Sincere thanks to all of you who support our research work, especially our honorary president, mentor and great supporter dr. Duško Aleksovski. who also contributed greatly to the creation of this document. Title: Fieldwork 2021 - Research of rock-art, megalithic monuments and prehistoric heritage in Slovenia Author: Matej Dasko Translated by: David Preželj Design: Matej Dasko © Copyright: Matej Dasko Publisher: Društvo za raziskovanje umetnosti v kamnu Slovenija - SloRARA (In cooperation with the IBIS publishing house) Print on demand Electronic version: https://www.dlib.si/ Slovenia 2023 CONTENT INTRODUCTION 1 RESEARCH OF ROCK ART IN SLOVENIA – FIELDWORK 2021 2 MIDDLE DRAVA VALLEY 3 North side east part 4 South side, east part 5 – 6 POHORJE MOUNTAIN 7 Eastern Pohorje Plateau 8 - 13 Lobnica Gorge 14 - 15 Bistrica Gorge and above it 16 - 19 NE area of Pohorje Mountain 20 KOZJAK MOUNTAIN 21 Eastern areas of Kozjak Mountain 22 - 23 Central areas of Kozjak Mountain 24 - 25 Western areas of Kozjak Mountain 26 - 27 SLOVENIAN HILLS 28 Western Slovenian Hills 29 - 33 Central Slovenian Hills 34 - 35 BOČ – MACELJ HIGHLAND 36 Donačka Mountain 37 - 46 Boč Mountain 47 - 52 Boč-Macelj ridge 53 LOŽ VALLEY AND SNEŽNIK PLATEAU 54 Lož Valley 55 - 57 Snežnik Plateau 58 - 61 ONE DAY FIELD RESEARCH IN SLOVENIA 2021 62 Željne Caves 63 Huda luknja Gorge 64 Belojača Cave 65 Julian Alps 66 - 67 Village Vače 68 - 69 CONCLUSION 70 - 71 INTRODUCTION All our findings were documented in a limited way, without appropriate copies, made ‘in situ’, including only data about location Slovenia is a country with rich and well (documentary photography, GPS and written known cultural heritage from prehistoric period. source, if existing). This is the consequence of Nevertheless, to this date no official case of multiple circumstances which follow our initiative. prehistoric rock art has been recorded in the Firstly, all researches are processed exclusively on Republic of Slovenia. voluntary basis. Secondly, in our team there is only one professional archeologist specialized for It is true that many stone tools from Paleolithic, but with lack of experience in the field Paleolithic and Neolithic periods were found in of Prehistoric rock art. It is also true that in Slovenia. However, not even one example of stone Slovenia there is no such professionals, which is, tool with decoration has been discovered so far. after all, perfectly in line with the official paradigm. Not only that, an absence of stone sculptures, both Thirdly, our initiative is opening a new field for small and large, rock engravings, petroglyphs, rock Slovenian archeology and so may be strongly paintings is also typical for the later periods of opposed by professionals. After all, we are self-prehistory in the Slovenian territory. So, the oldest taught, lacking the appropriate knowledge and officially recognized examples of rock art in experience in identifying and documenting Slovenia are from the Roman period with which examples of rock art. our space enters history. The question that arises for us concerns the circumstances or the cause of In February 2021, we founded an such an absence. association specializing in rock art, and this year we also conducted the first systematic field In fact, interpretations of rock art from research. The course of the latter and new the Roman period and the early Middle Ages are discoveries are presented in more detail below. also relatively rare in scientific publications. Among them are three examples of rock art – standing In general, we can say that we are satisfied stone with relief depiction near village Krkavče in with the realization in 2021. And yet we have some Primorska Region; so called Iapods Cave on Snežnik challenges ahead of us, both old and new, which Plateau above the town Ilirska Bistrica with mainly concern the financing of our current and petroglyphs, and stone plate from Sveta gora above future activities in the following years. the village Bistrica ob Sotli, which experts date between 7. and 8. century AD and interpret as heritage of newcomers on Slovenian territory – South Slavs. We highlight them because of at least one reason. Our opinion is that the three listed examples of rock art are wrongly interpreted as heritage of South Slavs. The iconography is older and most likely prehistoric. However, if the official dating is true, these three monuments are an example of continuity with prehistoric times due to the iconographic elements that appear in them. In the event that such continuity really exists, we can expect even more examples of prehistoric rock art in Slovenia. This is, after all, confirmed by some new discoveries, which challenge official paradigm about prehistoric rock art in Slovenia. From 2016 to the present moment, our small group of researchers discovered around fifty officially unknown locations with examples of rock art, mainly petroglyphs. There are also examples of ‘cup marks’, stones as sculptures and partly sculptured stones. Some of these examples are in the vicinity of the important archeological sites from prehistory, as in Plački vrh (Plač Summit), Donačka gora (Donačka Mountain) etc., and most likely related to them. 1 RESEARCH of ROCK ART in More specifically, our research included the following geographical units: SLOVENIA 2021 (1) East and central parts of Kozjak Mountain, FIELD WORK 2021 (2) Parts of Pohorje Mountain (Mariborsko Pohorje, Ruško Pohorje, Hočko Pohorje, Slivniško Pohorje, Framsko Pohorje, Bistriško Main subject of our field work in year 2021 Pohorje, Vzhodna Pohorska planota); were areas in Slovenia with potential examples of (3) both sides of Middle Drava Valley; rock art. Our selection of particular areas is based (4) small part of the NE area of Julian Alps; on the following criteria: (5) NE area of Snežnik Plateau; (6) Lož Valley; (1) Geological base of the area is made of (7) north side of Upper Drava Valley; metamorphic rocks with predominance of (8) west and central parts of Slovenian Hil s; schist stone; (9) Huda Luknja Gorg e; (2) Areas with prehistoric heritage, especially (10) west part of Haloze Hil s; remains from Neolithic period and (11) Kočevski Rog Mountains; Cooper Age; (12) Posavje Mountains ( Vače and Klenik (3) Areas with preserved ethnographic archeological site) heritage with reference to rock art; (13) Boč - Macelj Mountain Ridge. (4) Special places such as caves, springs, waterfalls, lakes, geomorphological heritage etc.; Team (5) Locations with alleged examples of rock art, that have been reported to us by Matej G.Dasko, Master’s Degree of others (oral or written source). Sociology and professor of art pedagogy; Gregor Volčanjk, Bachelor of Economics; Boštjan Odar, Most of the places, chosen by these criteria, doctorate in archeology; Tihomir Rugani, forestry are situated in remote regions of Slovenia, some of engineer; Niko Žgeč, Carpenter Tehnician; them accessible only by foot. So it is not surprising, independent researchers Iztok Erjavec and Rudi that specific field work may include a lot of Baloh. walking, sometimes more than 20 km per day. So, our field research was specific and sometimes demanding. Our main goal was to discover and document (GPS, photo, context) unknown examples of rock art. Due to lack of time and proper experience we did not include reproductions of rock art examples ‘in situ’. Realization In the year 2021 our team had at least 64 days of field research in eight different statistical regions of Slovenia: Podravska (Podravje Region); Obalno-kraška (Coastal-Karst Region); Primorsko-Notranjska (Primorska-Notranjska Region); Gorenjska (Gorenjska Region); Koroška (Carinthia Region): Zasavska (Zasavje Region); Savinjska (Savinja Region); Jugovzhodna Slovenija (South East Slovenia Region). 2 SREDNJA DRAVSKA DOLINA Middle Drava Valley Field-work 2021 (Middle Drava Valley) The narrow gorge of the Drava River between villages Fala and Brezno with steep rocky ridges, is today still a sparsely populated area. Steep river banks are overgrown with biotical y diverse forest with little logging activity. The geological base is made of metamorphic rock from Paleozoic period including schist. The area which also represents the climatic, geological and geographical dividing line (between the Pannonian Plain and the Eastern Alps), Field research on the left and right banks also served as a border strip in the past. Due to of the Middle Drava Valley was done in march 2021, the extreme terrain, the area is exclusively mostly in its eastern area. transitional and of exceptional strategic importance as the shortest natural connection between the Three days of field research (up to 10 Koroška kotlina (Carinthia Basin) and Dravsko-Ptujsko hours per day) took place on the left bank (north polje (Drava-Ptuj Field). This fact is attested by many side, eastern part), and further three days on the remains at its eastern and western ends. At the right bank (south side, eastern part). The main entrance to the gorge from the east there are discoveries were expected on the right bank, remains of a medieval castle and nave, slightly because there are many unexplained remains deeper there are traces of valley prisons, probably which we had known about. from the late Roman period, old quarries about which sources are silent, prehistoric settlement and many old paths sometimes supported by dry stone walls. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Srednja Dravska dolina (Middle Drava Valley) area was supposed to be impassable along water and land routes. 3 North side, east part An exception is the rock found by the second old path which is about 100 m lower and runs parallel Since here there is mostly extreme to the already mentioned path. The vertical surface terrain, expectations were relatively low. Possible of stone is marked with holes of approximately the discoveries were expected along the old paths and same diameter. The holes could be of human in locations of special importance in the local oral origin, and a small niche higher in the stone may tradition. have been carved. Finally, it is located along a path, which in some places is supported by dry stone walls and carved into the rock. KRANJC CLIFF – Panoramic view from a cliff on Middle Drava Val ey and Pohorje Mountain. So, we took a closer look at the rock formation above river Drava and just below the main summit Kolarjev vrh (Kolar Summit, 985 m), which is known as a place of special meaning to locals. Decades ago there were celebrations around the summer solstice in this place. In the evening on the feast of John the Baptist (24. June), people gathered near Kranjčeva pečina (Kranjc Cliff, around 930 m). Then a bonfire was lit, followed by a feast and dancing late into the night. The last such gathering was a good four decades ago. CUP-MARKS - Circular recesses between 2 and 6 cm in Although some parts of the rock are most diameter are located on a surface of about 1 x 1.5 meters. likely formed by man (leveling on the upper plateau), we have not discovered a single Field research on the left bank of the engraving. The same is true for the rock Middle Drava Valley also included some areas in the formations lower on the ridge and along the old western part where, however, our search was path. In one place it leads through a rock gate that unsuccessful. may have been carved. In fact, we explored an area that was never suitable for settlement. So, we did not expect many finds. We are especially satisfied with the data collected from the locals which concern their attitude towards stone. So we get some precious information about old customs and beliefs manifest in stories of supernatural power of particular stones. ROCK GATE - the passage through the rock is at the end of an old footpath that connects the val ey and the summit. 4 South side, east part We expected much more on the right bank, specifically in the eastern area with many remnants of the past (valley closure and road built by carved stones, presumably from the Roman period; prehistoric settlement; network of old paths in several places supported by drywall; ruins of larger buildings; at least three quarries), that we had explored in the past. Field research also included some remarkable rock formations along the old footpath above precipices that leads to the CROSS 2 (RUTA HILL) - It is less than a meter away from the top of the Ruta (Ruta Hill) ridge. cross No. 1 Exceptional rock formations are also higher at the top of Štibler (Štibler Summit), but without engravings. The mound of crushed stone at Štibler is probably of more recent date. Directly below the stone pier is an area covered with larger pieces of crushed stone, among which runs a wide road. It is probably an old quarry unknown in written and oral sources. Below it is an abyssal cliff, the top of which boasts a mighty rock, called Predla. The story narrates that the rock was actual y a petrified woman. So God punished her ROCK PIER on RUTA HILL - about 30 m long rock pier, for working on a church holiday when it was not surrounded by precipices and with spectacular views of the allowed. Drava River. The first and second research took place in areas with the remnants of the past. Despite expectations, we found no example of rock art. CROSS 1 (RUTA HILL) Therefore, the third day of the research was a bit more promising when we found two cross-shaped engravings on a picturesque rock pier with spectacular view of the river bend. In our PREDLA ROCK FORMATION - Under the cliff are the remains opinion, rock pier is the most fascinating part of of a prehistoric settlement and later Roman fortifications, which the entire Ruta ridge. control ed the path through the narrow Middle Drava val ey. 5 These turned out to be the only examples of stone art known so far on the right bank of the Middle Drava Valley. The symbol of the cross (in one case the Greek cross, in another Latin) appears early in prehistory. However, since there are no more engravings on the rock pier, the crosses may mark the boundary between the private lands. In this case, they are at most a few centuries old. 6 POHORJE wood, wild animals and especially stone. The latter is attested to by the rich Roman heritage, with the (Pohorje Mountain) emphasis on stonemasonry. On the East Pohorje Mountain (Framsko Pohorje, Bistriško Pohorje, Vitanjsko As a geographical unit, Pohorje Mountain is Pohorje) there were many quarries of white marble. part of the Eastern Alps, more precisely, their In the vicinity of an old village Šmartno na Pohorju eastern periphery at the junction with the (St. Martin on Pohorje Mountain) were found two Pannonian Plain. votive stones with a relief depiction of Saxanus, the god of stonemasons. The Mountain is a geologically diverse area. The foothills are made of old, Paleozoic rocks Archaeologically, sites from late antiquity (schist, gneiss, amphibolite, magnetite white and the early Middle Ages have also been marble…), while the rocks on the peaks of Pohorje documented. After all, we have traces dozen Mountain are of volcanic origin and younger medieval castles on Pohorje Mountain, from simple (Miocene - granodiorite). Due to silicate rocks, the mounds with a wooden tower to more powerful soil at the top of the Pohorje Mountain is stone designs, such as defense tower of the castle impermeable and swampy. The peculiarity of Kebelj, which was built on the site of a prehistoric Pohorje Mountain, so called high peat bogs are hillfort. reservoirs of water, from which the main creeks of the area flow. The impermeable geological base is also the reason why the creek here didn’t dry up Pohorje Mountain Field-work 2021 even during the greatest drought. The geostrategic position of the mountain is interesting, especially its eastern part with an exceptional view of the Pannonian Plain and especially the part, which was crossed by the Amber Route millennia ago. There were two more paths. The first one led along the northern side of the Pohorje Mountain through the whole Slovenian Drava Valley, and the second route is situated on its southern sides. They connect the Pannonian Plain with the Carinthia basin. People have lived here since prehistoric We conducted 18 days of field research, times, not only at the foot of the mighty Pohorje during which we explored the following areas of Mountain, but also higher, on its sunlit ridges. In the Pohorje Mountain: Vzhodna pohorska planota (Eastern past, several dozen prehistoric stone tools (axes, Pohorje Plateau); soteska Lobnice (Lobnica Gorge), hammers, diggers, chisels ...) were found on the Mariborsko Pohorje; pragozd Šumik (protected forest gentle ridges of Vzhodna pohorska planota (Eastern Šumik); Bistriški vintgar (Bistrica Gorge) and Bistriško Pohorje Mountain), especially in the area of Bistriško Pohorje. Pohorje ( Bistrica Pohorje - part of Pohorje Mountain above town Slovenska Bistrica) with layers of serpentinite. And there we have at least seven archeologically attested prehistoric settlements, most of them concentrated along and above the amber road route. At that time Pohorje Mountain was probably interesting not only for strategical reasons, but also due to natural resources - ores, 7 VZHODNA POHORSKA Artificial leveling of the terrain, PLANOTA embankments and probably remains of objects are also visible in some of this areas. Particularly interesting are the locations with mounds, filled Eastern Pohorje Plateau with small stones and which, we assume, are graves. Remains of pottery, presumably from late We spent 8 days on specific terrain with antiquity, were also found on the surface at one of plenty of streams, creek and quite a lot swampy the sites with the alleged burial mounds. The terrain. Above the wetlands rises slightly drier and remains are concentrated in several places more passable terrain. connected by old paths, paved with smaller stones and in one case with larger stone slabs. These remains unequivocally testify to the occasional human presence in an unknown period of the past. FALA LAKE - Boulders from granodiorite were decades ago under the accumulated water. There is no doubt that boulders were instal ed here by man. Why and when, we don't know at ROCK FORMATION bellow GOMILA SUMMIT is situating in the moment. the area of four powerful springs. In the immediate vicinity are smal er rock formations that could be the work of human The height of the Vzhodna pohorska hands. The top of GOMILA SUMMIT is dotted with mysterious planota ( Eastern Pohorje Plateau) ranges between ruins. 1100 - 1350 m above sea level and it covers an area of at least 30 square kilometers. Today it is an Despite many remains we did not find any uninhabited area and it is supposed to have been new engravings in this year's field research on the same in the past. No archeological finds are Eastern Pohorje Plateau. Otherwise, we have found known in this area, as well as no archeological at least 10 engravings in this area in the previous remains. We know from written sources, that years, mainly concentrated in its eastern parts. around two centuries ago, Eastern Pohorje Plateau Most of these engravings are probably of more was overgrown with mighty forest. The only recent date. They represent the marks on the mile attested settlement that stood on the north edge stones between the former feudal estates. In most of the plateau (place named Bajgot) was founded in cases, milestone is in the form of an upright stone the first quarter of the 19th century, exclusively slab with a consecutive Arabic numeral engraved for forestry work. on one side (capital letters in two cases) and a cross on the other, which can be in Greek or Latin Despite the fact, that Eastern Pohorje form. But one engraving stands out. We found it Plateau is officially considered as the area with no on stone surface near the church of Sv. Areh (St. archeological traces, our field research has shown Henry) on the eastern edge of the plateau. Our a significantly different picture. In some places on assumption is that this engraving originated in the plateau, we discovered larger quantities of prehistory. crushed stone and unknown formations, made from smaller stones (probably crushed) and larger Despite the fact that we did not find new stones, which look resembling megalithic engravings in 2021, we must highlight the discovery monuments. of new rock formations, probably man-made, and some processed stones, that can be interpreted in 8 the context of rock art. It is right to present them Some of these stones are damaged, but fortunately briefly. not all. The preserved pieces show that they were Area of Falsko jezero ( Fala Lake, 1280 m above sea level) is one of these places. MEGALITHIC MONUMENT FALA LAKE - The original design of the monument is probably larger because the area is overgrown with young conifers and moss. We identified the stone circle only on the basis of an aerial photography. PLATFORM NR. 40 is raised from the ground level by approx. The Fala Lake did not originate in a natural 30 cm, and has a square floor plan. The sides of the square are way, but is in fact a former reservoir made in the aligned along the four cardinal directions of the space. 19th century for the needs of a water slide. At that carefully designed and that they include ratios of time, a group of large stones and formations (53 integers. recorded) was found below the surface of the lake. The aerial shots we made showed that part of the layout is also a stone circle, which is mostly Decades ago, the dam was damaged and overgrown and not recognizable from the ground. the lake disappeared, so big rocks found Subsequent analysis of the relationships between themselves again on dry ground. the 53 stones showed that the whole layout is most likely the work of humans. Each stone was carefully placed in relation to others in such a way, that they form regular triangles (equilateral and equilateral), in this particular case there are over 1500! FALA LAKE NR.53 – Rock formation from two stones which are placed on a platform Nr.41, made of earth and a smal stone. Platform No. 40 is raised from the ground level by approx. 30 cm and has a square floor plan. Another special feature of this megalithic layout 9 (floor plan), which testifies about human intervention and also concerns the relationship between the stones, are the orientations to the four cardinal directions of the sky and to the important astronomical turning points of the solar and moon cycles. FALA LAKE NR.2, NR.3, NR.5 and NR.6 – Four granodiorite boulders. The distance between No. 2 and No. 3 in the foreground is directed along the polar axis - direction north (above) and south (below). These are also the features of some megalithic monuments. Part of the layout is also an exact stone circle of smaller diameter. FALA LAKE NR.27 – Granodiorite boulder, whose sides are oriented north-south and east-west. Sides are in a ratio of 1: 1.5. The lengths, however, correspond to the megalithic yard, a measure founded by Dr. Alexander Thom. The first and shorter FALA LAKE NR.1 – Oval shaped granodiorite boulder, Sides side have a length of 1 MY and the longer 1.5 MY. are in a ratio of 1: 1.25. The length and width of stone correspond to the megalithic yard (length 1,25 MY, width 1 After all, these are remnants that are not MY). typical of Slovenia. According to Slovenian experts, there are no megalithic monuments in our country. Second area with peculiar remains - also not present in the discursive field of Slovenian archeology - is further east, on the top of Travni vrh ( Grass Summit, 1273 m). Mounds made smaller stones are arranged in concentric circles around the center of the layout - upright stone slabs. 10 exactly specified place, with unknown intention. Preliminary measurements have shown that the most dominant stones are in mutually significant astronomical relations. TRAVNI VRH NR 1. - Upright stone slab is situated in the center of an unknown monument, probably ancient graveyard. At least 12 mounds made from broken stones, at least 4 upright stones and 3 complex stone formations. Al listed elements were arranged around the central stone in concentric circles. The mounds are arranged around the center in similar layouts with practical y the same astronomic symbolism and relationships that we identified in the layout of the megalithic monument at Fala Lake. Remains were also recorded on the eastern and southern slopes of the Grass Summit. GOMILA SUMMIT – At least 10 ROCK FORMATIONS from granodiorite are situating around four springs. Preliminary measurements have shown that the formations at the southern foot of the GOMILA SUMMIT are most likely arranged in proportions of significant astronomical orientations. Similar remains, but not in such concentration, continue to the east. Few hundred meters before the geological fault between the TRAVNI VRH NR.1(left) and NR.20 – Two upright stones are about 80 m apart and aligned on the equatorial axis (east-west). granodiorite base in the west and the metamorphic layers in the east there is a larger artificial leveling. Further east is a third area, where remains are concentrated around Gomila ( Gomila Summit, 1192 m) and further along the main ridge in the direction of Sv. Areh Na Pohorju (St. Henry on Pohorje Mountain). At its highest point, the flat and spacious summit is covered with a thick layer of crushed stone (ruins?), around which are numerous stone formations made of smaller stones (such as mounds, dry stone assemblies, OLD QUARRY east from GOMILA SUMMIT. Traces of the oval-shaped fillings ...). At the southern foot of the quarry, which are not reported by any source, stretch for Gomila Summit, where four streams originate, there several hundred meters. According to our estimates, the quarry are many large stones. It is our opinion that some area covers around 3 ha. A paved road about 3 m wide with of the stones are processed and placed in an stone slabs is visible for a kilometer, disappearing further east. 11 Behind the geological boundary there is an old quarry, where a road paved with stone slabs begins. Listed remains are not mentioned by any source so their age is difficult to estimate at this time. On top of that, this area has so far been completely without official archeological finds. A good kilometer of the air line in the south direction is fourth area, more precisely the southern slopes of Peršetov vrh ( Peršet Summit, 1242 m) with rock formations similar to the previous location, among which mounds from ST. HENRY NR.18 - a smal er monolith made of gneiss, smaller crushed stones predominate. It is also the oriented lengthwise along the equatorial line (east-west). The only site with surface archaeological finds max. length of the monolith is 1 megalithic yard, and the max. width is 1/2 megalithic yard. Therefore, longer and shorter sides (fragments of pottery) on the East Pohorje Plateau, are in a 2: 1 ratio. which testify about activity in late antiquity. If there are graves hidden under the stone mounds, then This year we devoted more time to a there is a high probability that descendants of the detailed inspection of the surface of stones and pre-Roman inhabitants are buried here. rock formation, and making ground plan (layout) from the distribution of around 80 stones and the formation will be clearly seen. We also closely examined stone formation just below the Sv. Areh na Pohorju (Henry Summit on Pohorje Mountain, 1269 m), which is in the area where we assume a prehistoric settlement was located. It is obvious to the naked eye that the terrain here has been thoroughly transformed. But nobody knows when and by whom. After all, it is the only location on the eastern plateau with officially confirmed archaeological finds. Two stone MEGALITHIC MONUMENT in the vicinity of the CHURCH of ST. HENRY – central part of megalithic monument which is set chisels were found here about century ago. These on natural rock. From right to left – NR.1 and NR.2 (foundation finds convinced the famous Slovenian historian of NR.1), in the middle NR.3 and NR.8 (in front) NR.6 and Bogo Grafenauer, that around six thousand years NR.10 (back). ago and in Eneolithic period, there was a settlement here. Not only was his thesis never officially confirmed - it was strongly rejected by The fifth concentration of the remains is archeologist. located at the eastern end of the plateau, in a place called Areh. In the immediate vicinity of the An important upgrade of our research church of Sv. Areh (St. Henry) there are stone from previous years was the accurate formations and individual large stones, which in our measurements of presumably megalithic shrine. opinion were partially worked on and thoughtfully Distribution of big stones around the church of St. placed. As already said, one of the stones, most of Henry follows practically the same principles we which is hidden below ground level, has visible have seen in the three cases of sites mentioned on linear engravings on the surface, that could be Eastern Pohorje Plateau. The only difference is that prehistoric. big stones near the church of St. Henry are distributed around and on top of natural rock. 12 ST. HENRY NR.2 - the monolith with a crack approximately in the middle of its length, that narrows exactly in the northern direction, is situated on top of natural rock. A similar wedge crack and with the same orientation was recorded on two more monoliths, is aligned along the polar axis (north-south). Therefore, these ‘cracks’ are likely to be the work of human hands. But this natural rock has been modelled in several places, and at least four larger stones with traces of processing have subsequently been placed on top of it. 13 SOTESKA LOBNICE saws, and in some places modest traces of wooden slides. Deep in the gorge is the Reberska koča Lobnica Gorge (Reber hut), the former residence of the wood slide caretakers. Within 3 summer days we explored the gorge of Lobnica Creek, which holds the main headwaters in the peat bogs above, on the already mentioned Eastern Pohorje Plateau. Lower part of Lobnica Gorge consists of metamorphic rocks that higher up pass into rocks of volcanic origin, granodiorites with different flint contents. Part of this area is also a primeval forest on the right bank of Lobnica, and one of the main attractions of Pohorje, the Veliki Šumik Waterfall. It is the highest Slovenian waterfall on a non-carbonate base with a height of over 24 m. PETROGLYPH LOBNICA 3 – dimensions about 20 cm in width and around 10 cm in height. To a certain extent our expectations have been met. As we followed the old forestry trail on the right bank, we discovered three engravings at the site, where the unknown builders of this trail were forced to carve it into living rock and support it with a dry stone wall. Perhaps simple engravings are traces of the builders of this route, or later users of this trail. It is also possible that the engravings are much older. After all, we do not VELIKI ŠUMIK WATERFALL - with 24 m in height, it is the know the age of this trail, which is not attested in highest Slovenian waterfal on a non-carbonate geological basis. written sources. First engraving has the shape of an inverted letter 's', second resembles the letter ‘u’ with outwardly twisted and split ends, and the We have known about the engraving in third is in the shape of isosceles triangle. the western wall of the waterfall for more than a decade. Engraving in the form of four isosceles Fourth engraving was discovered higher triangles was the main reason why we included this on the left bank in Lobnica Gorge. It is in the form area in the fieldwork for year 2021. The whole of a straight line with a spiral end, and was area of Lobnica Gorge is otherwise without official accidentally discovered on an extremely steep archeological finds, which is quite understandable ridge to which no path leads. due to the steepness and northern, shady location. The only remains in gorge are the ruins of wood 14 Perhaps the engraving in the walls of the Veliki Šumik waterfall is their heritage. PETROGLYPH LOBNICA 1 – dimensions about 7 cm in width and around 15 cm in height. A special feature of the upper part of the Lobnica Gorge, where engraving in the form of a spiral was discovered, is the predominance of volcanic rocks. Western rock wal of VELIKI ŠUMIK WATERFALL – petroglyph (four triangles, three smal er and a larger one below them) is slightly above half the height of the left half of the photo. PETROGLYPH LOBNICA 2 – dimensions about 15 cm in width and around 10 cm in height. Exceptional rock formations were formed from this particular stone. Most likely the origin of these formations is due to natural processes (erosion). Among them there are a few amazing examples, for which we doubt, that they are exclusively the work of nature. In any case, the UPPER LOBNICA GORGE, LEFT SIDE - A stunning volcanic rock formation above which a fourth spiral-shaped petroglyph area with rock formation in upper Lobnica Gorge has been identified. represents a natural specialty that has certainly attracted prehistoric inhabitants of wider area. 15 BISTRIŠKO POHORJE depth of the canal we were not able to inspect the opposite surface of the stone slab. Bistrica Gorge and above it Higher up and also by the old path, there are at least five visible ruins in one place. Here the Another 5 days of field research on bed and the edges of the Bistrica creek are paved Pohorje Mountain was reserved for places above the the length of more than 70 m. From the main town Slovenska Bistrica on so called Bistriško Pohorje. riverbed a side channel was built in the direction to Our first target was Bistriški Vintgar (Bistrica Gorge), one of the buildings. Over the channel around 2 where we had accidentally discovered a stone slab meters long and about 3/4 meters wide stone slab with engravings about twelve years ago. The gorge was laid, obviously functioning as a footbridge. In is also interesting because of the layers of the upper surface of the stone slab are the already serpentinite, a stone from which tools and mentioned engravings. weapons were made in the Late Neolithic period, and also because of the quarry of white marble, in use since the Roman period. Our research was completed in three days and also covered the area directly above Bistrica Gorge, where we have archeologically attested finds and locations from prehistory, the entire Roman period and the Early Middle Ages. Additional two days of research was completed in the area slightly to the north, around villages Šmartno and Bojtina. This area is well known for white marble quarries from the Roman period and numerous finds of artfully carved ‘white’ stones. There are also at least two examples of carved stones, which in the local tradition are considered as places of special meaning. First day in Bistrica Gorge, we followed the old path above the Bistrica creek. In the beginning, we recorded an upright stone with a treated surface. Deeper in the gorge are the ruins of two dry-stone buildings. The already recorded PETROGLYPHS on a STONE SLAB from BISTRICA GORGE are at the same time the largest petroglyphs are aligned in height with the polar axis (south below, north above). There is also the letter ‘k’ on the surfaces and smal er engravings from the dashed line. Other engravings not visible in the photo are smal er. This time we cleaned the plate completely and found new engravings. Noteworthy are those in the form of successive lines and small circular holes between them. The stone slab also has an engraving in the shape of an inverted letter 's', as in the Lobnica Gorge, except that it is of larger STONE SLAB from BISTRICA GORGE - stone slab more than dimensions. 2 m in length and about 3/4 m in width is laid over a masonry canal (dry wal ) leading to the water wheel, and thus has the Less than a hundred meters higher is a function of a bridge. There is no doubt that the stone was worked on. On the upper surface there are petroglyphs, which white marble quarry, which is said to have been in we estimate are of different ages. Due to the relatively smal use during the Roman period. Some engravings are 16 visible in the walls of the quarry, but only the areas are known for its white marble quarries and recent ones. Inscriptions of names dating back to rich remains from the Roman period. Many of the second half of the 19th century. precious carved white stones from the Roman period were discovered in the area of the village of St. Martin on Pohorje Mountain. Some of these Roman stones were built into the walls of the old parish church of St. Martin, including a tombstone with a relief depiction of Orpheus, which belonged to a former tenant of the Aurelius quarries. Changes in geological basis are similar to the already mentioned areas. Above the layers of white marble there are rocks of volcanic origin, merely granodiorite, which by definition contains at least 20% quartz. In the end, it turns out that the most surprising finds are situated in an area with Newly discovered petroglyphs PETROGLYPHS on STONE granodiorite. But history is silent about these SLAB from BISTRICA GORGE - These engravings were located impressive rock formations. Fortunately, oral below the vegetation that had overgrown the eastern end of the stone slab. Some engravings, mostly letters, are stil on the tradition has 'more to say' about them. west end of the plate. Above village St. Martin is stone formation, There may be more engravings, but they are not about which various stories circulate. So called visible due to poor light in this part of the gorge. ‘Devils Trough’ consisting from two big stones. A smaller block of the granodiorite stone is placed Higher up in Bistrica Gorge, we inspected on a larger block of the same stone, and a trough the area of the picturesque Šum Waterfall and then (approx. 1 m long, 40 cm wide and deep) is carved practically the entire gorge, but unfortunately into its upper surface, which is said to be the work without similar finds. The area above the gorge of the devil. It is speculated that the trough may with at least four protected archeological sites have been used to feed livestock, which is unlikely from prehistory onwards, has proved to be no because it does not hold water. better. QUARRY OF WHITE MARBLE in BISTRICA GORGE, which ORPHEUS MONUMENT, Roman tombstone with relief was in use as early as the 1st century AD. or in the early depiction and inscription field (left), right DEVIL'S TROUGH. Roman period. In addition to the newer ones, the wal s also have some engravings from the 19th century. In the immediate vicinity are some other We spent 2 additional days in the area, rock formations that could be the work of human beginning north above Bistrica Gorge. More hands, and stones of special shapes, such as three-precisely, the first day around old village sided pyramid. Šmartno na Pohorju (St. Martin on Pohorje Mountain, 777 m), and the second day in extensive With the location of the Devil's Trough area of solitary farms, named Bojtina. Both begins an extensive area with numerous stone 17 formations made of granodiorite. The most be - including the twins - part of a more complex megalithic numerous are in the areas of Smrečno and above monument. Bojtina. Among them are at least ten stone Since we found stones of a similar shape formations showing traces of processing. One of and with astronomically oriented sides in other them, which is at most 500 m away from the Devil's areas of Slovenia, we conclude that they are the Trough and in higher terrain, was designed as a work of human hands. More specifically said, they seat, most reminiscent of a comfortable armchair. were processed and, after consideration, precisely placed in the chosen place. DEVIL'S TROUGH - the trough measures about 130 cm in length, about 50 cm in width and a good 40 cm in depth. It is directed in the direction of the point of the summer solstice sunrise, and in the opposite direction to the point of the winter solstice sunset. The base is shaped like a rectangle and the vertical sides are oriented in the cardinal directions of the sky. In a large area we came across very similar stone formations in different places. We listed about 7 upright stones in the shape of a three-sided pyramid. Preliminary measurements ‘STONE THRONE’ - The throne is located some 10 m above water springs. The junction of the front and left sides of the have shown that their sides have significant monolith symbolizes the spatial cross - the front side is aligned astronomical orientations (cardinal directions of in the direction north - south (from left to right), and the left the sky, turning points of the solar and lunar station is east - west (east is on the horizon). The right side cycles). deviates from the ideal direction by a few degrees. It may have been subsequently injured. As in the case of the twins, there are other stones around the stone throne, al of which may be part of a more complex monument. Another special form, discovered in this area, are pairs of stones of similar dimensions and shapes (at least 7 examples). The notch between the ‘twin stones’ is directed to a point on the horizon, toward astronomically significant event. Preliminary measurements have shown that the notches as a rule align toward significant astronomical points in the horizon (four cardinal directions of the sky, the turning points of the ‘TWIN STONES’ - the intentional gap between monoliths of solar cycle - the equinox, winter and summer similar dimensions has an astronomical y significant orientation - solstice). In one of the many creeks in the area, we the winter solstice sunrise - the summer solstice sunset. Along found a granodiorite cylinder about a meter long with this formation, there are some other monoliths that could and about 30 cm in diameter, which is no doubt 18 carved. In general, here are many, but not so obviously processed stones in the area. The highest concentration of granodiorite blocks is around Robnikov kogel (Robnik’s Summit, 1106 m), above the church of Sv.Uršula, Bojtina (St. Ursula, Bojtina). Unusual stories have been woven around these locations over the centuries. The most striking slope formations are considered to be places of encounter with supernatural beings, whether they are the devil or a 'pastor who is not a true pastor'. We also heard about the rock, which is said to have the footprint of St. Mary on it. This particular rock is somewhere north bellow village St. Martin, but we didn’t manage to find it. Rocks with a similar story and a hollow in the upper surface of the stone reminiscent of a footprint, have so far been found in two places in Slovenia (Ljubična, Zbelovo and Marija Snežna, Črnotiče). Despite numerous stone formations and individual stones, including processed cases, we have not find any engravings so far at areas of St. Martin and Bojtina. However, the following should be highlighted. At least half of the stones are covered with moss, which we did not remove during the visits. So there is a possibility, that we also missed something. 19 SEVEROVZHODNO Possible examples of stone art were POHORJE expected in the mentioned places. So, our field research was also carried out in the wider area of the Poštela, prehistoric complex (settlement and North-East area of Pohorje necropolis) and similar locations further south Mountain ( Čreta and Šestdobje, two prehistoric hillforts; mound necropolis in Pivola, unknown hillfort on We conducted 5 days of field research on Hočko Pohorje). We also looked for the so-called northeastern part of Pohorje Mountain, more 'White Stone', a medieval landmark between the precisely, on its final ridges, which in east converge possessions of the city of Maribor and the Limbuš into the plains of the Dravsko-Ptujsko polje (Drava-lordship, and a rock with the carved emblem of the Ptuj Plain), and in the north to the Lower Drava city of Maribor. Both stones are cited in written valley. Geological ground is mostly of metamorphic sources. rocks from the Paleozoic. The ridges are relatively flat and wide, with many sunny days in the winter months, when the plain and valley below is shrouded in fog. So, the living conditions are therefore very favorable, which is ultimately reflected in the fact, that this part of Pohorje Mountain is relatively densely settled today. The so-cal ed 'KERNWERK' is the highest point of the Poštela hil fort. At this point, the earth embankment reaches a height of about 12 m. We could say that we did not find exactly what we were looking for. There was not even one case of rock art. We may have overlooked the MULTI-PERIOD ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE POŠTELA – LIDAR a photograph of the relief above vil age Razvanje, which shows city emblem, which is supposed to be carved into the defensive embankments of the settlement, mound the rock along the old forest path to the top of necropolis and a complex system of paths. The area was most Mariborsko Pohorje (Maribor's Pohorje). densely populated during the Early Iron Age (between the 8th and 6th centuries BC). Therefore, it is not surprising that we find herea high density of archeological sites from prehistory to the Middle Ages. Rocks are mostly found in narrow gorges and on the backs of ridges, where there are also few abandoned quarries. MOUND-GRAVES NECROPOLIS PIVOLA However, we found the White Stone, a few meter large quartz monolith, and possibly prehistoric circular design structure that later served as a quarry. This officially unknown structure is partly KOS’S MOUND GRAVE - the circumference of the grave is dug into the foot of the hill and partly filled with about 200 m, today's height is about 5 m. The tomb, built with crushed stone. The structure is reminiscent of the the drywal technique, was used as a wine cellar at the end of earth cult structures of the late Neolithic Lengyen the 19th century. culture. 20 KOZJAK Kozjak Mountain Field-Work 2021 (Kozjak Mountain) A mountain on the northern side of the Drava Valley starts with ridges on the south-east side above the village of Kamnica a cityin the vicinity of Maribor. On its west side, Kozjak (or Kobansko) Mountain ends with the ravine of the Mučka Bistrica creek, which flows from Koralpen on the Austrian side of the border. The geological structure is mostly of Paleozoic rocks, which are considered to be the oldest in Slovenia. Smaller patches of dolomite and We conducted 15 days of field research, limestone, then marl, sandstone and conglomerate during which we explored the following areas of are also found in the area. Toward the west is an Kozjak Mountain: Šober, Žavcarjev vrh Žavcar area around village Remšnik, rich with precious Summit), Spodnji and Zgornji Slemen, Veliki Boč, areas metal ores and partly preserved mine shafts. around village Sv. Duh na Ostem vrhu (Holy Spirit on Exploitation of silver ore in this place is first Sharp Summit) , Herkove pečine (Herk’s Cliff), mentioned in the written sources from the 16th Perkolica (Perkolica Hil ), Grajski hrib (Castle Hil ) and century. The only known archeological sites on the area around village Remšnik. Kozjak Mountain from Early Iron Age (Hallstat Period) are exclusively in this area. It is worth mentioning another prehistoric site few kilometers westward. It is a karst cave with archeologically confirmed traces from late Paleolithic. With this cave, named Herkove peči (Herk’s Cliffs), we have already mentioned all known archeological sites on Kozjak Mountain. Compared to the neighboring Pohorje Mountain, the number is small, although the living conditions are even slightly more favorable in Kozjak Mountain. Maybe the relatively small number of known prehistoric archaeological sites here is the result of poor knowledge of the terrain, which is quite diverse and opaque. The main paths cross the mountain through the gorges of the largest creeks, connecting the Drava Valley with Graško polje (Graz Field) and the Koroška kotlina (Carinthia Basin). Next to these main routes mighty castles once stood. 21 VZHODNI KOZJAK around the ruins of castle Wildhusen and above (Spodnji and Zgornji Slemen). Eastern areas of Kozjak Within the framework of 10 field Mountain researches in east areas of Kozjak Mountain, we discovered some examples of modelled rock Within the frame of this year’s research formations, which, however, are without we focused on old transport connections, then recognizable engravings. The main path, leading areas with a higher concentration of stone, and uphill from the 'Šober dvor' in the gorge to the finally areas with remnants of the past that do not supposed prehistoric hillfort above, was carved officially exist. Officially, there is no archeological into living rock in two places. Next to the higher site from prehistoric period in the east part of the ‘rock gate’ is a formation on which there are traces mountain. The only protected areas are along the of processing. Its pointing end, protruding from the old path, leading through the gorge of Bistrica creek formation is directed exactly to the east (90 (Bistrica Gorge on Kozjak Mountain). Here are two azimuths), where the horizon is not blocked by any mighty ruins of medieval castles, first mentioned in hills. Along the way there is also around 12 m high the 12th century ( Castle Wildhusen and Castle cliff. A few meters high flat wall above the path Schmirnberg). ends with a spacious terrace. As there are two more similar terraces higher up, the rock from the side view is slightly reminiscent of stairs. The highest terrace at the top of the rock is joined by an old footpath on the east side. At the base of the rock there is a formation, that may have been partially modelled. CASTLE SCHMIRNBERG - The ruins of the once mighty castle are surrounded by three defensive ditches. Access to the castle is protected by two defensive moats. A large defensive tower (i.e. ‘bergfried’) was erected above the inner defensive moat. Our opinion is that the existing archaeological picture of the area needs to be thoroughly supplemented. In recent years and only in Šober area, we have discovered visible remains of three prehistoric settlements (planned terrain, defensive embankments and ditches, artificial ramps), and the fourth settlement further west in area immediately below Žavcarjev vrh (Žavcar’s Summit, 915 m). The areas of the four alleged settlements, including the paths leading to them, were explored in more The stone formation under one of the prehistoric hil forts in detail also as a part of field research in 2021. We Šober consists of four stones. The formation has interior space also inspected the wider area in more details with an opening that is pointing exactly to the point on the horizon, where the sun rises on the day of the winter solstice (in the photo). 22 The example of second alleged hillfort from Šober, a good kilometer north by air, has similar access. That means that above the main path there is also a cliff of similar height and terraces on different height levels. In addition, there is a small cave just below the top, which ends with a rock window. Rock surface on both sides of cave entrance are perfectly flat, as properly vertical rocky wal on the west side of cliff. Highlighted parts of the cliff give us impression, that they were processed. Neat the east base of the cliff there is a rock formation consisting of 4 stones. The three stones that were probably placed one on top of the other, carry a A rocky outcrop along an old path that is partly carved into its stone slab that, on the other side, rests on a rock foundation. It is located in the middle of a steep slope below base of a cliff. In the direction of the south-eastern the Kolmanišer farm. horizon, the interior of the rock formation is The old path runs so close along the rock directed exactly to the point of the winter solstice that part of the latter had to be removed. It turned sunrise. out to be an upright rock without engravings. It is This assumption, based on preliminary located in the middle of a steep and opaque ridge, measurement, was confirmed by photography of but exactly at the point, where the view opens to the sunrise on 21.12. In the western part and near an observer in a southerly and south-westerly the top of the cliff there is a wall with a completely direction. In the southeast direction, the view is flat surface, which is aligned with the Polar Axis slightly opened by a small ravine, enough for the (north-south, 0-180 azimuth). Stairs are carved rays of the rising sun during the winter solstice, to into the northern edge of the rock enabling an penetrate through it and illuminate the stone. elegant descent from the top of the cliff. Part of this archeologically interesting area with an alleged hillfort at the top is also a small quartz quarry. The latter is not mentioned either by written sources or traditions. This fact, after all, also applies to glassworks, which obviously weren’t present in Šober area. We did not find similar examples of partially modeled cliffs in the area around the third and fourth alleged hillforts. Rock formations around the Gromov vrh (Thunder’s Summit) hillfort mostly show completely natural features. Most of Old path supported by a dry wal in a side ravine below a rocky all, our attention was drawn to the unusually large outcrop. A side path branches off from this road, climbing in blocks of stone on the steep slope, which, serpentines to a rocky outcrop and higher. however, are without engravings. Interesting rocky outcrops, but without With the exception of crushed stone, the engravings, are also in the steep western slopes of geological base of the fourth location is mostly Žavcarjev vrh, which descend into the valley of the below ground level. There is much more stone on Bistrica Creek. The field research of the ruins of the surface on the southern slopes of Žavcarjev vrh Wildhusen Castle (‘Viltuš’) and its surroundings was (Žavcar’s Summit). Along the old path, situated in also without results. one of the southern ridges, which in some places is built of crushed stone, we discovered an upright solitary rock about 4 m high. 23 CENTRALNI KOZJAK photographs have shown that the main stones at the church, which are slightly raised towards the Central areas of Kozjak level of the summit, are arranged in the shape of a heptagon. Inside of it there is one of the three Mountain chapels that stand next to the church. In the heart of the Kozjak Mountain, where the summits reach the highest altitude, we examined in detail the area around the village of St. Duh with many interesting rock formations, then the gorge of Bistrica Creek, the ruins and surroundings of Castle Schmirnberg (‘Žlemberg’), and finally the Vurmat area west of the village of Sveti Duh (Holly Spirit). Some of the 'miracle stones' a few meters NW from Church of Holy Spirit, which are stil the object of worship today. The stones in the photo represent the SE part of the heptagon. A few meters in the north-west direction from the heptagon there is the largest stone, which completes the platform with the heptagon as some kind of pier. The largest stone is directed towards the end of the top plateau where the second chapel stands on a rock base. We assume, that Vil age SV.DUH NA OSTREM VRHU (Holy Spirit on Sharp Summit) is an area with a special geological composition, which before the chapel, a stone stood here as an is not found elsewhere in Kozjak Mountain. there are four element of the original layout. If we look from the different geological bases in the area. center of the heptagon, the chapel marks the point where the sun sets at the summer solstice. Within the frame of this particular field research, which lasted 3 days, we discovered some potential examples of rock art, more specifically in the form of modeled rock formations and individual stones with archeoastronomic characteristics, but without engravings. All rock formations are located around the village of Sveti Duh, where the old faith in the power of stone is preserved. The geological composition of the soil here is atypical for Kozjak Mountain - dolomite and limestone. A few dozens of rock formations are located in the upper regions of the three distinct summits. On the western summit, named Ostri vrh Monolith (left) bel ow East Summit (903 m) and formation, (Sharp Summit, 903 m) and next to the 'miracle consist from 6 monoliths at the top. If we look at this formation stones' (as described by folk tradition), the from the north (the photo shows the view from the east), it has pilgrimage church of the Holy Spirit was built in the shape of horns. the17th century. The church stands on the ground It is also worth mentioning the rock of a pre-Christian sacred place. Even today, at formations on both summits eastward. Summits Easter, pilgrims break the chips of these stones are aligned exactly in the east-west direction (90-with the belief that they possess miraculous 270 degrees), which is a completely natural feature. powers of fertility. Namely, if they are buried in At the top of the Central Summit (927 m altitude) is the field, the harvest will be rich. Aerial 24 a puzzle of four big boulders, surrounded by a ring Despite all these discoveries, we have not of smaller stones a few meters below. Around the found any engraving. They may be hidden under top there are other rock formations lined up, moss which in some places overgrows the surface which are in relation to the highest point of of rocks. But most likely, they are not there at all, significant astronomical relations. Although these because the stone is not the most suitable for are merely the results of preliminary engraving. The other mentioned areas were measurements, we have definitely identified a completely without examples of rock art similar distribution of stone formations and (engravings, modeled rock formations and individual stones in the ground plan. Just like the individual stones…). At the end, it is worth ground plan at Fala Lak e, Grass Summit, Gomila mentioning the top of Viltuš (Viltuš Summit, 830 m) Summit and in the area of St. Areh, villages Šmartno northwest below the village of Holy Spirit, where and Bojtina on Pohorje Mountain. Unlike the West quartz was mined more than a century ago. Summit or Sharp Summit, the Central Summit and East Summit are overgrown with coniferous forest. So, aerial photographs of the layout on both summits couldn’t be made. ‘STONE HORNS’ at the top of EAST SUMMIT- Between the horns there are smal er monoliths that cover the intermediate empty space. From both the north and the south side of the formation there is an opening of approximately square shape. ROCK FORMATION on top of CENTRAL SUMMIT consists of The distance between the openings on the north and south four monoliths. In the middle, formation has an empty space sides is about 2 m. Between them there is empty space, which and openings with astronomical y significant orientations. rises in a south-northern direction with a slope of around 40 degrees. Since the intermediate empty space between the In the area there are also three examples ‘stone horns’ is directed between 355 degrees NW and 20 of large stones resembling human heads, as well as degrees NW, the view through the south window is directed toward the sky sector with the North Pole point. other stunning formations. Such as the ‘stone horns’ which represent the top of East Summit, the In the coming years, we plan to explore eastern peak. Between the two horns the sun rises the areas of central Kozjak Mountain, which we at the winter solstice, and at the same time over have not been able to visit this year (around the one of the ‘stone heads’ south-west below the village of Kapla, Javnik area…). Central Summit. ‘STONE HEADS’ - the left one is located below the CENTRAL SUMMIT, the right one, which is also part of the heptagon, on the WESTERN SUMMIT. 25 ZAHODNI KOZJAK Western areas of Kozjak Mountain We already mentioned the fact, that all officially recorded prehistoric archaeological sites are situated exclusively in the west areas of Kozjak Mountain. Two of them, dated in the Early Iron Age (s.c. Hallstat Period), are situated in the area around village Remšnik. The area is rich in various ores and minerals (silver, copper, iron, graphite, malachite, chalcopyrite ...). HERK’S CLIFFS – The entrance to the karst cave is in a precipice. The cave is about 60 m long, while the research covered two hal s at the entrance to the cave, the two largest spaces, which nevertheless represent less than half of it. The abandoned silver mine above the old vil age of Brezno in the Middle Drava Val ey and SW of the vil age of Remšnik was As part of a two-day field research, we in use as early as the 16th century. Today, the mine is considered as natural heritage due to the many minerals (more also visited the cliffs of Castle Hil above town Radlje than 70) found in abandoned mine shafts, carved into living ob Dravi and the area with the remains of the rock. medieval Castle Marenberg. Further west the geology changes. In the area, now with limestone and conglomerate, is the picturesque karst gorge of Suhi Potok (Dry Creek) and a few karst caves. One of them is very important. Inside Herk’s Cliffs, stone artifacts from Late Paleolithic have been found. It is so far the only cave in whole area of north-east Slovenia with such findings. The cave, named after the land owner Herk, is said to have served as an occasional hunting lodge, but was newer inhabited. The remains of the CASTLE MARENBERG, first mentioned in the 13th century, reign on top of the precipices above the town of Radlje ob Dravi. Finally, we were in an area that is not typical for Kozjak Mountain. The area above the karst gorge is densely dotted with huge boulders. The largest, standing upright, reaches the height of just over 15 m. The impression given by the view of the whole is exceptional, so it is surprising that HERK’S CLIFFS - a view of the entrance hal of the cave, on the ceiling of which are the supposed petroglyphs. the area is not protected as a natural feature. It is 26 quite possible that the peculiarity of this place has attracted people since prehistoric times. The already mentioned Herk’s Cliffs are less than a kilometer toward east. The first important discovery doesn’t concern prehistoric rock art. On Castle Hil above town Radlje ob Dravi, we identified traces of a hitherto unrecorded hillfort, supposedly from prehistoric period. Subsequent viewing of LIDAR image of the hill showed on its west side distinctly terraced area. HERK’S CAVE CEILING with the supposed PETROGLYPHS - The engravings in the form of an animal is poorly visible because there are many similar lines around it. The impression is that engravings were created sequential y, which does not necessarily mean that they are the work of human hands. reproduction, very similar as original, as we saw it in year 2021 on the ceiling inside cave Herk’s Cliff. In the next hall deeper in the cave, we have not identified similar engravings to those in its entrance part. CASTLE HILL above RADLJE OB DRAVI - the relief photographs show the remains of Castle Marenberg at the top of the hil (right in the middle), and on the left next to it the settlement terraces, which most likely indicate the existence of a prehistoric hil fort that has not yet been discovered in this area. The al eged prehistoric settlement reigns over the gorge and pass Radelj, which has obviously been an important traffic HERK’S CAVE CEILING with the supposed PETROGLYPHS – connection with the Graz basin on the northern side of Kozjak DETAIL Mountain already in prehistory. The cave reaches even deeper, but due to The second and also discovery, relevant in lack of equipment we did not explore further. If context of prehistoric rock art, was the cave there are actually prehistoric engravings in the Herk's Cliffs. On the cave wall and ceiling just above cave, we will check next year when we visit the the entrance, we discovered a dense interweaving site with more suitable tools, and hopefully, in the of relief lines, that could represent a prime company of prehistoric rock art expert. example of prehistoric rock art. The main problem in this case proved to be the accessibility of the alleged engravings, which are high on the cave wall and ceiling. Today they are a few meters above the ground level. We also identified an image in the wall that most resembles an animal (goat?). We were informed about this particular engraving years ago by a local woman. On this occasion, she drew an 27 SLOVENSKE GORICE Slovenian Hills Field-Work 2021 (Slovenian Hills) Hills between the rivers Mura in the north and Drava in the south, two primarily Alpine rivers, geographically belongs to the Pannonian Plain. The geological base is mad of the alluvium of the former Pannonian Sea (sandstone, marl, shell limestone) and river deposits from the end of last Ice Age. Favorable living conditions here have attracted people since prehistoric times. After all, this is the area with the highest density of stone We spent 3 days of field research in the tool finds in Slovenia, and graves in the form of area of a prehistoric complex, situated in Western earth mounds, both prehistoric and Roman. Slovenian Hil s ( Plački vrh and Brloga), and 2 Relatively few settlements have been discovered in additional days in Central Slovenian Hil (valley of the area, which is due to the fact that the summits Drvanja Stream, village Jakobski dol and its and the top ridges are, as in the past, intensively surroundings). populated today. There are also some famous finds from the area of Slovenian Hil s, among which stand out the dozens of helmets belonging to Iron Age warriors. Helmets were found in year 1811 on the hill, named Ženjak, situated south above old village Benedikt (St. Benedict). So-called Helmets from Negova (village few kilometers northeast from St. Benedict) represent the first such finds in general, so helmets aroused great interest among European scholars of prehistory in the first half of 19th century. Prehistory exploration was, of course, still in its infancy as a branch of science. In old village St. Benedict, exactly in the basement of the old parish church of St. Benedict, whose predecessor was built in in the middle of the 9th century, a stone slab with engravings of three sun crosses and supposedly a human was found few years ago. The original location of this plate is unknown. This undoubtedly prehistoric example of Slovenian rock art is so far the only one, found in the area of Central Slovenian Hil s. As it was found in an area with impressive archaeological heritage, we chose to some extent similar areas for field research in year 2021. 28 ZAHODNE SLOVENSKE examples of rock art that we discovered and which GORICE are probably prehistoric. It is worth noting another special feature of the area, before we start presenting examples of rock-art. Namely, a large Western Slovenian Hills part of the area was once artificially transformed in the past. LIDAR images show some surprising In the area, we investigated the most characteristics of the ridge, especially in the dominant and highest ridge above the river Mura. eastern part, which cannot be of natural origin, The ridge continues beyond the Austrian side of because of the exaact geometric shapes - circles the border, all the way to the village of Lučane in and regular triangles - in the photos of ridge relief the valley of Solba (‘Sulm’) river, which ends the (LIDAR). cross-border area of Slovenian Hil s. The geological base of the ridge, also an area of prehistoric Examples of rock art were identified at complex, is around two kilometers long and mostly three places on the ridge. The first place is located made of shell limestone and sandstone. At the on the extreme eastern edge of the settlement. eastern ( Brloga Summit) and western ends ( Plač Summit) of the ridge, we discovered settlement remains in year 2005. In the following years, we introduced these sites to the competent institutions ( ZVKD Maribor…) and individuals (Stanko Gojkovič, Andrej Magdič, Mira Strmčnik-Gulič). Based on the surface finds (mostly fragments of ceramic, stone tools…) and archeological research after 2010, the preliminary age of this multi-period archaeological site was estimated at 6,000 years. This is an official assessment and extremely important, as it BRLOGA SUMMIT – At the top there are 15 larger and smal er represents context for some unknown remnant, sandstone monoliths that stand forming a polygon - an al eged both in archeologically protected areas and in the megalithic monument. At its top is a chapel. The eastern part of the formation is densely overgrown with bushes, so we have immediate neighborhood. not been able to check this part of the formation accurately. Preliminary measurements have shown that those sides of the stone polygon whose orientations could be measured have a significant astronomical record (solstice, equinox, phases of the 18.6-year lunar cycle). There is an empty space between the monoliths, between 10 and 30 cm. In the outer areas of the polygon, the eastern part of which is warped inside the stone formation, smugglers al egedly hid goods decades ago. Inside the formation there are fox dens today. Access to it is protected by sandstone cliffs, that stretch all the way from the foothills to the top of Brloga (Brloga Summit, 428 m). The initial HILL IN THE SHAPE OF AN EMBRYO - The hil , which is impression is that the top of the cliff is subject to unnamed on the maps, reaches the height of about 410 m. Its greater erosion than the lower lying parts. So, we name was also forgotten by the locals. There are at least three quarries on the hil which have not been used for a long time. have listed 15 larger and smaller blocks of The relief photograph of the area shows the entire hil , which is sandstone standing next to each other, with about 500 m long and about 300 m wide. It is obvious from the notches between them. If we look at the group of photograph that the hil has been largely transformed. At first stones from a bird perspective, the shape could be glance, it is most reminiscent of a human embryo. We doubt a hexagon or even an octagon. An accurate that this happened only because of the exploitation of the stone. estimate could not be given because we were at the site in late spring, so the east side of the In year 2021, the whole picture of this formation was hidden in lush vegetation. area was significantly complemented by a few 29 also found a well-preserved quartz blade in the framework of field research in 2021. BRLOGA HILL – Today most of the hil is protected as an archaeological site. The supposed megalithic structure or the top of Brloga Hil is located at the end of the triangular part of the hil (bottom left). The line going from the top down the middle is the remnant of the defensive embankment, and the sides of the triangle represent the turning points where the slope begins. The side of the triangle on the right (colored black) actual y represents the precipice cliffs that protect access to the settlement above the important path between the Graz Basin and the Drava-Ptuj Field. The foundation of the triangle is also an earthen embankment, which, however, continues in the QUARTZ KNIFE - found in the area of a multi-period site on direction of the NW al the way to the saddle below. Most of Brloga Hil (below) and a monolith with a hole of a few the surface archeological finds (dominated by the Late Bronze centimeters at the top, located north below the embryo-shaped Age, some ancient pieces of pottery, also a fragment of a stone hil . ax - blade) are from the area outside the triangle (the area in the middle of the photo). Among the surface finds, which we handed over to the representatives of Slovenian Preliminary measurements have shown, monument protection institution, there were in that at least 5 sides of the polygon have significant addition to typical artifacts from the Late Bronze astronomical orientations, and that they differ in Age also fragments of medieval pottery. By oral length. At the top of the platform from sandstone tradition and historic sources, in Brloga Summit block, from where we have an exceptional view of there was also a gathering place of a Christian the southern horizon, is a chapel. On the north-heretical sect of the so called ‘Skakači’ (‘Jumpers’). west side of the rock formation there is a terrace, Caves are supposed to be under the stones of whose inner edge is bounded by a drywall Brloga Summit, as ideal hiding places for smuggled (maximum height half meter). A few meters goods. Lower down in the cliff, we saw a cave further north there is an embankment filled with where a few decades ago some kind of village small parts of shell limestone, measuring about a weirdo lived. Otherwise, Slovenian word ‘brlog’ meter in height and a maximum of 2 meters in mean in English ‘den’. Because the name ‘Brloga’ is width. The length of the embankment is about 80 plural, the name of the hill in English reads ‘Dens m and it ends with the next embankment (about Hil ’. 85 m in length), which is placed approximately perpendicular to it. Experts assume, that behind Our opinion is, that the extent of the this embankment and on the northern slope of the prehistoric settlement has not been precisely hill there was a settlement from the Late Bronze determined since 2009, when the area was Age as showed by numerous fragments of pottery included in the register of cultural heritage of and stone tools, which we found in the area. We Slovenia. On the neighboring summit to the west 30 and already outside the protected area there are with at least 34 monoliths, which are limited exclusively to this many traces. We have not been able to find the area. name of this summit, which has in the aerial images In the upper half of the triangle there is of the relief (LIDAR) of the area a shape most concentration of at least 34 stones from shell reminiscent of a human embryo. A part of it is limestone, for which measurements have shown, separated from the remains on the Brloga Hill by a that they are placed on a similar matrix as those in flat saddle. Just below the saddle there is a spring the locations on Pohorje Mountain and Kozjak with a dry-stone well. Due to close proximity, we Mountain. Here we also found a stone pierced at conclude that the remains on both sides of the the top with a small hole. Through it we can see a saddle should be interpret in the context of section of adjacent stone a few meters away, official y confirmed multi-period settlement on whose upper part is most reminiscent of horns. Brloga Hil . Specifically, our gaze is focused precisely on the It is obvious from the LIDAR image of this gap between the ‘horns’, which defines particular 'nameless' hill, that its natural appearance has been point on horizon. fundamentally changed by human hand in an unknown period of the past. Among other things, there is a platform made of earth at the northern foot of the hill. The aerial relief photography reveals, that it is in the shape of an isosceles triangle, the apex of which is directing exactly towards the North Pole. The legs of the triangular platform, which are longer, measure about 140 m, and base 70 m in length. A horn-shaped monolith (in the background) and a monolith with a hole (pictured with a stone knife from Brloga Summit), which directs our gaze between the horns and further to the horizon to the point where the sun rises at the summer solstice. Measurements have shown exactly the point, where the sun rises on June 21(summer solstice). As already mentioned, we have discovered similar stone horns in the vicinity of An isosceles triangle-shaped ground platform NW below the embryo-shaped hil . At the conclusions of the shorter village Holy Spirit on Shrap Summit (Ostri vrh) in foundation page there are two mound-like formations. At about Kozjak Mountain, but very much larger than the a third of its height, a ditch is dug into the triangular platform - stones in question. However, in both cases there a former access to the platform in the NE direction between are horns – exactly at the junction point - directed the extreme northern position of the moon (Mayor Lunar Standstil ) and the summer solstice point sunrise. In the part of toward important turning point of the annual solar the triangular platform above the path (above) there is an area cycle in the horizon. 31 settlements as interpreted by archaeologists. HORN-SHAPED MONOLITH - in the background (under the sun, half the height and a little to the left) a monolith with a hole. The following is also interesting. Three HILLFORT PLAČKI VRH is located at the end of the ridge summits with stone formations around village Holy which begins with the Brloga Summit at east. The top of the hil Spirit in Kozjak Mountain are well visible from the was probably leveled in prehistoric times. Archaeological finds entire ridge between Brloga Hil and Plački vrh (Plač show that the area was continuously inhabited during the Summit). From the top of Brloga Hil there is clearly Cooper Age, through al the periods of the Bronze and Iron Age and during the Roman period. To the west and below the visible the western hill with the Church of the Holy summit there is a saddle crossed by the main Roman road Spirit at the top of the Ostri vrh (Sharp Summit). The leading north to the Roman city Flavia Solva in the Graz Basin, northern slope of Ostri vrh from this point of view and to the south towards the Roman cities Celea in the Celje marks the point where the sun sets at the winter Basin and Poetovio in the Drava-Ptuj plain. In the Middle Ages, there was a toll station below the summit, and according to solstice. many sources, important as wel . At the extreme west of the ridge, named Plački vrh (Plač Summit) or Sonnenberg (Sunny Summit, 511 m) and also its highest point, there is the second archaeological site. According to finds, settlement in Plač Summit chronologically exceeds the settlement at the Brloga Hil . Surface finds on Plač Summit, which we handed over to representatives of the Public Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage - Maribor Unit ( ZVKDS – Maribor), and subsequent excavations Sunset at the equinox from the top of BRLOGA SUMMIT. by Institute of Preventive Archeology Slovenia ( Inštitut za preventivno arheologijo Slovenija) Further west, the main ridge rising steeply showed a picture of a multi-period site. The oldest for the third time, towards the top of Kresnica settlement finds are from the Cooper Age, from Summit (444 m). It covers approx. 6 ha area, which the 4th millennium BC. The settlement existed is surrounded on all sides by slopes. From the east throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages, and and west, the terrain of the summit elevates, and in probably also in the Roman period. Then the the middle slopes slightly. Ditches, leveling and western foot of Plač Summit was crossed by the other interventions in the terrain are visible in the main road in the direction of the Municipium Flavia forest, and an old quarry of shell limestone Solva (today city of Leibnitz), which in the opposite descends the slope on the west side. Our opinion direction (south) led to the Municipium Claudia is, that the summit was intensively populated and Celeia (city of Celje) and the Colonia Ulpia Traiana part of a prehistoric settlement complex, that Poetovo (city of Ptuj). This road has been preserved encompassed the entire ridge between Brloga throughout the Middle Ages, when there was a Summit and Plač Summit, and not just two separate station where the carriers had to pay customs duties for the transported goods. 32 There is an exceptional panorama from Plač Summit. Access to the plain of the summit is protected by slopes, and from the south by cliffs, in which there is an entrance to the karst cave. TRIANGULAR-SHAPED STONE SLAB was original y most likely placed vertical y, but has tilted over time. It is located a few tens of meters away from larger earth structures, which experts interpret as large burial mounds from the Middle Bronze Age. Petroglyphs are visible on the upper surface of the stone slab. In the north direction below the multiperiod settlement there is an area with earthen PETROGLYPH PLAČKI VRH on the upper surface of a triangular-shaped stone slab. structures, which archaeologists interpret as funeral mounds. In reality, they don’t know, what is actually hidden in them, because, they were not excavated. In the immediate vicinity of the presumed funeral mounds, an upright stone is placed. Its relation to the largest of the mounds bears significant astronomical meaning. And secondly, on this upright stone, traces of engravings were discovered in the year 2021. Some parts of its surface are overgrown with moss, so it is possible that there is another engraving. The stone was not cleaned. This last is in the plan for the second phase of our project, when we intend to record all examples of stone art in Slovenia in accordance with valid standards for recording rock art. 33 CENTRALNE SLOVENSKE excavated stones are two complete spheres with a GORICE diameter of 30 and 40 cm. Central Slovenian Hills We did additional 2 days of research in the area of Central Slovenian Hil s. First day of research took place in the wider area of the village Jakobski dol. There are no official archeological sites in Jakobski dol and in the surrounding area. The nearest, mound necropolis of natives from the Roman period, is located south-east in the neighboring valley, in front of the village of Sveti Jurij (St. George). Otherwise, Jakobski dol is an area Sandstone stone spheres used in the construction of the scarp. with some individual finds that testify about the The highest stone has the shape of a perfect sphere. presence of cultures in late Neolithic and Cooper According to the owner, a similar exact Age(copper dagger). When the old parish church sphere, but much larger (estimated to be at least 1 of St. Jacob was built, a Roman white marble m in diameter), once stood higher on the estate tombstone with a relief of a married couple above and was later destroyed. Otherwise, sandstones of the inscription field was used as handy building more irregular shapes with rounded edges material. dominate. The same can be said for the stones excavated by the owner of the estate in Jakobski dol. These are stone spheres of smaller dimensions (up to 10 cm in diameter), which are not as perfect as the already mentioned spheres from Zgornje Hlapje. JAKOBSKI DOL - ROMAN TOMBSTONE with a relief of the deceased and an inscription plate made of white marble from Pohorje Mountain. Today it is built into the wal of the church of St. Jacob. The main motive for our visit in area was old information about unusual rock formations in shapes of spheres that were originally located The locals made an interesting sculpture out of three stones. underground. In Zgornje Hlapje area northward, According to him, there used to be a large and perfectly regular sandstone ‘spheres’ were presented to us on the sandstone bal on the estate, which he estimated was a good estate of a local winegrower. They were excavated meter in diameter. They smashed it while building electrical wiring. during the landscaping of the vineyard. Among the 34 Despite two perfect spheres and two is slightly lower, but still about 10 m. The structure other pieces of exceptional shapes in Zgornje is in some places made of earth, in others of Hlapje, and smaller stone spheres from village smaller pebbles, among which quartz Jakobski dol, we assume, that they are most likely predominates. At the top of the structure there natural formations. Finally, we didn’t notice any are at least three leveled areas that also include engravings on them. In any case, these interesting some deepened terrain. On the west side, where sandstones will need to be checked in more detail. the structure faces the valley, there is a spacious terrace about 10 m below the top terraces. On the opposite side, a deep ditch was dug in the middle of the structure layout. The ditch represents the easiest access to the terraces at the top of structure There are also a few ditch-shaped depressions at the edges of the top of the structure. Preliminary measurements have shown significant astronomical orientations. One of the ditches on the north-west side is directed toward The so-cal ed Attila Castle is a large mound of earth 306 degrees, so exactly to the point where the sun surrounded by a moat with an embankment. At the top of the sets at the summer solstice. In this case, it is the mound, a wooden tower of a less important nobleman is said to summit, on which the famous pilgrimage church of have stood in the 12th century or earlier. Pottery from the 7th the Holy Trinity was built. It can be argued with century was also found during the excavation of the mound. But it is younger than the period of the Hun invasions, so the legend high probability, that these elements of the earth's of Attila's castle, the leader of the Huns, thus has no structure are the work of human hands. After all, archaeological basis. Similar in shape, but of much larger there is a certain degree of probability, that the dimensions, is the earth structure in the val ey of the Drvanja whole structure was artificial y made at an Stream, which is located a few kilometers south and we have not been able to photograph it so far. unknown time in the past and with an unknown purpose. The second day of field research was completed in the valley of the Drvanja Stream. In the town of Lenart, today's center of There are at least ten archeological sites and an Central Slovenian Hil s, we found four sculptured area with quarries of shell limestone in use since stones from sandstone and limestone, situated Roman times. Within the frame of the field about fifty meters NW from the parish church of research, we focused on the area with quarries and St. Lenart (Leonard). Origins of these stones are the terrain above, because here there is a large unknown. mound necropolis from the Roman period, which is associated with quarries bellow by archeologists. We did not find any examples of stone art in the mentioned locations. The second site, which we explored that day, is located near the end of the valley south-east from necropolis. We were reminded of it by our collaborator mag. Iztok Erjavec, who also lives nearby. It turned out, that at the foot of the hills The upright sandstone reminiscent of a wine bottle in the on the eastern side of the valley, a massive earth lower, roughly shaped part, has a human head shaped at the top. There is also the only record of this stone, according to structure is situated. Earth structure is about 20 m which it is a sculpture from the 16th century. The way the head in height above the ground level of the valley, and is shaped encourages this placement. The head was once said to about 100 m in diameter. On the east side, where have a crown, but it was removed and replaced with an the structure meets the footing of Drvanja Valley, infamous concrete fil . The second stone has a spiral instead of a head. The third and fourth stones are made of shel limestone - the difference in height between foothill and its top a stone sofa and a corner stone. 35 BOČKO-MACELJSKO HRIBOVJE Boč-Macelj Higland field research 2021 (Boč-Macelj Highland) The Boč-Macelj Highlands represent the final south-eastern ridge of Eastern Alps, consisting mostly of resistant limestone. This natural barrier between the Drava-Ptuj Field and the Celje Basin is also the watershed between the two largest Slovenian rivers, the Drava on the north and the Sava on its south side. Among the peaks Donačka gora (Donačka Mountain) and Boč (Boč Mountain) stand out the most in the image of the landscape. Boč Mountain is also the highest peak of the ridge. The plains on the north and south sides of this natural barrier are connected by narrow passages, along which the ruins of some medieval castle are Field research in the area was conducted still situated. Here there are also older within 7 days. In addition to some already archeological sites, mostly on the south side of the mentioned sites with remains of past, we also highland. Today it is a sparsely populated area inspected some new areas at the top of the ridge. dotted with secluded farms, far away from major roads, with extensive forest areas and on few We spent 4 days in the area of Donačka places predominantly transitional. Here there is no Mountain and next two days on Boč Mountain. Last great difference between today and the Middle day of field research, we walked the area of the Ages, as there are only three smaller and relatively entire ridge from Macelj Mountain to village Spodnje insignificant churches in the area, moreover, they Poljčane below Boč Mountain. are in secluded places. But the more we dive into the past, the mote archeological sites multiply. After all, this is also the area where we conducted our initiation in field research. In 2005, we assembled a mosaic of an extensive prehistoric settlement on the extreme slopes (40 degrees and more) of Donačka Mountain. We were led to the discovery by a century old historical source, which states the existence of a hillfort high in the mountain and some archaeological finds (belt buckles, arrows, slag ...). Before us, no one took this valuable source as a credible. In September 2016, smaller archeological excavations were organized and carried out on the site by our associate Dr. Boštjan Odar. Previous and new finds showing a multiperiod picture of the site and, as it appears, with continuous settlement in the range between the Late Bronze Age and the Middle Ages (12th century). 36 DONAČKA GORA But he has documented none of these discoveries. So there is neither a sketch of the Donačka Mountain layer nor a photograph of it, nor a photograph of the pottery site in situ, and finally, no drawing of Here field research was mostly conducted fragments of pottery. Thus, in this interpretation in the area under the south cliffs of Donačka we can only unconditionally trust the words of Mountain, on the surface of about 30 ha. The cliffs renowned Slovenian archaeologist for late protect the access to the already mentioned antiquity. It is also true, that here there is a strong hillfort, which we discovered in 2005. spring, but settlement is not archaeologically attested. Unlike the site above the cliffs where we excavated in 2016. DONAČKA MOUNTAIN - The view from Slovenian Hil s shows us a mountain with three peaks. Based on old reports and surface finds of Archaeological y unexplored ruins in the western slopes of the prehistoric and Roman ceramics, the terrain under Donačka Mountain. The photo shows a dry wal that reaches a the south cliffs, which was the subject of research height of about 12 m. Above it, there is a terrace with ruins in 2021, is also partially protected. These reports with a similar, slightly lower wal . At the top, there is a space of highlighted one particular place, namely strong rectangular ground plan, partly cut into the rock. water spring, around which Roman coins and some prehistoric objects were found. Based mostly on In the end of the year 2018, we started these reports, the eminent Slovene archaeologist researching this area more thoroughly in winter dr. Slavko Ciglenečki assumed there was a late months, when the terrain is more transparent. So Roman-era settlement here. But he also claimed, we came across a huge solitary rock about 7 that he discovered settlement layers 100 m in meters in height that could be modelled. At the length in the profile of the new cart track, where end of year 2019 and the beginning of 2020, we he also found some pieces of late antique pottery. were documenting the folk tradition associated with the Donačka Mountain. So, we visited about 10 elderly locals, who live or had lived at the foot of Donačka Mountain and in the vicinity. So we get some new information, among other things stories concerning the already known locations at the mountain, and also about some places in the lower parts of the mountain yet unknown to us. Among them there is also a meadow, where, according to the locals, a 'golden calf' was buried. On the first day of the field research in Donačka Mountain, we did some measurements Surface finds of ceramics discovered during an inspection in precisely on this meadow. The meadow is situated 2007 (Dr. Boštjan Odar, Dr. Benjamin Štular and Matej Dasko, in a ravine between two ridges, and beneath it M.Sc.) above the precipices and in the area of the legendary there is a spring. When we first visited this settlement ‘Dvor’, which at that time was not yet archaeological y attested. meadow during our first trip in February 2020, our 37 attention was drawn to the gray spots on its impression, that four stones are arranged in the surface. They are the upper surfaces of stones, relation of rhombus, was later confirmed by an most of which are buried underground. Three of aerial photographs of the meadow, which we the stones, measuring about two meters in length obtained from public records. A closer analysis of and about 1 meter in width and height, were relations between the 11 points - 9 stones and 2 excavated by the owner Anton Bukšek some mounds from broken stone, which in shape years ago and then pulled out with tractor to the resemble grave mounds and for which edge of the meadow. measurements have shown that they could be part of the formation - confirmed our impression. More accurate measurements of this formation were made in 2021. The ‘in situ’ situation showed virtually no deviations from the results of the aerial photographs analysis. At the same time, we took a closer look at the terrain, and found at least 9 new stones, which were not visible in the aerial photographs, as they were mostly below the surface. This fact shows, that the whole picture of formation is more complex, as we have thought so far. We only measured the 'GOLDEN CALF' MEADOW - Aerial shots of the meadow distance between the edges of stones, because were taken between 2008 and 2018. The photos clearly show most of them are located underground, so we four stones arranged in the shape of a rhombus, the position of don’t have an idea about their actual dimensions. which did not change during this time. In the face of all efforts, he finally gave up and reconciled ourselves with the gray spots in his meadow. Based on this ‘excavation’, we conclude that the stones just below the surface probably have similar dimensions. Upper surfaces of the stones have a varied relief, which, however, seems completely natural. 'GOLDEN CALF' MEADOW - The length of the sides of the rhombus and the length of the shorter diagonal are in the ratio of the golden ratio. Later, we photographed the meadow from the top of the ridge. So we got the impression that the stones are arranged in precise relations. A rhombus with four stones in edges was 'GOLDEN CALF' MEADOW – In the photo NW stone (next to the figure, right) of rhombus, in the background is the clearly seen in the photo. Subsequent field western peak of Donačka Mountain. research in year 2020 was prevented by an outbreak of the Covid19 epidemic. Visual 38 Nevertheless, we can confirm with great exclusively a find in the plow layer (max. 30 cm certainty, that the four stones on the meadow are deep). It contained at least 20 fragments of pottery arranged in such a manner, that each represents including also two prehistoric pieces. one of the four foci of the rhombus. The side of the rhombus is a good 16 m long, with a longer diagonal of just under 31 m, and a shorter diagonal approximately 10 m. The shorter diagonals of the rhombus and the side of the rhombus are in relation of the golden ratio. The longer diagonal measures about 30.8 m in length and is aligned toward 36 degrees northeast and 206 degrees southwest, as preliminary measurements showed. The shorter diagonal, which is perpendicular to the longer diagonal, therefore has an orientation of 126 degrees southeast and 306 southwest. These Fragments of pottery found during a visit in 2021 in a smal field are the points, where the sun rises at the winter in the NE near the meadow with monoliths. solstice and sets at the summer solstice. Higher above the meadow there is an Although the rhombus is the most embankment, also made of broken stone and prominent figure on the meadow, there are 5 about 15 meters long. A few meters to the west is more stones in its immediate vicinity, which at first an upright stone, which delimits three plots. glance break the symmetry. According to Anton Bukšek, this stone has been there ‘since time immemorial'. This is the only upright stone we found in the wider area of the meadow. There is no engraving on its surface, but it has another special feature. It measures just under 83 cm from the base to the top. This is the same length as yet mentioned Megalithic Yard, the basic unit of measurement, which presumably was used on the British Isles and the West Atlantic Coast trough Neolithic period, as dr. Alexander Thom claimed. Boundary stone between three estates measuring in height 1 megalithic yard (left). We found another stone of identical height in Donačka Mountain, also placed upright. To the right of the photo there are the remains of an old road paved with stone slabs, which according to the locals is 'Roman'. Measurements of the distances between the remaining stones, including nine which we identified that day, showed the relations of isosceles and equilateral triangles. This part of the measurements was not in the plan. In the field, we The monolith in the photo was partial y excavated during field encountered a more complex situation than we research. There was only a smal part of the stone on the had expected. That means, that we’ll have a lot of surface, no more than 20 cm long and 10 cm wide. A partial work to do at this location. excavation showed that under a few centimeters thick layer of earth is monolith about 2 m long and about 80 cm wide. The Surface finds of pottery fragments a few impression is that the top of the stone is shaped, and that in the original position it stood upright. meters east of the meadow, exactly in the smaller field, also indicate that research was justified. As The height of the milestone above the the field was plowed in the spring of 2021, it is meadow is also identical to that of the upright 39 stone which we found less than a kilometer to the Our archaeologist described the unusually east, still in Donačka Mountain. It is also in the area correct shape of the rock as a 'quarry', from which where we completed the second day of our field the drystone terraces situated in the vicinity, which research. prevent landslides, were made. Whereas we don’t doubt, that five-sided monolith has traces of processing, however, our team doesn’t have a single opinion about its purpose. The thesis, that its shape is exclusively due to the breaking of the stone, is erroneous in the light of some of the facts, shown by our measurements. Why is the first side parallel to the third side, and the second side with the fourth? And further, why are both sides oriented exactly in the east-west direction (90-270 degrees)? That this was not a quarry, is also shown by the second and fourth sides, parallel FIVE-SIDED MONOLITH - Monolith with five flat sides to the direction of 155-335 degrees. Last but not containing astronomical records. It was original y 3 m higher (10 least, the side five is exactly in alignment with the m). Its top lies broken below it. To the right, a dry wal rests on north-south direction (0-180 degrees). And that is the monolith, continuing to its left (not visible in the photo). not all. On the side two, on the south edge, The second stone with identical height 83 horizontal lines were engraved. The lines are cm is located approx. 30 m away from yet about 2 cm wide and 1 cm deep and are parallel to mentioned solitary rock, about 7 m in height and the ground level and line up vertically towards the with five distinctive sides. In fact, this is a five-sided top of the rock. monolith. If we look from the upright stone towards the direction of the five-sided monolith, its top marks the point on the horizon, where the sun rises at winter solstice. In the opposite direction, a smaller stone marks the point on the horizon, where the sun sets on the day of summer solstice. The five-sided monolith has five distinct sides that converge towards the top. Unfortunately, the top of rock is not visible, because it is overgrown with evergreen ivy. The southern edge of the side facing NW (left). To the right there is its top in the shape of an animal's head whose 'eye' (carved opening) is directed exactly to the point on the horizon where the sun rises at the equinox - Veliki Belinovec Summit on Macelj Mountain. Above them there is a hole, through which we could see the horizon. Most likely, the hole is the work of human hands. Its orientation to the point where the sun rises at the equinox (90 degrees), including the features already mentioned indicates probability that it is a cult rock. The southern edge of the side facing NW has a few centimeters wide notches in height, which more or less weigh horizontal y along the wal by a maximum of a few tens of centimeters. The Additional evidence for this claim is on the notches intersect in several places, their thickness and depth edge separating side two and side three. There are varying. carved stairs, which allow one to climb to the top of the rock. On the side three there are a few centimeters wide and deep depressions of irregular 40 circular shapes with the highest concentration Next to the side two, there is a larger leveling, and around the already mentioned northwestern edge. above it the next drywal . Next leveling is roughly Towards the top of the side four there is a crack, 2 meters lower and next to the side three, which widens with height and flows into a surrounded by a dry wall on the other edge. In the deepening at the top, which - as already mentioned middle of it, there is a plate with a barely - is not clearly visible. Side five runs up to a height perceptible deep relief in the shape which is of approximately 1,5 of meter, perpendicular difficult to decipher. We could say it most (vertical) to the ground level. It breaks inwards resembles a human palm. from this point towards the top. On the side one, which has not yet been mentioned and is Exactly south (180 degrees) of the five-completely perpendicular to the ground level, sided monolith is a puzzle from six stones, at about there is an unusual bulge near the top of the rock, the same distance (i.e. about 30 m) as the upright albeit poorly visible. Despite the fact that top of stone (with same height – 1 Megalithic Yard, the solitary rock is in lush vegetation, it is visible to approx. 83 cm - as milestone on ‘Golden calf some extent. The top isn’t flat, but a fragmented meadow’), which from the point of view of a area with depressions and peaks. solitary rock marks the point of the summer solstice sunrise. The formation consisting of six monoliths is located exactly south of the five-sided monolith and at approximately the same distance as the vertical stone of the NE. The possibility that the five-sided solitary rock is to some extent the work of human hands could also be indicated by its position and relations to the main natural and cultural points of the surroundings. We found relevant answers on A monolith measuring 1 megalithic yard (nr.2 on Donačka special maps and relief photography (LIDAR) of the Mountain) in height and located about 30 m NE of the four-area. The five-sided monolith is locating at the sided monolith. Its foundation was most likely made of smal er same distance (approximately 550 m) from two of stone slabs stacked in the shape of a regular hexagon. Four the three distinct summits of Donačka Mountain. sides of the latter have been preserved. Specifically, the five-sided monolith is in the ratio In the vicinity of the five-sided monolith, of an isosceles triangle to the two highest points there is another rock formation and structures on the main ridge of Donačka Mountain, the Middle from stone, also worth a brief description. Our Summit and Eastern Summit. impression is, that the drywal layouts around five-sided monolith are adapted to it. Another interesting fact is, that there is an old path leading exactly to five-sided monolith. Its side two continues on both sides with a dry wall, which joins the already mentioned path on the south side. 41 testifies to its strategic location in the area of Lower Styria. This area of the mountain is part of a legendary prehistoric site ‘Dvor’, and testifies about its strategic location in the area of Lower Styria. Middle Summit consist of compact rock. But the rock at Eastern Summit is quite different, though distance between the summits is less than 500 m. Eastern Summit of the mountain is some The five-sided monolith could be interpreted as a geodetic kind of a jigsaw puzzle from boulders. History is point due to the relations it has with neighboring points of silent about this summit with an exceptional view cultural significance (peak, entrance to a prehistoric settlement, to the east. fortress, main mountain peaks . .) Today, on Middle Summit (884 m altitude) The rocky ridge between the Middle there is a few meters high masonry cross, which Summit and Eastern Summit, which is a precipice on replaced the old cross, destroyed after World the northern side, represents the upper edge of War II. Old cross still lies below the summit, the already mentioned prehistoric hillfort, which mixed with the ruins of a former mountain shelter we discovered in 2005. It is also the base of the from the late 19th century. As part of defense of isosceles triangle between the two summits and Styria Province against Turkish invasions, a signal the five-sided monolith. And the fact is, that station was set up on Middle Summit in the 16th practically the entire area of the multi - period century. In face of impending threats, a bonfire, archeological site above the precipices is inside this which was visible after almost the whole of Lower isosceles triangle outcrop. Styria, was lit. In older historical debates, it is claimed, The same distance we find between the that on the Middle Summit of Donačka Mountain five-sided monolith and both of the summits is there stands an older church of St. Donatus (Sv. there also toward a spatial terrace, where the new Donat), later destroyed in a storm. In late Roman church of St. Donatus was built after a catastrophe period, here there stood, presumably, the temple in 1742 when the old church was totally destroyed of the god Mithras, and in prehistory a shrine of an by lightning strike with 59 pilgrims dying. A few unknown Celtic deity. It should be pointed out, that meters north from the church is a boulder, good there is very little space on the Middle Summit two meters long and wide around half meter (about 200 square meters of flat surface). And wideness, whose length is aligned with the Polar secondly, none of the three mentioned sanctuaries Axis. By including this stone as a new point, we get has been proven archaeologically. an equilateral triangle with five-sided rock and Middle Summit of Donačka Mountain. The possibility, that these measurable facts aren’t coincidental, is supported by some other facts. Access to the multi-period settlement, surrounded by precipices, was only possible in three places. They are so-cal ed 'Big Gate', ‘Small Gate’ and ‘Deer Gate’ (Velika Vrata, Mala Vrata, Košutna vrata) which have been carved into living rock, presumably in prehistoric times. Three paths led to the three gates toward the settlement. Below, where three paths reach a very steep slope, Panoramic view from Eastern Summit - Zahodne Haloze (West they are without exception surrounded by more Haloze Hil s, below), behind the Haloze Hil s the plain of the complex drywall constructions, which in one case Drava-Ptuj Field, and in the background Pohorje Mountain and on the far right Kozjak Mountain. Both the Amber Route and reach a height of about 15 m. Our assumption is, the later main Roman road once ran along the plain. This area that these are defense structures, that have been of the mountain is part of a legendary prehistoric site, which watching over these entrances into the hillfort 42 above the precipices. We highlight all these additional points because they are also in the correct geometric proportions with the five-sided monolith. The third day of the field research was dedicated to the terrain which is located east of the five-sided solitary rock, and the area along the old cart track that leads to the main road in the valley and is supposed to run along the route of a former Roman road. Most of this area is no longer archaeologically protected, although there are ROCK WITH A CARVED NICHE on the southern slope of Donačka Mountain. The rock is different from al the stones many abandoned terraces and dry stone walls that considered so far. It is a conglomerate, possibly of volcanic are also visible. origin, as the various stones in it (al of which, without exception, have sharp edges and larger dimensions) are strongly There is also a large rock with a carved attached. It feels like it was melted at a high temperature. niche. This intervention on rock turned out to be at most 40 years old. According to the landowner, It is interesting to note that the niche is it was made by a shepherd who served at their oriented exactly to the south, which means that its house. This shepherd said about his unusual interior is fully illuminated at the astronomical ‘project’, that he would make a chapel from rock noon. The shepherd therefore carved into the wall, and place a statue of Virgin Mary in a niche. which runs exactly in the east-west direction and is perpendicular to the south. Was the shepherd aware of this fact? The relation of this rock with a niche to the five-sided rock a few hundred meters westward also indicates an astronomically significant relationship. The rocks are situated exactly in the line east-west (90-270 degrees), five-sided on the west and the rock with a niche on the east. This is also the direction we look through the hole on the five-sided stone. If the terrain had not been overgrown, we would probably have seen through the hole the rock with a niche, from this perspective situating on the horizon line. The A dry wal between 2 and 3 m high and a good meter wide runs summit of Veliki Belinovec representing exactly the along the supposed Roman road (the road is paved with larger stone slabs) for arounf 170 m in length. Somewhere in the point on horizon, where sun rise at time of both middle of its length, above the wal , there is a strong spring of equinoxes. water 'V grušovji'. Some Roman coins, a bronze fibula, a belt buckle, a copper dagger, etc. were found at this spring. The The distance between the two rocks is wal , road and spring are located in an archeological area of 15 about 350 m, which from both points also applies ha, which is legal y protected. The area of a multiperiod settlement, which we discovered in 2005, is higher up and to the distance toward mighty dry stone structures represent additional 8 ha of the protected area. that enclose one of the paths to the hillfort above. Which means that these three points are in the But before he finished his work, he left ratio of an equilateral triangle. Our opinion is that the farm under mysterious circumstances and there are too many of these coincidences, which never returned. show just the opposite. It should also be noted that the rock with a niche consists of a different rock than the five-sided one. To the east of the latter, an area with a different geological composition begins. It is a relatively small area (200 x 300 m) with a special rock, that we have not found anywhere else on the 43 Donačka Mountain. There are at least two kinds of mister Anton Bukšek, who reminded us of this stone in it. It also contains pieces of stone up to 20 stone, also explained, that it was a hole for draft cm in size (in one part even a log about a meter animals. It is true, that at this point the road climbs long) with sharp edges and clear sides connected visibly. As the owner interpreted it, this hole is by an unidentified mixture. In some places we had supposed to serve as some kind of support which the impression, that in some conglomerate facilitated the ascent. formations, smaller stones were somehow fused to some extent. Finally, it is also a type of Higher on the road and near its inner conglomerate that we have not seen elsewhere in edge there is a sandstone slab about 1 m wide, Slovenia so far. while the length is larger, but at the end which is below the surface. The stone is not from here, but In this area, which all tourist routes from the neighboring hills on the other, eastern effectively avoid, and to our great surprise, we side of the valley. The Log, as this hilly area was have listed at least 20 smaller and some larger named, was once considered the center of stones from the conglomerate. We have been on stonemasonry in wider region. Made from the mountain at least 250 times since 2005, but sandstone, quarried in Log area, is also a trough at always overlooked this special area with huge one of the springs of the mountain, but is conglomerates. They are actually the largest on the unfortunately quite destroyed. It is obvious, that mountain - both in terms of volume and height. the outer surface was more finely worked and Compared to the 12 m high upright rock and some decorated by stringing oblique lines. others, the stone with the niche is really small. So, it is no exaggeration to say, that even for Donačka A similar trough was recorded in the Mountain - which is in itself a fascinating natural village of St. George, and again below the spring, to landmark - the area with the large conglomerates hold a water. Perhaps these troughs are of is a real specialty of the mountain. And also its secondary use, and were originally sarcophagi from secret, as only few locals know it. Because of some a Roman necropolis somewhere above the village particular remains in the area, which are similar to St. George higher in Donačka Mountain? those in the two archeological sites on Donačka Mountain, in this area, insofar as we are just getting to know it, there is a realistic possibility of some new example of stone art. After all, this is a newly discovered area. On the fourth day of the field research, we explored the other lower-lying areas all the way to the southern foot of the Donačka Mountain. At the southwest foot of the mountain, the village is situated, named ‘Saint George’ (‘Sveti Jurij’) after the church standing above the village. If we look closely, the church stands on top of an earthen mound about 30 m in height, facing south towards the valley below, and north through the saddle touching the foot of Donačka Mountain. Mound, terraced in three height levels (including its top) is surrounded by the village of St. George on open sides. Along the eastern side of the earth mound leads a new asphalt road that covered the old road paved with stone slabs. Along this, according to The supposed Roman sarcophagus (above) made of sandstone, preserved at the bottom and used as a water trough from a local oral tradition Roman road, we found some spring. In the preserved places, it can be seen that the outer interesting pieces of modelled stones. Where the surface was finely treated (oblique lines). Below there is a stone old road is still visible, its outer edge is a stone slab with a hole placed on the edge of an old stone slab road, with a hoof-shaped hole. The owner of the land, supposedly Roman. 44 Roman necropolis is attested in written even earlier, a Roman-era settlement on the mountain may have sources, that also mention finds, including a been associated with exploitation of this type of stone. sandstone sarcophagus. The circular shaped stones are traces of stonemasons specialized for production of millstones, mostly for manual grinding of cereals. This craft, which, however, was more a kind of complementary activity, was witnessed on Donačka Mountain between the end of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. According to the information, which we received from the last stonemason Jakob Polajžer, the location with the remains of rough-hewn millstones is one of at least 5 'quarries' on Donačka Mountain. Among the broken millstones and ruins of drywall, very unusual rock is situated. A good 2 m long boulder, wide around 1 m with the shape resembling the head of a reptile. It may be a completely natural shape, but on the other hand, it is not the only reptile-head stone we know of so SUPPOSED ROMAN ROAD - outer edge. This part of the route that is preserved runs for 30 m. The road leads in the far. A few kilometers to the north and in the area direction of the church of St. Donatus and the protected of Western Haloze Hil s, we found a slightly larger archeological area under the multi-period settlement Dvor. stone in the form of a snake head about three years ago. The mouth and eyes on this head were The location of the Roman necropolis, engraved. Virtually nothing is known about either named ’Grobek’ (‘Small grave’) is forgotten today. stone. Sources place necropolis somewhere between the church of St. Donatus and the area around the strong spring, where the already mentioned archaeologist Ciglenečki located a late antique settlement. So, we researched the area between the Church and the spring, and further north-east up to Preval Pass (Prevala), but in this regard without any new insights. However, we found an overgrown area with a high concentration of circular shaped stones. The head of the reptile (left), which is most likely the work of nature, is located a good 50 m south of the five-sided monolith. To the right there is a deep engraving in the rock along the old road, which is most reminiscent of an arrow. It is largely damaged. Otherwise, stone snake heads are known in western Slovenia and documented by Pavel Rough-hewn mil stone, which was broken during processing and Medvešček. They originate from the pre-Christian then discarded. There are a few more locations on the mountain with pieces of broken mil stones. Stonemasonry on tradition, which was preserved in remote places the mountain has been documented since the end of the 19th also at the beginning of the 20th century, and century and was limited to the production of mil stones for where the belief in the power of stone played an manual grinding. The stone suitable for this is quartz sandstone, important role. The mentioned source also which is abundant on the mountain. Given the fact that this type of stone was used to make mil stones in the Roman period and documented an ancient religious ritual of choosing 45 a stone for a snake's head, its processing and placement in the most suitable place. For the snake's head, a larger egg-shaped pebble was chosen. Then eye holes were drilled into it, and the holes filled with a special filler. The stone was then consecrated, and at the end of the ritual, it was positioned in a place of special significance for the followers of the old faith. The difference between the snake heads in western Slovenia and the two from NE Slovenia lies in dimensions. The two snake heads, which we have discovered, are much larger. Last but not least, there are some written sources and oral tradition which highlighted Donačka Mountain as the main gathering place for witches in Lower Styria. Witchcraft on the mountain is thoroughly attested in court records from witch trials in the 17th century. Major crimes against religion, god, and community took place somewhere high on the mountain. Witchcraft here could also be interpreted as an unknown pre- Christian belief. This could also be indicated by the choice of the patron saints of the nearby churches. Both churches on the south side are dedicated to the saints and martyrs known for similar acts. Both, St. George and St. Donatus, defeated the dragon. Or reptile (snake). The latter can also be interpreted as a symbol of pagan faith, that needed to be eradicated. And finally, we mention the meadow, below which the golden calf is buried. If we consider the context from the Old Testament (the Book of Moses), in which this phrase appears, then it is clear, that we are talking about false faith, in this case the worship of idols. At the end, it is necessary to mention three stones, that we discovered years ago and on which there could be engravings. Unfortunately, we found only one. There is an arrow carved into it which points towards the sky and is slightly curved downwards. There are a few other incisions on the stone that could be human work. 46 BOČ The second reason for such a choice of the location of the village of Studenice is that there Boč Mountain lies the nearest natural path from the north to the south side of the Boč Mountain. We are well acquainted with the Boč Mountain area, because we have been exploring it for at least the ten years. Nevertheless, this year we decided to check out some locations on the south side of the mountain and around the route of a medieval road. In year 2021 we completed two days of field research. On the first day we focused on the area around the route of the medieval main road, that STUDENICE DOMINICAN MONASTERY - the fountain is built on the site of the legendary spring, named ‘Studenec led over the Boč Mountain, and on the second day milosti’ (Fountain of Grace). According to legend, the spring on the stone formations around the church of St. was the main reason that a monastery was built here at al . The Margaret, where there is also a rock with traces of spring water has a constant temperature of about 10 degrees 'Devil's claws'. Celsius. In the ravine behind the monastery, there are four karst abysses from which water gushes after heavy rain. Here the pavers of the medieval road become visible. Its traces led us steeply uphill in the direction of the pass, over which we descend to a small karst field which the locals named Formila. The track of this road was described in a famous medieval travel diary from the end of the 15th century, also important source for medieval history of Lower Stryia, written by Paolo Santonino. The road is still clearly visible in some places. However, since it is no longer in use, it is The ruins of a medieval castle (about which practical y nothing already mostly overgrown. Higher up and not far is known) above the monastery in Studenice and above the old, from the pass, we found a stone showing signs of stone-built medieval path that led to the south side of Boč processing. On the surface of the stone, which is Mountain. As this route also includes late antique settlement vertical to the floor surface, there is a drilled hole remains (karst field ‘Formila’). Medieval road most probably takes same route, as older, Roman road. the settlement of an of a regular circular shape, which can also be seen older, Roman route. on the other side of the stone. However, you cannot see through it, because the holes, which are We started our first day of field research otherwise connected, were drilled (or carved?) at in Studenice, an old village at the northern foot of an oblique angle. Boč Mountain. Sunlight does not warm it in the winter months. The reason for this ‘unreasonable choice’ for settlement is surely the famous healing spring, next to which an important Dominican monastery was built in the Middle Ages (13th century). The founder of the monastery, which was intended for unmarried noblewomen, was Zofija Rogaška, a representative of an important noble Karst field FORMILA on Boč Mountain. It is the crossroads of family from the town of Rogatec, whose name is paths in the true sense of the word. The name Formila is mentioned in the famous epic ‘Parzifal’ by Wolfram interpreted by some as a 'forum millitae' - military camp, which von Eschenbach. would be quite probable at this junction of the route. 47 Higher and behind the pass there is the rock formations of 'Galke’ (‘Gaul woman’). Newer already mentioned karst field Formila, where, traces of modeling are visible on the rock at the according to oral tradition, the village once stood. beginning of the path. But due to the unfaithful inhabitants, the whole village one day completely disappeared under the ground. It is also the place, where people in evening hours saw a huge white snake. Older historical sources listed some of the items, found here. Among them was a golden plate, presumably from Roman period, which is considered lost today. Otherwise, some older historians clamed, that the name ‘Formila’ is derived from the Latin words ‘forum millitae’. The position of the karst field is surely the most optimal place for a military outpost on the Boč Mountain, from which it is possible to effectively control the main road and close it. These are, of course, conjectures. So far, there have been no archeological excavations here. And secondly, it is no longer known where to look for old finds here. The only remain in Formila is a good meter of the road curb, with well-preserved The southern part of the track of the medieval route between stones of uniform size, in the shape of a square. Studenice and Kostrivnica. In the middle of the photo there is a Formila is also a crossroad at the junction of two leveling located to the left above the val ey path. The leveling smaller valleys with sinkholes areas in which above the precipices represents the highest point of the late streams disappear. The path, which comes from antique settlement, which continues in the val ey north below it. At the lower left, a mound is visible to the right above the the east, is mostly in the line of the main ridge of val ey with a path on which there are the modest remains of the Macelj-Boč Highland. The second path, along Dor Castle, which is not mentioned in any written source. which we continued our research that day, leads to the south side of a mountain to the village of Kostrivnica. After Formila, we stopped for awhile at Rock was transformed into a chapel with a niche. the location, where our archaeologist suspected a Otherwise, we didn’t notice any other peculiarities late antique refuge. On the surface we found some in this area. fragments of pottery that could be of late antiquity. In the location with well-secured accesses, leveling We spent much more time in the area and deepening of the ground is visible. Lower, where the Devil's Stone is situated. The story goes, above the village Kostrivnica, we inspected the that the stone was brought by the Devil, who modest remains of a small medieval Castle Dor, and intended to destroy the church of St. Margaret by then the old church of St. Lenart in a narrow valley it. It was his bet with God. If the Devil manages to that descends towards the village. We didn’t find bring the rock from village Studenice to St. Margaret any example of rock art around the route from before the end of the mass, the church will be Formila to Kostrivnica. destroyed. So, the Devil must beat the ringing of the church bell, announcing the end of the mass. On the second day of field research, we The Devil ran out of time right in front of the visited some particular locations on Boč Mountain, church, where he heard the church bell and which is present in the oral tradition as place of furiously dropped the stone to the ground. And special meaning. Stones and supernatural forces this stone still standing a few meters behind the plays an important role in these stories. So, we set church, hiding in dense vegetation. There are out to try to find the so-called Devil's Stone, on actually several stones there, but only one has which there are supposed to be traces of his claws. traces of Devil’s claws. This particular stone having This time we climbed tthe mountain from the on the vertical side clearly visible five engraved south foot, through the area of an exceptional lines around half a meter long that converge 48 towards the ground. Our final impression is, that by the rays of the rising sun around the vernal and these are most probably engravings, formed in a autumnal equinoxes. A similar plateau, but a natural way. This is more likely, as traces of claws smaller one is also higher on the ridge, which on this monolith form two semicircular grooves above it passes into natural rock. Our impression along its south side, which run obliquely and is, that the original natural rocky ridge was to almost parallel. The 'u' -shaped grooves measures some extent reshaped. The choice of location was about 20 cm in thickness and a good 10 cm in most likely prompted by the fact, that it is an area depth. The bottom is evenly ribbed. The larger rich in water sources. groove extends from the foundations practically to the top of the monolith, and the smaller one somewhere from half the height to the top. It is our opinion that these could be traces of stone breaking. The grooves are similar to newer, but smaller traces of stone breaking (max. 5 cm). It turns out, that here there are many other unexplained remains. Between the Devil’s Stone and the stone further to the west, which is of similar dimensions, there is empty space, through The formation NE from the Devil’s Stone, which consists of at which it is possible to climb to the top of the least 4 monoliths from the conglomerate (part of the formation stones. A surprise awaited us above – a plateau is overgrown), is a rectangle in the ground plan, which is with a semicircular inner edge composed of small confirmed by measurements 'in situ' and LIDAR image of the crushed stones on which a larger stone was placed area. The shorter side of the formation is aligned in the east-west direction, and the longer in the north-south direction. In upright. the largest monolith (right), which reaches a height of about 6 m, there are a few centimeters of pebbles of quartz. The spring is next to the highest wal of the formation (right). Two springs are in the immediate vicinity of the church of St. Margaret, and westward above the church there is a water pumping station of a public company. The fourth and the weakest spring comes to the surface below a large rock formation, situated northeast above the church. The formation is well visible from the rocky ridge with the Devil's Stone at its foot. Preliminary measurements have shown that the large rock formation and the Devil's Stone are in significant astronomical relation. If we look from the top of Devil's Stone in NE direction, we see rock formation at the line of horizon as the point, which marks the exact position of the sun rising on the summer solstice. In the opposite perspective (SW direction), the Devil's Stone marks the point on the horizon where the sun sets at the winter solstice. Rock formation is situated on a larger DEVIL’S STONE near the CHURCH OF ST. MARGARETH. The monolith measures about 4 m in height. leveling below the steep southern foothills of the Hrastovec Summit (791 m), which protects the area The view from plateau towards the east from northern winds. A detailed inspection, which directs the already mentioned empty space followed the cleaning of the area (the rock between the two rocks. Empty space is illuminated formation was completely overgrown), gave the 49 following insights about formation. At first, it Polar Axis), and the shorter, also vertical side turned out, that the rock formation is in fact an (about 4 m) is aligned to east-west (90-270 arrangement of several stones, standing side by degrees, Equatorial line). side and with empty space between them. The formation is lowest at the northern end (about 1,5 m). Then in the southerly direction it rises steadily and reaches the highest point exactly at the southern end (about 6 m). Secondly, it is located in an area, exclusively based on limestone. In this geological context, the rock formation presents a geological anomaly, as it consists of conglomerate stone. Relief photograph of the rectangular ground plan of the conglomerate monolith formation (left). Right monolith formation, second in a row in a northerly direction. Fourthly, it is clearly evident from the description, that the rock formation has a rectangular shape in the ground plan. This was finally confirmed by aerial and LIDAR photography. Fifthly. Under the moss which overgrew the south part of the rock formations and was removed, we discovered traces of breakage, quartz pebbles. These traces are most likely connected with the glassworks from the 18th century, which stood under the church of St. Margaret. Traces of breakage are found exclusively on the biggest conglomerate, which is made entirely of quartz pebbles. So, the material essential in making glass The image shows a rectangular floor plan of a conglomerate monolith formation (bottom left, above the path lines). To the SW and NE around the site, numerous circular structures are visible, which could be traces of lime extraction - lime kilns. Sixthly. On the south eastern edge of the Due to the above-average concentration of these, it is also biggest conglomerate there are not only traces of possible that they are grave mounds. At the extreme NE of the breakage, but also stairs, along which it is possible larger leveling there are circular remains of dimensions that to ascend from the ground to the top. As we said, exceed the maximum volume of the limestone kiln by several times. similar stairs were identified on the five-sided solitary rock from Donačka Mountain, and we know The biggest conglomerate stone contains smaller of two more such examples. These are Devil's quartz pebbles (up to 3 cm). In the other Rocks (Hudičeve skale) above village Kamnica, conglomerate stones of rock formation, pebbles of formation in eastern Kozjak Mountain, and the the same size were identified, but from different stone near the snakehead in Western Haloze Hil s. material. Thirdly, the main sides of the rock formation are aligned along the four cardinal directions of the sky. Longer vertical side of the formation, measuring about 8 m in length, is aligned exactly to north-south (0-180 degrees, 50 Even a partial look inside the circular formation reveals different traces. On the outer embankment of one circular formation there is a recent excavation that gives a partial view of its interior. It consists of a mixture of earth, smaller pieces of stone, smaller pieces of charcoal and smaller orange-red pieces of unidentified substance. A smal fragment of ceramics was also found in there. At the top of the DEVIL'S STONE, in the background the Church of ST. MARGARET. The LIDAR photograph shows that similar holes - at least 11 - are located around the conglomerate rock formation, with the highest In the immediate vicinity of the large rock concentration a few meter south-west from the formation there are at least three rock formations rock. They could not be seen, because they are with dimensions roughly smaller by half compared completely overgrown. With one exception, to the bigger ones, and a few individual stones. All which, however, is in fact more reminiscent of a listed examples are exclusively from limestone. smaller funeral mound. It is slightly dug out over Preliminary measurements of possible astronomical the top, and inside it there is no earth, but an orientations were carried out, but in a very limited admixture of reddish-brown color most way, due to the considerable overgrowth of the reminiscent of slag. The same material filled the surrounding vegetation. The final impression is that notches between conglomerates, as we realized the formations and individual stones northeast during the cleaning of the conglomerate formation. above the church of St. Margaret are in significant Our impression is, that waste material was astronomical relations. If this is confirmed by more dumped at this site. The question is, whether we accurate measurements, that these are well-can connect it with the already mentioned old thought-out layouts and therefore the work of glassworks below the church of St. Margaret. Since human hands, will be even greater. it was situated lower, we are convinced, that the waste from the glasswork most likely wasn’t driven Finally, we must mention the other uphill, because that would be impractical. It is more remnants in the terrace above church. A few likely that the reddish-brown spikes can be meters eastward from the large rock formation associated with the largest circular depressions in there is an old path in the south-north direction. It the north side of the conglomerate formation. is well visible in the LIDAR image, even better than on the spot. The path, probably for carriages, is out of use today and overgrown. The traces on the relief image show that it was used relatively often in the past. Before the path descends towards the karst gorge, which leads from the east to Formila, there are six smaller and larger holes at the northern end of the terrace. Their depth is increased by the earth embankments that line the hole. The LIDAR image shows that they have mostly perfect circular designs. The three largest circular designs are between 10 - 12 m in diameter. Since there is limestone in the area, we The monolith NE of the Church of St. Margaret. The top of the thought first, that these were holes in which lime stone is loaded with smal er stones of different types. Why was produced. However, when we later analyzed people put them right on this stone, we didn’t find out. the data about lime extraction in Slovenia, we did We can conclude with great certainty that not find any examples of such large holes. The we found some examples of the processed large largest lime production holes were no more than 3 stones. Our assumption is, that the stones are m in diameter. probably an important feature of a pre-Christian 51 cult site. This could also be evidenced by the choice of the patronage of the church. St. Margaret is known mainly for taming the devil, by chaining him. Depiction of saint in the outer niche of the church represent her exactly in this particular moment. But instead of the devil, there is a reptile on the chain. We are expected to look for answers to what other remains in this place present themselves in the future, when we will be better equipped for this rather opaque terrain. Unfortunately, in 2021 we were unable to find the two special stones on Boč Mountain. The first is the stone of St. Nicolas, on which, according to tradition, the saint rested. The second is the stone called 'Baba' , about which we get the information, that its four sides are aligned with the four cardinal directions of the sky. We ran out of time, because we did not count on the many remains in the vicinity of the Church of St. Margaret. 52 GREBEN BOČ-MACELJ Macelj-Boč Ridge A one-day field research of the 34 km long ridge yielded no results. Perhaps this was also due to the great distance we set out to walk that day and the fact that we did not stay long in any individual place. In any case, we have identified certain areas with surface stone that would warrant closer investigation. MACELJ-BOČ RIDGE - below the, to the east Donačka Gora, followed by Resenik Mountain and Macelj Mountain on horizon. 53 LOŠKA DOLINA in Fieldwork 2021 in Lož Valley and in north area of Snežnik Plateau SNEŽNIŠKA PLANOTA (Lož Valley and Snežnik Plateau) The areas of the Lož Valley and the Snežnik Plateau are situated in Notranjska region, which is considered one of the most sparsely populated areas in Slovenia. Towards the east, the high plateaus of Javorniki (Javorniki Plateau) and Snežnik (Snežnik Plateau) descend into the lowland world of ‘Notranjska Plains’ (Notranjsko Podolje), part of which Our two-day field research took place at are ‘Lož Valley’ (Loška dolina) and ‘Baba Field’ (Babno sites with material remains from prehistory, the polje). High Dinaric karst plateaus, such as Snežnik Roman period and the Middle Ages, located above Plateau and Javorniki Plateau, are mostly overgrown the present-day settlements of Lož and Stari trg. with forest and uninhabited. We also checked information about old house signs in Lož Valley and around Cerknica Lake Today, the highest concentration of (Cerkniško jezero), which was provided to us by our settlement is in the valleys and karst fields. It was external collaborator Rudolf Baloh. theopposite in prehistoric times, when most of the Additional two days of research were settlements were on the tops of lower hills conducted on the areas around the main road via bordering the plain. In contrast to the flat area and the uninhabited and opaque Snežnik Plateau, which its marginal hills, the Snežnik Plateau is an area with connects the Lož Valley with the Reka Valley. Main the largest closed forest areas in the territory of reason for this choice was an accidental discovery Slovenia, which continue across the Slovenian-during the preparation for this terrain. Above this Croatian border into the area of Gorski Kotar. particular road, a large area with terraces was Judging by the absence of archeological sites in the identified on the LIDAR image. It is situated at an particular area of Snežnik Plateau above the Lož altitude of about 1100 m, and we wanted to check, Valley, we could conclude, that this was the case in if the terraces are a geological phenomenon, or the the past as well. work of human hands. In this case, we were hoping for a possible remnant. High concentration of archeological sites in the Lož Valley is explained by its geostrategic position. Area is southern part of the Notranjska Further west we wanted to visit the Plains, which is the closest and easiest natural underground cave - Iapodes Cave, where old transport route between the Ljubljana Basin and engravings were discovered years ago. the Kvarner Bay. 54 LOŠKA DOLINA The second area, which we visited this day, are the remains of the hillfort on Ulaka Hil above the Lož Valley village Stari Trg. The top of the hill was inhabited in Iron Age and also later in the Roman period when On the first day of field research in Lož ‘castellum’ presumably have stood here. Remains, Valley, we visited the two most important specifically drywalls, basis of objects and paths are prehistoric hillforts in the area, Križna gora (Cross more preserved than on Križna gora. The area is Mountain) and Ulaka. Hillfort at the top of Križna not as large as the prehistoric complex on Križna gora is dated to Late Bronze Age and the period of gora, and the location of the necropolis is not Iron Age. The most prestigious archeological finds known. Finally, we found nothing related to rock from this site were excavated on a large mound art. necropolis on the west side bellow hillfort. We examined the area in more detail. This was followed by a one-hour tour of the magnificent Križna jama (Cross Cave), located at the northern foot of Križna gora. Traces of older prehistoric periods (pottery) and cave bear bones were also found in the cave. CASTLE LOŽ (Castrum Lass) - The once mighty Lož Castle was built on the site of a prehistoric fort. In the corners of the castle there are large inbuilt stone blocks, which are most likely Roman. At the place where the wal of the castle from the 12th Relief image of the archeological site Križna gora. The core of century is open, it can be seen that an older building was built the settlement is located in the right half of the photo. To the into it - probably Roman. left below the settlement is a mound necropolis. On the second day we visited the third The engravings in the cave (mostly the location above village Lož. At the top of the hill signatures of visitors with the date of visiting the there are remains of a small prehistoric fort, and cave) are at most a century or two old. Older inside its defensive wall, carved into living rock, engravings have not been discovered so far. From there are the ruins of Medieval Castle Lož (‘Pusti here we climbed the marked path, which in some grad’). In the afternoon, we documented some old places follows the old path, to the top of Križna house signs. gora, where we saw the prehistoric wall and rock pier at the top. In the whole area, we did not find any engraving s or other examples of rock art. A relief image of Castle Lož (hil right above the town Lož, above). At the top of the neighboring hil (below), the remains of a prehistoric settlement with defensive wal can be seen. The mighty castle ruins at the top of the hill above Lož are situated in the area of the former prehistoric fort. Like the previous day, we did not find any examples of stone art in this location. The ULAKA HILL – a relief image of a multi-period settlement at main surprise at the site was the insight, that the the top of a hil , today hidden in dense vegetation. mighty Castle Lož, first mentioned in the 13th 55 century, was built on the edges from large pieces The final proof we find in the residential part of the of carefully carved stone, which is not in the walls castle, an arched door through the walls in a between the edges. completely unexpected and atypical place for the castle. It turned out that the arched entrance was subsequently walled up in the castle wall and that it was obviously a Roman-era building, most likely a castel um, which sources therefore wrongly place on top of the already discussed Ulaka Hill. In the afternoon, we documented some old house signs in Lož Valley. Valuable hints on this topic were given to us by our host from the village of Podcerkev. An article about house signs is the work of the local pastor Kebe, and was published in the monography about Lož Valley. The article included a list of house signs and photography. The side exit from the castle in its eastern wal was built of House signs in Lož Valley and around Cerknica Lake different carved stone than the castle wal . In the wal on both are at least 200 years old. The author Kebe sides of the exit, the wal of an older building is visible, the stones of which were probably used in a few more places of the reckons, that the signs are older than the first castle (junction between the wal s). The stones in the vault are house numbers that appear in the area after 1770. also fine smal er stones. Since we can only see them in this place of the castle, they probably belong to an older building. It turns out that these stones were originally part of some other building, definitely older, as the castle was built from them. 90 old house signs from the area of the Lož Val ey and Lake Cerknica (author Kebe). House signs mostly consist of simple lines and were carved, drawn or cut by the owners of The junction between east and south caste wal is of stone of another kind, whereas the other stones in the castle wal s are the homestead on a wooden or iron tool frame from the location of the castle. The stones at the junction are (hammers, chisels, drills, pitchforks, rakes, traps ...), artful y carved squares with a finely worked surface, as opposed on milestones or into trees for demarcation of to roughly carved stones with untreated surfaces. Similar finely estates. Among the house signs there are also worked stones, but of slightly smal er dimensions, are also visible in the wal s of the aforementioned side exit. 56 examples of old symbols, that can be find in the or Latin cross, seven of the signs have the image of repertoire of prehistoric rock-art. a double cross, eight of them have pentagrams, there are also signs in the shape of a circle, bird's feet, sand clock (or symbol of Orion), Star of David, Andrew’s Cross (46 signs). In total, the author listed 159 signs. The author also notes that it is difficult to determine the original meaning of the particular sign, which has long been forgotten. About three-quarters of all signs are original or not copied. More than 30 signs contain a Greek 57 SNEŽNIŠKA PLANOTA Metullum is located a few kilometers northeast from Terpon. Exactly, on Bloke plateau (‘Bloška Snežnik Plateau planota’) above the Lož Valley, in the area of the village with a similar sounding name 'Metulje'. During the preparations for this terrain, we came across a few sources with the assumption, that on the top of Ulaka Hil there was a prehistoric city, named Terpon. On the old map, once owned by A.T. Linhart, famous Slovenian historian from the 18th century, Terpon is situated right next to the Lož village (Lass). Terpon was mentioned by Cassius Dio, Apian and Abial from Alexandria, three antique historians, in the context of the war between Romans and Iapodes, a prehistoric tribe, then living in the southern areas of Notranjska region. Iapods, mixed Illyrian-Celtic tribes ( Strabo), had been a disturbing factor since A view on the Lož Val ey from Lož Castle in the south the time of the Roman Republic. Cicero writes of direction. On the right in the foreground there is the vil age of Stari trg and the foothil s of Ulaka Hil , and in the background peace agreement between the Romans and Iapodes. there is the mighty mass of the Snežnik Plateau with the highest There was more than a century of non-payment of peak Veliki Snežnik (1798 m). the annual tribute and occasional marauding incursions of Iapodes, which was then regularly followed by Roman military intervention in Since the city of Metullum was demolished ‘Iapodia’. That vicious circle was finally finished by to the ground by the Romans, it is not known Octavian, the future emperor Augustus. In year today where it was actually located. There is also 35. BC, Octavian gained power over the Western no consensus about the part of the territory of the Balkans and began a bloody war with Iapodes and Iapod tribes (included also mountainous areas of other tribes. In the final stage of the war with Croatia and ended eastward at Bihac in western Iapodes, Roman legions occupied Terpon which Bosnia) in which Metullum was situated. surrendered. Then followed the siege of Metullum, the capital of the Iapodes. The fortified city, surrounded by several walls, did not surrender. So, a long and bloody siege followed, during which Octavian was severely wounded and the Roman army on the verge of defeat. The opposite side was also exhausted and negotiations followed. These were taken advantage of by Romans, who negotiated to enter the city with a false promise. Map of A.T. Linhart, on which the Japodian cities of Terpon and Metul um are marked. Linhart placed Metul um on the Bloke For the Iapodes, this was the end, but they plateau, near the vil age of Metulje, and Terpon near Lož. did not give up and fell to the last man in the fighting that followed. Those Iapodes who did not If we take into account the old map from fall in battle preferred to die rather than become the 18th century, the prehistoric city was drawn Roman slaves. After the victory, city of Metullum near the village Metulje. It is true that south, west was demolished to the ground by the Romans. and southwest above the village there are three archaeologically protected areas. Two sites were Judging by the reports of ancient marked as 'sites with increased archaeological historians, it could be concluded that the cities of potential', because assessment was made on the Terpon and Metullum were relatively close. This basis of surface traces, which are not specified. The thesis is also supported by the already mentioned third site (the archeological site of Stari grad) is Linhart’s map from the 18th century, where interpreted as the Early Iron Age and later the 58 Roman period settlement. Otherwise, we didn’t found in the area, which is not yet proof in itself. find any expert publication about this particular site. So, information about the area around Metulje is very modest. And not only this. Today, this Fifth claim, or better hypothesis, is ours. It thesis is no longer defended by anyone, except the concerns a large area with terraces in Snežnik inhabitants of the village Metulje, who use it on an Plateau, which we discovered on the LIDAR image information board in front of the village. during preparations for this terrain research. Modern and post-modern Slovenian archeologist and historians mostly support the general thesis, that Metullum was somewhere in the Notranjska Region. In this context, the most exposed location is the prehistoric hillfort near the village Šmihel (St. Michael) below the Nanos (Nanos Mountain. Namely, large quantities of different weapons were excavated there, which are supposed to testify to the clashes with the Romans. Weapons excavated at the site of the large prehistoric fort of Šmihel pod Nanosom (Nanos Mountain) undoubtedly testify to the siege, but they are not necessarily proof, that Metul um once stood here. It turned out, that the terraces are not geological phenomenon, but man made. A bronze cap testifies to the metal urgical and toreutics knowledge of Iapodes, and to their aesthetic sense. The cover was found near Ogulin in Croatia. However, the Croatian professionals are convinced, that the city stood near the town of Ogulin in the current Croatia. The general impression is that their claims have a more realistic basis than the Slovenian ones. They have a prehistoric high fortress with a triple defense wall, which stood on two peaks (as Metullum), and a Roman votive stone dedicated to the so-called Finds from Iapodes graves, Croatia. ‘genius loci’ with the letters 'ME ...'. Since the rest of the inscription is missing, it is premature to Some peculiarities of this unknown site conclude that inscription ‘Metullum’ was carved on agree with the descriptions of ancient historians. the votive stone. And also, between the two Apian wrote that the city was on two summits, summits on the Kapela Hill south of the town of lower and higher. Cassius Dio wrote similarly, but Ogulin, there is no narrow valley which the antique more exactly, that Metullum was located on a sources describe near Metullum, but a saddle. densely forested mountain, exactly on the tops of two ridges, between which there is a narrow According to the fourth claim, the capital valley. of the Iapods was somewhere near the present-day town of Bihać in the northwest of Bosnia. The fact The remains which we discovered are is that extremely rich Iapods tombs have been located in a densely forested area, at an altitude of 59 between 1100 and 1200 m above sea level. that leads across the Snežnik Plateau in a westerly Secondly, the concentration of terraces is on two direction to the town Ilirska Bistrica and the valley ridges separated by a narrow gorge with a water of the river Reka. source and sinkholes. Thirdly, the compact area with terraces occupies at least 30 ha and stretches for about 2 kilometers, which would correspond to the dimensions of a prehistoric city. The area with terraces stretches for a good kilometer and a half CASTLE SNEŽNIK - The castle was first mentioned in written and is between 500 and 800 m wide. According to our rough sources in 1268. Today's castle is mostly from 1461, when the estimates, there are at least 30 ha of areas with terraces. castle was mentioned under the name Sneberk (Schneeberg). Fourthly, right below the location is today's main In the first part of the path above Castle and only route between Lož Valley and the Reka Snežnik there is only one protected archeological Valley. area, marked as the 'site with increased On the third and last day of our field research, we archaeological potential' and probably prehistoric. got to know the areas around the old route, which The next protected archeological sites, about connects Lož Valley and Reka Valley across the which more is known, but still not very much, are extensive and opaque Snežnik Plateau. around the last part of the route, before it descends into the valley. In the intermediate area there is not even one officially registered site. The remains we discovered are located approximately in the middle of this area and a few hundred meters above the road. We found the location without any major problems. The area with terraces of at least 30 ha ŠMARATA HILL above KOZARIŠČE - The route of the old is located about 3 km north of the highest peak of path across the Snežnik Plateau leads from the Lož Val ey past the Snežnik Plateau (Veliki Snežnik, 1798 m). the vil age of Kozarišče and the Šmarata Hil , on which a prehistoric hil fort (defensive wal ) has been preserved. The Because of this, we expected a shady location, but prehistoric fort is visible in the photograph above the vil age. it was just the opposite. We were at the location Below the vil age (left side) is a circular structure located in an in the month of November, when the sun was archeological y protected area with Roman remains. The path already close to the extreme southern point and then reaches Castle Snežnik, built next to a strong karst spring, and from there begins to climb the Snežnik Plateau. low in the sky. Although located on the northern slope of the highest peak, it is far enough from it The route of the road runs first south of and also open enough to the east and west, so that Lož and Stari trg toward the village of Kozarje. it is bathed in sunshine during the day. On top of Above the village, on top of smaller hill Šmarata that, it's a windless position, at least in the areas are remains of a prehistoric hillfort (defense wall). we walked through. There is also a water spring in Soon after the village is the old Castle Snežnik, the area. It is no doubt, that this area has which was built beside the karst spring at the foot sufficiently favorable climate and other conditions of Snežnik Plateau. Water from the spring filled the for settlement. And finally, the area with terraces artificial lake that surrounded the castle whose at the top of the ridges is well protected by natural only connection to the mainland was the terrain features, and at the same time allowing for drawbridge. It is obvious, that Castle Snežnik was an overview of an important route a few hundred intentionally situated near the main and only route, meters lower. Views from the location to the 60 north, east and west are open and far-reaching. discovered in Slovenia. Including the area on We assume that important archeological sites in Snežnik Plateau, we currently know of at least four the wider area are visible from different points of areas with remains: Eastern Pohorje Plateau (1100-the ridges, but we have not been able to verify this. 1300 m); Košenjak Mountain (1100 – 1400 m) and Paški Kozjak Moutain (1100-1250 m). Location of an unexplored settlement on the northern side of the Snežnik Summit. On the photo is one of the many stone-paved paths paved with stone debris that runs between the terraces. Wide terraces at an altitude of about 1120 m, which descend in steps. There is enough space for facilities on them. In addition, The terraces are clearly recognizable and are there are strategic advantages to the location (difficult access, undoubtedly the work of human hands. The control of the main road, exceptional panorama of the northern terraces are filled with larger pieces of crushed horizon). A special feature of the micro-location, which also has stone, which is densely concentrated on the outer a water source, is the favorable climate (protection from southern winds, higher temperatures) and enough sunlight even edges. Many paths run between them, the surface in the winter months. of which is made of well-paved stone debris. In one place we also came across a few ditches measuring Facts show, that the area high on Snežnik a maximum of 30 m in length. Finally, on some Plateau is an extremely large site for Slovenian terraces we had an impression, that there is empty conditions, and secondly, at uncharacteristic space under them. altitude. In addition to the other issues, it is not so important in this moment, whether these are in We were not able to inspect the entire fact the ruins of Metullum or not. area this time, because it is huge and there are too many remains for closer inspections. Despite the high altitude and the fact that it is an uninhabited area today, it could be argued that its microclimatic conditions and sunny location provide good enough conditions for settlement. In addition, the location is situated above the main path between the Lož Valley and the Reka Valley, which has been proven to be in use in the Middle Ages, and most likely even earlier. The strategic importance of the area is evident by the many recent remains of military facilities and infrastructure left behind by the Italian army. Therefore, our assumption is that we are dealing with ruins of unknown age. In the perspective of our past research, this area is also important. It provides additional evidence for the existence of larger settlements in the altitude above 1100 m. which has not yet been 61 ENODNEVNE TERENSKE RAZISKAVE V SLOVENIJI 2021 One - day field researches in Slovenia in 2021 We conducted 8 days of field research in different parts of Slovenia: (1) In the Julijske Alpe (Julian Alps), we visited slap Peričnik (Peričnik Waterfall), Dolina Radovne (Radovna Valley), Kot (Kot Gorge) and Pokljuška soteska (Pokljuka Gorge); (2) Željnske jame (Željne Caves) near Kočevje; (3) Jama Pilanka (Pilanka Cave) in Huda Luknja (Huda luknja Cave); (4) Jama Nelojača (Belojača Cave) in Haloze (Haloze Hil s) (5) Vače (vil age Vače), famous Hal statt necropolis and hillfort. With the exception of the Belojača Cave, we explored the listed areas for the first time. It should also be emphasized, that the main goal was to get a ‘basic picture’ about certain areas. 62 ŽELJNSKE JAME The oldest material remains are from Paleolithic period. In the part of the cave with Željne Caves surface water there are black spots on the walls, interpreted as traces of prehistoric fireplaces. The only engravings we saw in the cave are from the late In the middle of a hot summer, we visited the picturesque Željne Caves (Željnske jame) near Kočevje. The cave system with underground water is a natural landmark and also an multi-period archeological site. INSIDE ŽELJNE CAVES - The wal with traces of ancient burning is special y protected. In the photo is our external collaborator Rudi Baloh, who gave us the first information about the house signs in the Lož Val ey. 19th century. Because it is an extensive cave system, we have been able to explore it to a limited extent. It also turned out that we will need stronger lights in the future. Therefore, it is quite possible that we missed something in the caves. ŽELJNE CAVES - a picturesque entrance to the cave system, from which flows the water that fil s the Rudniško jezero in its vicinity(Rudnik’s Lake). 63 SOTESKA HUDA LUKNJA Huda luknja Gorge Inside PILANKA CAVE - Dry wal of larger pieces of untreated stone that partial y closes the passage between the entrance area and the interior of the cave where the temperature is significantly higher. Although it looks old, this wal is not mentioned in any source. Pilanka Cave there are two additional karst caves, At the bottom of the gorge is Huda luknja Cave, which opened for tourists a few decades ago, but is The second cave with archeological now closed. remains which we took a closer look at, is Pilanka Cave in the Huda luknja gorge. We were there in march 2021. Official data about the cave are modest. The cave have been inhabited in prehistory, as well as in the Roman period. Last information was confirmed ‘in situ’ by surface finds - fragments of pottery from Roman period. ENTRANCE TO THE PILANKA CAVE is located on the Stalactite and stalagmite from the PILANKA CAVE. At the base extremely steep slopes of the Huda luknja Gorge, about 150 m of the stalagmite were five fragments of Roman-era pottery higher than the bottom of the gorge along which the Paka visible in the photograph (bel ow in the middle). The impression Creek flows. is that they are not in their original position, but they must have been found in a cave by someone and placed next to a There are also remains of a dry stone wall in the stalagmite. cave, which partially closes the access to the inner hall of the cave, which is slightly smaller and on a Above it is Špehovka Cave, also an higher level. The temperature in this part is a few archeological site, and in this particular case very degrees higher, which one feels as soon as one important. It is one of the handful of archeological steps past the wall. In front of the cave there are sites and Slovenia with traces from the Mesolithic some interesting stalactite forms. But we did not period. In 2022, we plan to visit both caves. We find any traces of engravings or some other form ran out of time this time, as we focused on the of rock-art. In the immediate vicinity and below rocky ridge above the caves, including the three the main peaks. Unfortunately, this terrain was without any discoveries or new insights. 64 JAMA BELOJAČA afford at the moment. Belojača Cave The third cave, which we visited in 2021, is jama Belojača or. Balunjača (Belojača or Balunjača Cave) in Zahodne Haloze (Western Haloze Hil s). We had known about this cave for many years, but this time we took a closer look at the area around the entrance to it, specifically the wall above the stream which flows from inside. BELOJAČA CAVE - inside the cave. An entrance hal with interesting stalactite formations and a stream that originates from the cave wal (left). The Belojača Cave is not registered as an archeological site. But oral tradition suggests the possibility that the cave was inhabited in the ancient past. There is an old report that pieces of old pottery were found in Belojača on Boč Mountain, which has never been confirmed. After all, there are two karst caves of the same name on Boč Mountain. The cave with the alleged engravings is at the foot of Boč Mountain, and the other, which does not reach more than 10 m in depth, is below its top. If true, then this pottery was found in the larger cave, with an interior of a constant temperature, and also water, which the cave below the top of Boč Mountain doesn’t have. BELOJAČA CAVE - the entrance to the karst cave, which is one of the deepest in Lower Styria. A stream flows from the cave, the murmur of which bounces off the wal s, creating an exceptional sound image. As the horizontal rock surface above the stream is more or less smooth, our attention was drawn by a concentration of engravings (simple lines and dots) on an area of around 50 x 50 cm. The next engravings on an approximately the same area are located two meters higher, this time on a vertical surface. We didn't see anything like it inside the cave. It is difficult to assess if these engravings are really the work of human hands. The fact, that we identified the concentration of engravings only in two places at the entrance to the cave, may point to that. But, we must highlight, we examined more closely the entrance hall, and therefore only the beginning of a larger cave system (around 300 m long cave tunnel with a Supposed petroglyphs on the edge of the stone bed of the larger hall). To enter the cave safely, we would stream and just before the entrance to the Belojača cave. need the appropriate equipment, which we cannot 65 JULIJSKE ALPE highlighted his new discovery - rock engravings. We look forward to his more concrete Julian Alps presentation of the discovered engravings. The Peričnik Waterfal is actual y represented by two waterfal s - the lower and the Upper Peričnik. Next to the pool into which the water of the upper waterfal fal s (pictured) is a standing stone (around 3 m in height). At the end of May 2021, we visited a few areas in the Julijske Alpe ( Julian Alps). Unfortunately, We went exclusively along the northern edge we were not able to do field research on the of the Julian Alps. The first field trip took place mountain pastures above the town of Tolmin. In the along the Vrata Gorge (soteska Vrata), along which last decade, at least two circles, made from stones the mountain river Triglavska Bistrica flows. Possible were discovered here, on an altitude around 1300 engravings were encountered in the area of the m. Peričnik Waterfall. The first stone is located at the beginning of the ascent to the slope. Its surface has line engravings that intersect at right angles and there is also relatively similar spacing between them. Natural cracks in the stone are visible among the engravings that do not look old. Perhaps the purpose of these engravings is quite VRATA GORGE - view of the northern wal of Triglav (2863 m), the highest peak in Slovenia. Janez Bizjak, the discoverer of the stone circles, also wrote a book about the phenomena of ‘megalithic circles’ in Julian Alps. He claims, that ‘Krn stone circle’ was erected during the Copper Age or around 2500 BC, which he substantiates with surface finds ‘in situ’. The area with the stone circle has not been registered as an archeological site so far. After all, Bizjak discovered something, that still doesn’t exist for Slovenian archeology in our country. Bizjak also mentions other type of practical. ‘non-existent’ material heritage in Slovenia. We The stone, located along the path to the Peričnik waterfal , is found this out a few months after our field interspersed with a network of notches, which in some places research. An invitation to his recent lecture seem chaotic. The impression is that the notches in the surface of the stone are made by machine. 66 The surface of the stone on which visitors to the the Pokljuška soteska (Pokljuka Gorge). As far as new Peričnik Waterfall tread daily, would be significantly discoveries are concerned, our terrain research more slippery without these engravings. was fruitless. But two facts cannot be ignored. For the first time, we did not have any information on potential examples of rock art in these areas. And secondly, that we learned about the areas only within a limited time frame and more in a more general manner. Therefore, we are returning to the Julian Alps in the coming years, especially to the areas with supposed engravings, megalithic circles and other remnants of prehistory, about which Janez Bizjak wrote. Upright stone under the upper Peričnik Waterfal . About half the width and 2/3 of the height of the stone is a circular recess. Below the upper Peričnik Waterfall, we observed max. 3 m high vertical rock at the outer edge of the pool, into which the water column of the waterfall breaks. It should be noted that there is no longer any upright rock around the pool, not even such a large piece. On the surface of the rock, which resembles an upright isosceles triangle in shape, there is, about 2/3 of its height, a round POKLJUŠKA SOTESKA (Pokljuka Gorge) - a picturesque karst hole in the middle. It only caught our attention gorge, through which the old trade route once led. after the trip while viewing the photos, because we didn't notice it 'in situ'. VELIKO KREDSKO JEZERO (Great Chalk Lake) - is man-made, as is a smal er lake (Little Chalk Lake). Chalk was excavated at this place more than a century ago, and the excavations were then flooded. Due to the layer of chalk, water in the lake has a special color. Our visit to the northern areas in Julian Alps also included the Radovna Valley, the Malo Kredsko jezero (Little Chalk Lake) and Veliko Kredsko jezero (Great Chalk Lake), the Kot (Kot Gorge) under the northern wall of Triglav (Triglav Mountain), and 67 VAČE Village VAČE VAČE - a relief image of the famous necropolis (in the middle). The necropolis ends in the direction of the fort with a large, mound-like form (left end of necropolis, where two paths meet). This is one of the several necropolises that belong to the fort, but the richest archeological finds have been excavated here. It is known only that there were both skeletal and cremation burials, and that human remains were covered with stone slabs. We haven’t find any information, if there were burial mounds here. In December 2021, we visited the famous Earth remains, where the famous bronze urn archeological site Vače abovethe Litija town. The (‘ Vačka situla’) was found, are most likely the village Vače is most known as a site with many finds preserved perimeter of the mound. It is similar to of valuable objects from Iron Age. Among them, the graves found on the other side of the path as famous bronze situlae (so called Vačka situla) stand the original shape of the grave is no longer visible out. There are some of the oldest figural today. These graves are lined up at the foot of an depictions on urn in toureutics technique, as earth mound which measures about 10 m high, 15 animals and representatives of society from the m wide and about 30 m in length. Since some Early Iron Age. graves were also located on its top, we conclude, that the mound most likely represents a large burial mound, in which members of a certain clan are buried over time (such mounds are known around 30 km further south, in village Stična, Dolenjska Region). VAČE - a relief image of an area with a prehistoric settlement (in the left half of the photo, the brightest parts representing the flat terrain) and a necropolis (in the left half, right below the fort). Firstly, we took a closer look at the necropolis with famous finds, which are now scattered throughout the world's most prestigious museums. Most of the excavations here were carried out in the last quarter of the 19th and in At the eastern foot of the earth mound excavations are visible the beginning of the 20th century, when the site and lined up. These are former graves. Next to every trace of excavation there are information boards with images of the became world famous. The remains of the found objects and basic information about the finds. One of the excavations of that time are still clearly visible on graves was also excavated at the top of a mound of similar the terrain. Close to these remains stand the formation. The photo shows stones located on its surface and information boards with precise description of the practical y on al sides. There are two lines of stones that rise finds, so that the contents of each grave are well from the base to the top, and a large stone in the middle and closer to the top. The measurements indicated the possibility presented. But contrary to contents, the data that stones were placed on the mound, and that in this case about the graves, especially their forms, are scarce. they represent an important element of the funeral cult from the Early Iron Age, which has not yet been discovered in Slovenia so far. 68 Much more important for us was the recognition, without official archeological finds and at that larger stones and more complex stone significantly higher altitude, between 1200 and formations are arranged on this alleged mound in 1300 m. the way familiar to us from the already mentioned sites. Former tomb at the top of the mound, excavated in the second half of the 19th century. Measuring the relationships between them has shown us significant spatial and astronomical relations, so it is our opinion, that these are intentional layouts. In fact, some of the stones on the mound are also parts of tombs. At the recessed top, which has been excavated, three large unprocessed stones represent the walls of a former tomb. Because they were not originally on the surface, we did not include them in the measurements. Two stones on the southern slope of the mound, between which is a gap aligned in a north-south direction (in the photo orientation to the south). On top of that, we have found similar earth mounds (on which individual larger stones and formations are arranged in a meaningful spatial and astronomical matrix) at the extreme northern end of Slovenia. In contrast to Vače, the area of Kozji vrh (Goat’s Summit) above the town of Dravograd in the Upper Drava Valley is completely 69 CONCLUSION the help of an acknowledged authority in the field of rock art, which unfortunately does not exist in In 2021, we conducted a total of 64 days Slovenia. With regard to engravings, we must also of field research. One research day lasted 10 hours mention the potential traces of rock art in the on average. We were not able to visit all the areas, ethnographic heritage of Lož Valley in Notranjska which we had included in the plan. In our field Region. research the measurements of five alleged megalithic monuments were also included, mainly We also discovered at least ten cases of in the perspective of potential astronomical processed stone, which we consider important. At orientations. Unexpected discoveries are a special two locations we found a striking solitary rock story on their own. with carved stairs, a phenomenon we had previously discovered in Kozjak Mountain and in New cases of rock art Western Haloze Hil s. We discovered interesting and intriguing Furthermore, there are examples of unknown examples of rock art: monoliths in anthropomorphic and zoomorphic shapes. On Donačka Mountain, we discovered a (1) at least 10 petroglyphs, in some cases stone in the shape of a reptile's head. Its as decoration in standing stones; counterpart, which we had known of for at least (2) a few stones with ‘cup-marks’; three years, is not far away. The snake head from (3) possibly sculptured big stones; Western Haloze Hil s has similar dimensions. But it (4) potential traces of rock art in the is distinguished from the stone from Donačka ethnographic heritage in Lož Valley; Mountain by the clear traces of processing and (5) and probably the first example of engravings. In previous years the rock formations rock art discovered in a cave with resembling human heads were found mainly on cultural layers from Lower Paleolithic. Pohorje Mountain. This time, we found a huge stone and rock formation in the shape of a human head Potential rock engravings were found in near the village of Sv.Duh on Kozjak Mountain. The 10 locations in seven different geographical units: head-shaped stone is one of the large stones right Middle Drava Valley; Pohorje Mountain; Kozjak next to the Church of the Holy Spirit. These stones Mountain; Slovenian Hil s; Macelj-Boč Highland and are considered sacred by the locals. Western Haloze Hil s. Among them we highlight discoveries on two places, both with known Additional interesting forms are the archeological context. The first place is a karst following: the rock formation with the trough in cave in Kozjak Mountain, named Herkove pečine the upper surface; the big stone modeled in the ( Herk’s Cliff), which is otherwise officially form of an armchair; the so called stone twins, and considered to be the only cave site from the stones in the shape of a three-sided pyramid, Paleolithic in NE Slovenia. The second place with which we found in the area of villages Šmartno and engravings is situated in Zahodne Slovenske gorice Bojtina in Pohorje Mountain. These are all (Western Slovenian Hil s) in the immediate vicinity of exceptional finds without a precedent. the multiperiod settlement Plački vrh (Plač Summit) whose origins date back to the Eneolithic period. Results of the archaeoastronomical The standing stone with engravings north under measurements of the alleged megalithic Plač Summit is astronomically related toward the monuments earth tumulus from Middle Bronze Age, and so probably a part of prehistoric ritual landscape. Our An important breakthrough this year is assumption is, that both cases are most likely from the confirmation of preliminary measurements at the prehistoric period. the sites with alleged megalithic layouts that have been discovered in recent years. Accurate The authenticity of al the discovered rock measurements of large stone formations were engravings will have to be verified, as well as their carried out at two locations on the Eastern Pohorje approximate age. Therefore, we are counting on Plateau, and a site plan of the megalithic layout at 70 Fala Lake was prepared. The precise site plan of 53 Unexpected discoveries stones around the Fala Lake unequivocally shows, that the individual elements of the layout are in the Finally, in some locations, we came across relationship of significant astronomical and spatial traces that we had not expected and went beyond orientations. Obviously, important astronomical the scope of our research. At this point, it is turning points played a key role in the layout. The certainly worth highlighting some areas on Pohorje measurements also indicated the possibility of Mountain with traces that testify to the existence using a single unit of measurement (approximately of settlements; further, the hill in Slovenske gorice 0.83 meters, the so-called Megalithic Yard). (Slovenian Hil s), which was thoroughly transformed for unknown, supposedly cult reasons; land structures at the northern foot of Maribor's Pohorje, This confirmation of our preliminary and the terraced terrain high on the Snežnik assumptions about the layout gave us new insights Plateau in the extent of more than 30 ha, to into some other locations, where big stones are mention only the most important. set in a similar matrix. There are at least 30 such locations in Slovenia. In 2021, we did research in Conclusion five of them: Plački vrh (Plač Summit); Donačka gora Considering the fact that we are researching the (Donačka Mountain); Boč (Boč Mountain); Sv.Areh na currently non-existent field of prehistoric stone art Pohorju (St.Henry on Pohorje Mountain), Pohorje in Slovenia, we are satisfied with this year's (Pohorje Mountain) and Sv.Duh na Ostrem vrhu, discoveries. Kozjak (St.Spirit on Sharp Summit, Kozjak Mountain). In these cases, we defined some segments of the Although we walked many miles and whole, but were unable to define the complete surveyed extensive areas, there are relatively few layouts, as in the case of Fala Lake. For the most discoveries. The general impression could be that part, this is due to the overgrown terrain and the examples of stone art are rare in Slovenia. fact that we must not interfere with the terrain. Therefore, it should be pointed out that our research is conducted to a limited extent, which to An important insight into the stones and a certain level affects the results. Firstly, our more complex structures in significant spatial and research activities are partly funded by astronomical relationships was also gained by a membership fees, donations and gainful activities of visit to the famous archeological site near the the association (travel expenses, lunch). Secondly, village Vače. In the area of the main necropolis, a our research activities are conducted entirely on a huge mound is well visible, it has large stones voluntary basis. Thirdly, we must not interfere with arranged over the surface in the manner described space in any way in our research, because we are above. In this context, the installation should be not competent to do so. Fourth, our research is understood as a part of a funeral cult, perhaps also currently not supported by any public institution in as a tombstone. At the same time, this location Slovenia. The latter has certain consequences - lack reminded us of the already seen situation in 2018 of financial support, limited opportunities to in the area of Kozji vrh (Goat’s Summit) with present results, opposition from the professional identical piles of stones on the surface. public and absence from the field of professional discourse. 71 CIP - Kataložni zapis o publikaciji Univerzitetna knjižnica Maribor 903.6(497.4)(0.034.2) DASKO, Matej Fieldwork 2021 [Elektronski vir] : research of rock-art, megalithic monuments and prehistoric heritage in Slovenia / author Matej G. Dasko ; [translated by David Preželj]. - E-knjiga. - Maribor : Slovenian rock art research association SloRARA, 2023 Način dostopa (URL): http://www.thelema.si ISBN 978-961-96116-1-6 (PDF) COBISS.SI-ID 135920387