Valuable Archaeological Discovery from Ljubljanica River

In Vrhnika, a town near Ljubljana, underwater archaeologists have discovered the largest Slovenian dugout to this date. The dugout, which is more than 15 metres long, was made by the Romans about 2000 years ago.

The rich life of the Ljubljana Marshes is evidenced by discovered artefacts dating more than 5000 years back in time. Among the most significant is certainly the wooden wheel with an axle that is considered the oldest of its kind in the world. The trove of discoveries has recently been increased by the discovery of the longest dugout in Slovenia, which is approximately 2000 years old. The means of transport from the Roman period is over 15 metres long and among the three largest found in Europe. The dugout, broken into three parts, was lifted out of the Ljubljanica river and taken into a restoration centre where it will be cleaned, dried and structurally reinforced. When the wood dries out, the parts will be assembled together again and the dugout restored to its original form.

At the bottom of the dugout, the archaeologists also discovered a bung proving that the dugout was repeatedly submerged. In the Roman times, boats were submerged to be protected from the weather and stored over the winter. On the other hand, the iron joints prove that the dugout was fixed multiple times during its lifetime.

Ljubljana Marshes are among the richest sites of wooden findings in Europe. In its region, archaeologists have so far discovered as many as 65 dugouts and a couple of oars and ships. In total, Ljubljana Marshes allegedly hold about 90 sailing-related finds. However, one of its most important discoveries is the world`s oldest wooden wheel with an axle. You can see it in the City Museum of Ljubljana. The ground of the Marshes is sure to hold many more secrets. These include the prehistoric pile dwellings, thanks to which the Ljubljana Marshes were placed onto the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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