Ajdna

Ajdna (1064 m) is a peak in the Karavanke in the Žirovnica municipality in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia. Access to it is easiest from the village of Potoki in the neighbouring Jesenice municipality.

A settlement from late Antiquity has been found just below the summit and evidence shows that it was probably inhabited much earlier. Excavations began in 1976. Most evidence is from the period immediately after the collapse of the Roman Empire (476 A.D.), when it seems locals moved to the safety of the peak from the valley below during a period of upheval and migration of various Germanic and Slavic tribes through the region. With its location high above the valley with a natural precipitous barrier towards the south and an excellent view up and down the Upper Sava Valley, Ajdna was an ideal location for a defendable settlement. A number of other high altitude settlements from the period between the 4th and 6th centuries have been found in the area of Slovenia, but Ajdna lies at the highest altitude of all. Remains of a total of 25 buildings have been excavated, including an early Christian temple. In an nearby building eleven graves have been excavated and the potsherds, weapons and jewellery found are on display in the museum in Kranj [ [http://www.gorenjski-muzej.videofon.si/ Gorenjski Muzej Kranj] ] . It is believed this was not the main burial ground which has so far not been discovered. The remains of the religious building have been conserved, roofed over and are open to visitors. [ [http://www.zirovnica.si/podrocje.aspx?id=305 Žirovnica municipality site] ] .

Ajdna has been declared an archaeological monument of national importance by the Slovene government [ [http://zakonodaja.gov.si/rpsi/r02/predpis_ODLO1422.html Government of Slovenia order declaring the Ajdna archaeological site a national cultural heritage monument] ] .

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External links

* [http://www.hribi.net/pot.asp?lng=1&gorovjeid=11&id=498&potid=843 Ajdna at Hribi.net ("in English")]