From its sources at Vrhnika and Verd to the Špica in Ljubljana, the Ljubljanica and its banks are an extraordinarily rich archaeological site, with finds from the Mesolithic, the whole of prehistory, Ancient Rome, Early Middle Ages and all the way to the Early Modern Period. Due to the quantity, quality and scientific importance of the finds, Ljubljanica is one of the most important and endangered archaeological sites in Slovenia. The river was proclaimed a cultural monument of national importance in 2003. Its connection with the rich cultural landscape of the Ljubljana Basin is a unique phenomenon that vastly enriches the cultural space of the Southeast Alps way beyond our national borders, due to its excellent state of preservation.

The exhibition Ljubljanica will display the most recent results of the underwater archaeological research made on the Roman dugout canoe found in Vrhnika. The research was carried out in 2015 within the framework of the project EGP 2009-2014.

The canoe is among the largest vessels of its kind ever discovered in Europe. Made out of an oak trunk and approximately dated to the first century CE, the boat measures between 15.5 and 16 m in length, 1.2 m in width and 0.8 m in height. Noticeable on the boat are also cracks that already developed during construction or usage, but were repaired with numerous iron couplings. The dugout canoe was most likely used to transport building materials or short-distance passengers.

The vessel is currently at the IPCHS Restoration Centre, where they are conducting scientific research, documentation and conservation of the vessel. When the conservation process will be finished, in about three years, the boat will be brought to its permanent place at a new exhibition site Moja Ljubljanica at the Cultural Centre Vrhnika, which is opening on 12 May 2016.

The exhibition was prepared by the Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana and is part of the project Water, Ljubljana – European Green Capital 2016 and the Ljubljanica River Experience and Exhibition Site in Vrhnika.

Archaeological Research: Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana, Institute for Underwater Archaeology, Skupina STIK, CPA d.o.o.