The territory of the Municipality of Cerklje boasts a rich archaeological heritage. Thanks to its natural features – fertile land, water sources, and traffic routes – it was inhabited already in prehistoric times.
The oldest known settlement, Gradišče near Stiška vas, dates back to the 5th millennium BC, the Late Stone Age. During the Bronze Age, settlements reappeared around Šmartno, and important finds reveal life on both banks of the Pšata River.
In the Early Iron Age (Hallstatt culture), the population increased significantly. Fortified hillforts emerged, such as Gradišče on Štefanja Gora and Straža near Šmartno. Burial mounds formed alongside these settlements, bearing witness to the funerary customs of the time.
In the 1st century BC, the Romans occupied existing Celtic settlements and turned them into military and civil centres. In Šmartno, they built a larger settlement with structures, mosaics, and underfloor heating – symbols of Roman culture and luxury. Along the former Roman road, which remained in use until the 11th century, a vast cemetery was also discovered.
With the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, inhabitants retreated to safer, naturally protected locations. This led to the formation of new settlements on Štefanja Gora and probably on Flegarija. From this period comes a hoard of 49 Roman coins buried in a mysterious cave beneath Stiška vas.
The Slavs settled in the Cerklje area in the 7th century, most likely near existing Roman routes. Their presence is confirmed by numerous cemeteries from the 9th and 10th centuries, including those near the churches in Šmartno, Zgornji Brnik, and Cerklje.
Archaeological excavations in 2019 in the centre of Cerklje uncovered not only the remains of an anti-Turkish fortification but also an extensive early Slavic burial ground from the 10th century – reshaping previous views of settlement history in the municipality.
Municipality of Cerklje na Gorenjskem
Trg Davorina Jenka 13
4207 Cerklje na Gorenjskem
Phone: +386 4 281 58 00
Fax: +386 4 281 58 20
E-mail: obcinacerklje@siol.net
The exhibition can be visited by prior arrangement during the official opening hours of the Municipality of Cerklje na Gorenjskem.
Monday: 8:00–11:00 and 12:00–14:00
Wednesday: 8:00–11:00 and 12:00–16:00
Friday: 8:00–11:00
