AV 65, 2014: Timotej KNIFIC, Miha MLINAR

ARHEOLOŠKI VESTNIK

ARHEOLOŠKI VESTNIK 65, 2014

Timotej KNIFIC, Miha MLINAR

The 10th and 11th century finds from the Soča Valley − integration into European territory
The site of Sv. Urh in Tolmin

Abstract

This article discusses archaeological finds discovered by the church of Sv. Urh (St Ulric) in Tolmin, Slovenia. The first finds from the site were published in 1990 in Arheološki vestnik vol. 41. Most of the finds under discussion in this article came to light in 2011 during earthmoving work in preparation for the renovation of the church; earlier finds had been discovered in a secondary context (except for a knife by a partly preserved grave) and came from disturbed graves of the medieval graveyard. They are mostly dated to the 10th and 11th centuries and display characteristics of the Köttlach culture; they are part of a material culture that was very widespread in the territory of the eastern Alps at the time. Large disc brooches decorated with Christian symbols and motifs (cross, the Lamb of God, lion, Daniel with lions) are distinctive among the finds from Tolmin and the nearby Breginj. These enamelled brooches are common in the area of the eastern Alps and more sporadic elsewhere in Europe. A comparison between the brooches from the Soča River basin and those from Bled microregion has revealed many similarities, as well as differences, in that the brooches from Bled are more varied in form. Similarly as at other sites in the Soča basin and beyond, a number of temple rings and knives of the period have been uncovered at the Tolmin site. Some of the finds are from subsequent medieval periods or later. Cemeteries with finds from the Köttlach culture are very often situated by the churches of the same or later date, which would suggest that they belonged to the inhabitants of the Christian world.

Keywords: Early Middle Ages, Tolmin, Soča River basin, Bled microregion, eastern Alps, Köttlach culture, Bijelo Brdo culture, cemeteries, Christian symbols, disc brooches, temple rings, knives, keys

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