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We present the investigation of wood discovered during the 2009/2010 archaeological excavations at the prehistoric pile-dwelling settlement of Špica in Ljubljansko barje, Slovenia. The results include data on wood identification, dendrochronological dating and the spatial distribution of the piles. We focussed on smaller sections of the site and dated oak and ash piles with the reference chronologies of the pile-dwelling settlements of Založnica and Parte spanning the period 2659 – 2366 BC. Based on the established dates of tree felling, we identified several construction activities between 2522 and 2406 BC. Due to the time span of the available reference chronologies, it was not possible to date the wood eventually felled before or after 2659 – 2366 BC. The analyses of the wood together with earlier analyses of archaeological artefacts allow a better understanding of the chronological framework of the Špica site, although this study could not exploit the entire research potential of the excavated archaeological wood.

This paper explores the development of pottery technology in the Trieste Karst region (North-East Italy) from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age (EBA). It also seeks to identify cultural links with other areas by examining potentially imported vessels. Archaeometric analyses (X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy) reveal significant differences between Neolithic ceramics (Danilo–Vlaška Group) and the majority of Late Copper Age (LCA)/Early Bronze Age (EBA) pottery (primarily associated with the Ljubljana Culture and a few with the Cetina Culture). Neolithic pottery displays consistent characteristics across all vessel types, including coarse grain, prevalent sparry calcite temper, and the absence of grog. In contrast, most LCA and EBA vessels exhibit distinct features such as very fine-grained paste, no sparry calcite, notable use of grog temper, higher quartz, muscovite, and flint content. Notably, from a technological perspective, the analyzed Cetina vessels bear a strong resemblance to the majority of LCA ceramics. The differences between Neolithic and LCA/EBA vessels clearly suggest the use of new raw materials, recipes, and techniques, likely reflecting changes in cultural and social contexts and potential connections with the core area of the Ljubljana Culture.

This paper presents the results of the analyses of three glass beads from three Bronze Age sites, Medvode-Svetje, Trata near Škofja Loka and Kamna Gorica near Ljubljana. All three sites belong to the Oloris-Podsmreka horizon, which covers the Middle and the beginning of the Late Bronze Age (c. second half of the 16th/first half of the 15th century to 12th century BC). The PIXE and PIGE analyses revealed that only two of the examined beads belong to the Bronze Age. The bead from the Medvode-Svetje site is similar to LMHK beads and is most likely an import from the Frattesina production centre in northern Italy, while the bead from the Trata site has similarities with the eastern Mediterranean or even Mesopotamian area HMg glass. The natron glass bead from Kamna Gorica is probably an Iron Age infiltrate in a Bronze Age layer.

The article represents a short synthesis about settlements from the Middle and the beginning of the Late Bronze Age in central and eastern regions of Slovenia. Special attention is given to two key-sites, Medvode-Svetje and Trata near Škofja Loka, both from the Gorenjska region. Numerous archaeological excavations and subsequent research publications in the last two decades brought about new insights on dwelling features, forms of housing and on settlement characteristics itself. At the same time, a completely new understanding of the spectre of ceramic repertoire has been obtained, while new radiocarbon dating results enable us to complement the absolute chronology of the given time period.

The contribution presents the results of a comprehensive study of the Late Copper Age Deschmann’s pile-dwelling sites near Ig in the Ljubljansko barje, central Slovenia. It opens with a history of research and goes on to tackle the main topics associated with the cultural attribution of the sites. A re-examination of the recovered pottery and available archival records, coupled with a new typological and chronological analysis of the small finds has enabled a cultural and chronological redefinition of the Ljubljana culture and its characteristic pottery. In addition to the typical vessel forms, usually decorated with whipped-cord impressions, the newly-defined Ljubljana culture includes common ware that reveals influences primarily from the Somogyvár-Vinkovci culture in the Carpathian Basin. Some of the vessels of the Ljubljana culture also follow the tradition of the Vučedol culture, while others reflect the influences and maybe contacts with the Corded Ware, Globular Amphora and Bell Beaker cultures.

Članek obravnava način okraševanja poznobakrenodobne in zgodnjebronastodobne keramike ljubljanske kulture ter pramenaste keramike. O okraševanju izdelkov ljubljanske kulture najdemo v literaturi različne razlage in poimenovanja. Natančna opredelitev tehnike okraševanja je pomembna tako kronološko kot kulturološko. Z eksperimenti smo poskušali dognati, s kakšnimi pripomočki bi bil lahko izdelan značilen okras odtisa niti. Ugotovili smo, da je bil najverjetneje vtisnjen s ploščatim orodjem, okrog katerega so bile navite niti živalskega ali rastlinskega izvora.