Original scientific paper
Early Mediaeval Gilded Artefacts from Gradišče nad Bašljem (Slovenia)
Timotej Knific
; National Museum of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract
North of Kranj, on the slope of the mount Storžič, there rises the steep elevation of Gradišče nad Bašljem. On its conical summit is the location of the ruins of a late antiquity settlement which are in some places covered with a thick layer of ashes, which contains remains dating from the Early Middle Ages. Most of these remains are elements of military equipment and horse gear. Among many items of this kind which were made of iron, and often tinned, there are also several bronze and gilded artefacts: a strap separator, a strap end, a belt buckle ring, a hanger with a suspension loop and fragment of a spur. Judging by their stylistic characteristics and their functional features, three items from Gradišče nad Bašljem belong to a luxury set – either to a horse’s headgear made of straps, or to a belt used as a sword hanger. Based on the analogies, the gilded finds from Gradišče nad Bašljem indicate Carolingian influence, and there is no doubt that they belonged to the ruling class in early mediaeval Carniola, i.e. Kranjska, in the late 8th and in the 9th centuries. Early Mediaeval gilded items have also been found at other sites in Slovenia. The strongholds that were located in the key positions secured the power of the military aristocracy in the territory of present-day Slovenia, similarly to the way in which they functioned in other parts of the 9th century Slavic world.
Keywords
Early Middle Ages; military equipment; horse gear; Carolingian influence; aristocracy
Hrčak ID:
25738
URI
Publication date:
9.7.2008.
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