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SLOVENIA Late Antique settlements-refugees in Slovenia
Gradišče (Pustinjak) above Bašelj is an archaeological site in the northern part of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps, frequently treated as an example of Late Antique–early medieval refuge. The text below brings together a geographical outline, archaeological data, an assessment of possible plundering, and the question of settlement continuity.
Gradišče above Bašelj stands at approximately 871 m above sea level above the village of Bašelj; the summit overlooks the torrent valley of the Belica stream and lies beneath the southern slopes of Storžič, giving it a strategic position above communication routes and grazing areas in the Preddvor region. The topography is pronounced: a flat, rocky upper plateau with local rock outcrops and escarpments is surrounded by wooded slopes, providing good views over the surrounding valleys while offering natural fortification comparable to other alpine refugia. On the summit and in its immediate vicinity there are visible architectural remains, dispersed deposits, earthworks and small stone walls; access runs along forest and mountain trails, and informational panels and minor visitor signs are present on site.
Specialist literature classifies Gradišče among Late Antique or Late Antique–early medieval refugia. Archaeological and field descriptions and the available finds indicate activity during the transitional period from Antiquity to the Middle Ages, especially in the 8th and 9th centuries, which confirms the site’s multi‑phase occupation. The topographical position and structural adaptations correspond to the function of a refuge: the high‑mountain summit served as a temporary or seasonal shelter for the population in times of instability.
The first documented field surveys and excavations are recorded in archives from the 20th century, with noted interventions in 1939 and 1998. The period 2010–2015 brought a systematic augmentation of research within international interdisciplinary projects, when archaeology, architectural study, geophysics and aerial survey contributed to the interpretation of architectural remains and stratigraphy. Finds include material related to everyday life and ritual (for example, a small object interpreted as an incense burner), which have been presented in curatorial and educational displays at the Department of Archaeology, University of Ljubljana. The area has been declared an archaeological monument of national importance by official decree, providing a legal framework for protection, further research and control of interventions at the site.
To date there are no unambiguous archaeological indications of catastrophic plundering at Gradišče in the sense of widespread burning or mass destruction. The stratigraphic profile does not show clear, homogeneous layers of extensive burning or large quantities of military debris that would unequivocally indicate such an event. This does not exclude the possibility of isolated skirmishes or raiding during periods of instability; a definitive assessment would require targeted analyses of occupation layers, fire residues, weapons finds and precise dating.
Archaeological data indicate multi‑phase occupation with a peak in the 8th and 9th centuries. There is no evidence for uninterrupted, intensive habitation significantly beyond this period; written sources mention the place only in later centuries, which may reflect occasional reuse of the location or the survival of the place name rather than continuous settlement through the high Middle Ages. Specialists therefore generally speak of continuity into the early medieval period with a gradual decline in settlement intensity after the 9th century, while any later uses are likely sporadic and episodic.
“Za vero staršev” — catalogue/thematic display of the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, presenting material from Gradišče above Bašelj.
Decree declaring the Archaeological Site Gradišče above Bašelj a cultural monument of national importance, Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.
Karo, Špela; Lavrič, Maja; Mlekuz Vrhovnik, Dimitrij — The Gradišče above Bašelj Archaeological Site: Interpretation of Architectural Remains on the Basis of Interdisciplinary Research (report/article on the 2010–2015 investigations).
