Ljubljanica

The Ljubljanica is a river in Slovenia. It is 41 km long, and some 20 km of its course lies underground in caves, so the river has seven names (six name changes). The capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, is situated on the river. The Ljubljanica is a tributary of the Sava River, with the confluence of the two rivers lying about 10 km downstream from Ljubljana.

Historical significance

As reported in the January 2007 National Geographic, the Ljubljanica has become a popular site for archeologists and treasure hunters to dive for lost relics and artifacts. Locations in the river between the cities Ljubljana and Vrhnika have offered up pieces of history from the Stone Age, to the Renaissance, belonging to a variety of groups, from local ancient cultures, to more well-known groups like the Romans and the Celts.

Exactly why the Ljubljanica became an article dumping ground is up for debate, but most historians believe that it is related to how local tradition has always held the river as a sacred place. These treasures may have been offered “…to the river during rites of passage, in mourning, or as thanksgiving for battles won”

Being what it is, the Ljubljanica has become a very popular attraction in Europe for treasure hunters. This has created an ethical debate between local historians and international treasure seekers. It is believed that the river has offered up between 10,000 and 13,000 objects, of which many have been lost to the public. Many pieces have been sold into private collections, or are hidden away by the original treasure hunters. In 2003, to help curb this trend, Slovenia’s national parliament “declared the river a site of cultural importance and banned diving in it without a permit.”

References

*Kaufmann, Carol. “A River’s Gifts.” National Geographic. Jan, 2007: 150-7

External links

*http://expo98.literal.si/eng/zakladi/vode-slovenije/ljubljanica.html
*http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0701/feature6/index.html