In 1908 a plenty of pottery from the Copper Age was discovered in Podganja jama cave near Coljava. In 1963 ceramics from the Bronze Age were also found in the cave. These findings prove that this area was inhabited early in the history. During the First World War a military railway line was operating near the village and linked the village of Dutovlje to the Isonzo front. Due to the military requirements during the Second World War, a printing house was arranged in a large cavern in a pine forest near Coljava. The village has well developed blacksmith’s craft. In the village vicinity are several sinkholes.