljenke iz 4.stol. - F u n d s te lle d e r Ö lla m p e , 4. J h d t. 
R im sko c e s tiš č e . - R ö m is h e r S tr a s s e n k ö r p e r .
U ničeno g ro b išč e iz 6. s to l.- Z e r s tö r te s G r ä b e rfe ld d e s ß .Jh d ts. 
D an ašn je naselje. - H e u tig e s O r ts c h a f t.
B U K O V I«^
BRITOF
_ o O O O O
2 A rheološka k a rta antičnih in zgodnjesrednjeveških najdb v B iljah in okolici. — A rchaeological m a p o f R o m a n and
early m edia eva l fin d s a t B ilje and its su rro u n d in g s

3 L angobardska najdišča n a vzhodnem robu F urlanije. — L o m b a rd ie site on the
ea stern edge o f F riuli
iz k o p a u g o to v lje n a s tr n je n a a n tič n a k u ltu rn a p la s t (sl. 2, 4 ).2a V zhodno od 
vasi B ilje je b il v o p u šč e n e m g lin o k o p u G o rišk ih o p e k a rn v id e n o s ta n e k 
a n tič n e g a k a n a la in več a n tič n e k e ra m ik e , po leg so m e n d a n a lete li tu d i n a del 
c e stišč a .2 8 V p r o s to r m e d v a si B ilje in B u k o v ic a je te o re tič n o p o sta v lje n a 
rim s k a c e s tn a p o s ta ja A d F o r n u lo s ,2i k i p a n a te re n u sam em še n i lo c ira n a 
d o lo č n eje .
G ro b [a li g ro b o v i] g e rm a n sk e g a v o ja k a o b g lav n i p ro m e tn i zvezi z B a lk a n a 
v I ta lijo to re j n ik a k o r n i p re s e n e tljiv ali iz je m e n p o ja v . Žal o s ta ja n jeg o v a 
iz p o v ed n a v re d n o st z a ra d i o k o lišč in n a jd b e n ep o p o ln a . K lju b te m u p a bo 
g o to v o n e k a j p risp e v a la k re š e v a n ju ali v sa j o sv e tlitv i p ro b le m a tik e č a sa p re ­
se lje v a n ja n a ro d o v o z iro m a v p ra š a n ja 6. s to le tja v sp o d n ji V ipavski do lin i.
N a te m m e stu n e n a m e ra v a m o seči v širo k o ra z p ra v o o te m v p ra ša n ju , 
saj so ga p o se b ej v z a d n jih le tih o b ra v n a v a li m n o g i a v to rji.243 O m ejila se b o m 
n a n a jn o v e jš o štu d ijo D. S v o ljša k a in T. K nifica, v k a te ri s ta a v to rja d o se d a n je 
iz sle d k e u p o šte v a la in p riš la do z a k lju č k a , d a je b ila sp o d n ja V ip av sk a d o lin a do 
V rto v in a v la n g o b a rd sk ih r o k a h v saj do z a č e tk a 7. s to le tja in d a a lp sk i S lovani 
Soče d o le ta 600 n iso d o seg li.2 5 N a jd b a iz B ilj to trd ite v p o d p ira . G lede n a 
a n a lo g ije g ro b n ih c e lo t u p ra v ič e n o p rip isu je m o n a jd b o g ro b u la n g o b a rd sk e g a

v eljak a ali v sa j p rip a d n ik a la n g o b a rd sk e v ojske,2 6 to re j je sp o d n ja časovna 
m e ja za te k r a je ob Soči, n a p ra g u Ita lije , le to 5Ó8.2 7
O b lik a šč itn e g a u m b a je še s ta re jš a , p rip isa n a p a n o n s k i fazi lan g o b ard sk e 
zgodovine, to re j v e rje tn o n e p re se g a o b d o b ja n e k a j d e se t le t po p rih o d u v 
Ita lijo ;2 8 is to v e lja za velike b o jn e nože.2 9 Za v ečd eln e p a s n e g a rn itu re iz 6. sto ­
le tja , k a te r i je n a ša sp o n a o b lik o v n o so ro d n a in isto č a sn a , m eni J. W erner, 
d a so jih L an g o b a rd i p rev zeli v n o šo šele v Ita liji in d a se n iso dolgo o b d ržale.3 0 
K o t že re č e n o , Z. V inski d a tira v 2. polovico 6. s to le tja to v rstn e dvodelne m e d i­
te ra n sk e p a s n e spone. N a jv e rje tn e jš a je zato d a ta c ija g ro b a v za d n ja d e s e tle tja
6. s to le tja , z g o rn ja časo v n a m e ja to s tra n Soče p a je gotovo leto 610 in v p ad 
A varov v Č edad.3 1
1 Z ahvaljujem se Kom el Ivanu iz 
Bilj št. 3 za skrbno hranjenje dragoce­
nih najdb in za pomoč pri rek o n stru k ­
ciji najdb te r T atjani K rasovski za risa­
n je predm etov.
2 O bdelovalna površina je na tem 
m estu m o rd a že poškodovala više ležeče 
grobove; globine groba nism o m ogli ugo­
toviti (hum ozna plast je največ pol 
m etra debela).
3 Tem u je bilo vzrok predvsem pre­
pričanje, d a so to živalske kosti, nam reč 
kot ostanki prehrane z m esom drobnice 
vojaških enot povojne okupacije »cone 
A«, ki se je vaščani s posm ehom spom i­
njajo.
4 I. Bòna, Langobarden in Ungarn, 
A V 21—22 (1970-71) 45 ss, Abb. 3—6. J. 
W erner, D ie L angobarden in P annonien 
(M ünchen 1962): V ärpalota, G rab 11 in 
25, Taf. 4 in 13. Z. Vinski, A rheološki spo­
m enici velike seobe naroda u Srijem u, 
S itu la 2 (1957) 21—27: grobni nalaz iz 
okolice B atajnice.
5 Z. V inski, o. c. 21. J. W erner, o. c. 79.
6 I. Bòna, A V 21—22 (1970-71) Abb. 
3, 4.
7 S. Stucchi, Gorizia, N o tizie degli 
S ca vi d i A n tic h ità Ser. 8, Voi. 6, Fase. 
1—2 (R om a 1947) 41.
7a S. S tucchi, o. c. 42.
8 J. W erner, o. c. 80 (Poysdorf : Grab 
6, T af.45, 3).
9 I. Bòna, o. c. Abb. 3—6.
1 0 Z. Vinski, K asnoantički staro sjed i­
oci u salonitanskoj regiji p rem a arheo­
loškoj ostavštini predslavenskog sup­
strata, V je s n ik za arheologiju i h isto riju 
d a lm a tin sk u 69 (1967 [Split 1974]) 45.
1 1 Z. V inski, o. c. tab. XLV, 6.
1 2 Z. V inski, o. c. tab. XLVIII, 8.
1 3 Z. V inski, o. c. 46.
1 4 Z. V inski, o. c. tab. XLVII, 1 —4.
1 5 Z. Vinski, o. c. 46.
1 6 J. W erner, D ie L angobarden in P an­
nonien (1962) 80 k je r piše: popolna b o j­
na oprem a v grobu (spatha, sulica, ščit) 
označuje določen vojaški sloj. I. Bòna, 
A V 21—22 (1970-71) 54: p ri Langobardih 
im enuje ta sloj »arimanni«, kajti, n je­
govi m oški pripadniki so pokopani s pol­
no bojno oprem o.
1 7 I.B óna, o. c. 53; navaja, da so gro­
bovi veljakov v Panoniji vkopani zelo 
globoko.
1 8 S. R utar, R im ska cesta Aquileia— 
Siscia, Iz v e s tja M uz. d ru štva za K ra n j­
sk o 9 (1899) 28.
1 9 A rh eo lo ška najdišča S lo ven ije 
(A N S I), L jubljana 1975, 126: Bilje.
2 0 Ib id em .
2 1 Z. Šubic, Rim ske oljenke v Sloveni­
ji, AV 26 (1975) 83, T.5—19.
2 2 Poročilo Zavoda za spom eniško 
varstvo G orica v V a rstvu sp o m en iko v 
za leto 1976.
2 3 D. Svoljšak, V arstvo sp o m en iko v 12 
(1969) 86.
2 4 S. R utar, o. c. 28: M utatio Ad For- 
nulos om enja na cesti Aquileia-Siscia 
Itin e ra riu m B urdigalense. Novejša do­
gnanja se bolj nagibajo k lokaciji Be- 
zovlak (Prvačina) v dolini potoka Vo- 
grščka: cfr. J. šašel, Rim ske ceste v Slo­
veniji, A N SI (1975) 78, 88 in tam nave­
dena literatura.
2 4 a J. šašel, Alpes Iuliana, A V 21—22 
(1970-71) 39—42 z literaturo; Idem , 
K zgodovini Julij sko-alpskega obram bne­
ga področja, S itu la 14— 15 (1974) 260. 
B. G rafenauer, Z godovina slovenskega 
naroda I (1964) 300 ss; Idem , Naselitev 
Slovanov v V zhodnih Alpah in vprašanje 
kontinuitete, A V 21—22 (1970-71) 27 in 
tam zbrana literatura.

2 5 D. Svoljšak, T. Knific, V ip a v sk a do­
lina — zg o d n je sre d n jev ešk a n a jd išča , Si­
tula 17 (1976) z zbrano literaturo.
2 6 I. Bòna, A V 21—22 (1970-71) 54.
2 7 P aulus Diaconus, H ist. Lang. II, 7.
2 8 J. W erner, Die L a n g o b a rd en in P an­
n o n ien (1962) 80.
2 9 Ib id e m .
3 0 J. W erner, N o m a d isch e G ü rtel bei 
P ersern, B y sa n tin e r n u n d L angobarden, 
Atti della Accad. Naz. dei Lincei (Rom a
1974) 109.
3 1 Paulus Diaconus, H ist. Lang. IV, 
37. J. W erner, o. c. 125, op. 4.
NEW FINDS FROM T H E PERIOD OF THE GREAT MIGRATIONS 
IN T H E LOWER VIPAVA VALLEY
In Ja n u ary 1976 th e local council w ere p rep arin g to dig a new gravel p it on 
site n u m b e r 146 of the Bilje section of the Land R egister, i. e. w est of the village of 
Bilje, n e a r Nova Gorica. D uring the rem oval of the topsoil above the gravel layers, 
several iron objects an d bones w ere found. W itnesses saw “a T urkish sw ord and 
anim al bones” am ong the finds; luckily the ow ner of a nearby house, Ivan Komel, 
picked up all the objects im m ediately and stored th em away. We learn t about 
the finds accidentally on one of o u r field trip s to B ilje and Bukovica, w hen the 
m an w ho w as keeping the finds described to the b e st of his ability how they had 
been discovered — he had literally snatched them aw ay from the bulldozer’s 
plough!1 H e did not keep th e bones, in the belief th a t they w ere anim al bones, 
b u t his description indicated th a t there w ere only a few long bones and no signs 
of a skull o r any pieces of one.2
At firs t sight of th e finds it w as obvious th a t these w ere grave goods, b u t there 
was no question of even attem p tin g an excavation. On this site in June 1976 an 
extensive gravel pit h a d been opened, about 50 m w ide, 100 m long and 2 to 5 m etres 
deep. The intention is to m ake a football p itch on the floor of the pit, so the 
sides are being tu rn ed into stands. During this w o rk a lookout m ust be kept for 
possible individual finds am ong th e topsoil, w hich is piled in great heaps on the 
n o rth e rn edge. I do n o t hope fo r any p articu lar success in this, how ever. I t is 
obvious from th e circum stances of the finding of th e objects th a t w e cannot speak 
about th e position of individual articles or even reliably state w hether they belong 
to a single grave or not. C hildren searching thro u g h th e sand on the eastern edge 
of th e gravel p it found pieces of iron plate an d a rivet, all p arts of a shield boss. 
In a pile of ea rth on the n o rth e rn edge they found 4 rivets w hich undoubtedly are 
p a rt of the fittings of a b o ss (they are draw n in th is publication alongside the 
pieces of iron), although of course there is no g uarantee th a t they all belong to the 
sam e shield.
Description of the finds
1) Double-edged iron sw ord/spatha — well preserved. The tip of the blade and 
en d of th e tang are m issing. A wide groove ru n s the length of the blade. The 
cross-piece a t th e join of tan g and blade is reinforced; there are traces of 
a w ooden covering on b o th the cross-piece and th e tang (Table 1, pic. 1). Dimen­
sions: length 86 cm , length of blade 74.5 cm, w idth of blade 5.1—3.3 cm.
2) Single-edged iron knife; w ide blade w ith strongly reinforced back. Two grooves 
ru n n in g ju s t below the spine and along the m iddle of the blade on b o th sides. 
T he p a rt betw een blade an d tang is bell-shaped. The tip of the blade and end 
of the tang are broken off (Table 1, pic. 2). D im ensions: length 48 cm , length 
o f b lade 38.5 cm, w idth of blade 3.8 cm.
3) Single-edged iron knife; th e blade is som ew hat narro w er w ith a greatly rein­
forced back. A groove ru n s along the m iddle of b o th sides. The spine continues 
in to a hooked, very long, tang-like p rotuberance fo r the handle. Blade tip and 
en d of tang m issing (Table 1, pic. 3). D im ensions: length 40 cm, length of blade
26.5 cm, w idth of blade 3.6 cm.
4) Iron/shield boss. Considerably dam aged on excavation, b u t earlier dam age is 
also visible. C ylindrical/conical in shape; the knob at the top of th e cone is

m issing. The lower edge is som ew hat askew; one hole for riveting the boss 
on to a base is still visible. H eavy structure, forged from one piece (Table 2, 
pic. 1). Dimensions: low er diam eter 5.7 cm, upper 9 cm.
5) Conical, thinly beaten iron cross-piece, perhaps p a rt of shield mounting. The 
very thin, triangular, splayed out endpiece is dam aged, while the wider, heavier 
p a rt is broken off (Table 2, pic. 3). Dimensions: length 14.7 cm, w idth 1.4 cm.
6) Iron object in the form of thinly beaten cross-piece w ith an end-piece bent 
twice a t right angles; the second, w ider p a rt is b roken off (Table 2, pic. 2). 
D im ensions: height 14.2 cm, w idth 6.6 cm.
7) Iron sp ear head. The lower p a rt of the conical socket is broken off; fragm ents 
of th e w ooden shaft found in the socket. The blade is narrow and elongated 
w ith a pronounced m idrib. A poorly preserved, double groove runs along the 
edges of the blade. The tip of the blade is broken off (Table 1, pic. 5). Dimen­
sions: length 20.5 cm, w idth of blade 3.2 cm, greatest diam eter of socket 3 cm.
8) Large iro n knife, broken into tw o pieces. The back of the blade is reinforced, 
and th e jo in of blade and tang is crooked w ith a reinforced cross-piece (Table 
1, p ic .4). Dimensions: rem aining length 22.5 cm, w id th of blade 3.3 cm.
9) Sm all iro n knife. The back of the blade is greatly reinforced and the cutting 
edge m uch w orn down (Table 1, pic. 7). Dimensions: length 14.8 cm, w idth 
2.1 cm.
10) Two-part, bronze belt buckle, w ith a heavy, triangular fitting. Prong missing. 
The buckle fram e is heavy, oval, decorated on the u p p er side w ith groups of 
deep cross cuts; the side piece between prong an d fitting is very thin and 
w ith a circular cross-section. The triangular fitting hangs on the side piece by 
a th in double loop w hich w as broken during excavation. The upper surface 
of the fitting bears traces of silvering; it is decorated w ith rows of circles and 
w ith triangles blocked in w ith criss-cross scratches. The cores of two iron 
rivets fo r fastening on the buckle are preserved b u t the shape of their heads 
is not recognisable (Table 2, pic. 5). Dimensions: length 9.2 cm.
11) Sm all pieces of an iron/shield boss; p a rt of a conically convex section and 
two tw isted pieces of the circum ference, w ith one rivet (Table 1, pic. 8). Dimen­
sions: low er diam eter 20.8 cm , u p p er 9 cm.
12) Small, in tact iron knife w ith w ide blade (Table 1, pic. 6). Dimensions: length
12.4 cm , w idth of blade 1.6 cm.
13) Two pieces of iron plate w ith sem icircular end. Possibly p a rt of a shield; 
traces of w ooden covering on one side of both pieces (Table 2, pic. 4). Dimen­
sions: 4.8 X 3.3 cm and 3.2 X 2.3 cm.
14) Four large iron rivets w ith w ide flat heads, undoubtedly p a rt of shield fittings; 
height of two well-preserved rivets 1.5 and 1.6 cm, diam eter of heads 2.8 cm, 
one of them 3.1 cm (draw n beside shield boss, Table 2, pic. 1).
According to the description of the finding of the site (Ivan Komel), and in 
as far as th is is reliable, the follow ing objects belong to one grave unit: the double- 
edged sw ord/spatha; the large knife, shield boss, spearhead, large, broken knife, 
sm all knife an d belt buckle. As already stated, the other objects w ere collected n ear 
this group of finds; the bones found w ith the artefacts w ere not kept, as they 
w ere throw n away at the tim e of th e original excavation.3
Interpretation
Only th e artefacts from the postulated grave unit will be considered here for 
a discussion of typology and chronology of the chance finds from Bilje, as the 
other objects do not contradict any findings from this group. Analogies to the 
grave u n it can be found in th e inventory of m ilitary graves of Germanic tribes 
from the era of the G reat M igrations.4
The long, double-edged sw ord, called a spatha, was a com m on artefact in m ili­
ta ry graves from this period; o u r exam ple can be d ated only approxim ately, to 
the 5th—6th century, as it is not com plete.5
Long, single-edged knives, called saxes o r scram asaxes in connection w ith Ger­
m anic tribes, belong to the b a ttle equipm ent needed for the new style of w ar­

fare on horseback, w hich becam e popular w ith the appearance of the H uns in 
E urope. An analogy to our grave u n it can be found in grave 44 from Szentender 
in P annonia.6 Engraved grooves on knife blades, otherw ise n o t m entioned by au th o rs 
because of th e poor state of preservation of th e articles, are know n from a sm all 
exam ple from tw o skeleton graves discovered in 1943 in Gorica.7 These are also 
dated approxim ately to the 5th—6th centuries.
The size of the spearhead justifies our calling it a spear. The n earest local 
analogy is again to be found in th e graves at Gorica, w hich S. Stucchi dates approx­
im ately to the 6th century.7 a
The shape of our shield boss, according to J. W erner, sets it w ithin th e Pan- 
nonian phase of Lom bardie history. In the m iddle of th e 6 * century the cylindric- 
al/conical form began gradually to change to a sem icircular shape, know n in 
n o rth e rn Italy.8 Analogies to o u r form are also to b e found in graves No. 44 at 
Szentender and No. 31 a t K ajdacs.9
The one object o u t of the w hole grave contents w hich can m ost reliably be 
classified according to typology an d chronology is th e bronze belt buckle. In his 
extensive analysis of the range of form s of the late R om an period, Z. Vinski called 
this ty p e of buckle a two-piece M editerranean belt buckle, w hich in the second 
half of th e 6th century begins to appear in th e graves of G erm anic w arrio rs b u t 
w hich originates from late R om an o r early B yzantine w orkshops.1 9 Among num er­
ous exam ples collected, we find the nearest analogy to o u r buckle in the buckle 
from th e S an Giovanni necropolis a t Cividale del F riuli,1 1 while the buckle from 
G undolfingen1 2 is the closest in form . Two elem ents im p o rta n t for a closer dating 
of th e buckle, i. e. the prong an d form of the heads of the rivets, are m issing. The 
decoration of a chain of circles (according to Z. V inski a typical elem ent of late 
R om an w orkm anship)1 3 is h ere supplem ented w ith tw o chains of triangles blocked 
in w ith m eshed lines, w hich alread y shows the influence of the taste and w ishes of 
G erm anic clients in w orkshops of the old authochthonous tradition. Two-piece 
buckles w ith a triangular fitting, know n from the K ranj and Rifnik cem eteries1 4 
and w hich. Z. Vinski thought w ere m ade in a w orkshop som ew here in th e south 
eastern Alps,1 5 differ from th e B ilje piece in w orkm an-ship and shape to such an 
extent th a t the la tte r cannot b e included as th e sam e type, although they have the 
o rn am en tatio n of im printed circles on a trian g u lar fittin g in common.
A nalysis of individual arte fa cts has thus show n th a t th is find can undoubtedly 
be ascribed to a m ilitary grave of G erm anic origin,1 0 d ated to the second h alf of the 
6th century, on the evidence of the belt buckle. The rem aining objects from this 
chance find point to the necessity fo r caution in defining the extent of th e find: 
p arts of a second shield boss show th a t there w as a t least one other m ilitary grave 
at th is site, if not m ore. B efore th e gravel p it w as opened up, this area w as agri­
cu ltu ral land and it is possible th a t som e of the graves h a d already been destroyed 
in th e p a st by ploughing etc.1 7 In th e present situation, w here any investigation 
is im possible, we m ust be content w ith hypotheses.
At the sam e tim e a few w ords should be said on th e broader surroundings of 
these finds from the period of th e G reat M igrations. The site (pic. 2, 6) lies about 
100 m e tres south of the approxim ate course of the R om an Aquilea—Em ona road,1 8 
still p reserved on the eastern side of the village in th e form of a w ide ridge 
(pic. 2, 5), w hich runs som ew hat fu rth e r south of th e present-day M iren—B ilje— 
Bukovica—V olčja D raga road. At its w estern end th e ancient road probably runs 
below the m odern one tow ards the crossroads fo r M iren and Nova Gorica, as there, 
on b o th sides of the road b u t especially on th e are a of fallow ground know n as 
P rap ro tn o w est of the crossroads, older R om an grave finds are know n (pic. 2, 
2).1 9 G raves and a gravestone a re know n from the garden of the form er m anor 
house (pic. 2, 3).2 9 W hile ploughing som e years ago n o rth of the road an d of the 
p resen t village cem etery, F ranc Volk uncovered a late Rom an, pear-shaped oil lam p 
(Ivanyi type X II) w hich approxim ately dates to the 4®—5th century (pic. I).2 1 
Ju st nearby, on plots 201/1 an d 201/7 of the Land R egister a Rom an occupation 
level w as discovered during excavations in the sum m er of 1976 (pic. 2, 4)J2 2 E ast 
of th e village of B ilje the rem ains of a R om an canal and some R om an pottery 
could be seen in the deserted clay p it of th e G orica brickw orks and p a rt of

a road w as apparently also found.2 3 The Rom an post house “Ad Fornulos”2 4 w as 
theoretically situated som ew here betw een the villages of Bilje and Bukovica, b u t 
its exact position has as yet not been m ore precisely defined.
A grave (o r graves) of a G erm anic w arrior along the highway linking the B al­
kans w ith Italy is therefore n o t a t all surprising o r exceptional. U nfortunately, 
because of the circum stances u n d er which it was found, its value as evidence 
m ust rem ain doubtful. N evertheless, this find will certainly contribute som ething 
to the solution or a t least the clarification of the problem of the period of the 
G reat M igrations or to the question of the 6® century in the lower Vipava valley.
This is n o t the place to delve deeply into discussions on this problem as m any 
authors have concentrated on it in recent years.2 4 * I shall confine myself to the 
latest study by D. Svoljšak and T. Knific, in w hich the au th o rs looked at all findings 
to date an d cam e to the conclusion th a t the low er V ipava valley as far as V rtovin 
w as in L om bardie hands at least until the beginning of the 7th century and th a t 
the Alpine Slavs did not reach the Soča before the y ear 600.2 5 The find from B ilje 
supports th is theory. Taking into consideration the analogies of other grave 
units, we can justifiably view th is find as the grave of a distinguished Lom bard, 
or a t least a m em ber of the Lom bardie arm y,2 6 so th a t the year 568 is the earliest 
date for these regions beside th e river Soča, on the threshold of Italy.2 7
The fo rm of the shield boss is even earlier and is ascribed to the Pannonian 
phase of Lom bardie history an d therefore w as probably m ade not later than 
a few decades after their arriv al in Italy;2 8 the sam e is tru e of the large b attle 
knives.2 9 W ith regard to 6th cen tu ry belt buckles, of w hich our buckle is a con­
tem porary an d sim ilar in shape, J. W erner believes th a t the Lom bards took the 
style over only in Italy and did n o t retain it long.3 0 As already m entioned, Z. Vinski 
dates th is kind of two-piece M editerranean belt buckle to the second half of the 
6th century. The grave can th erefo re m ost probably be dated to the last decades 
of the 6th century, while the la test dating for this side of the Soča is certainly 
th e year 610 and the raid of the Avars on Cividale.3 1

Tab. 1