Archaeological excavations were carried out in the spring and summer of 2024 prior to the construction of the Emonika multi-purpose complex, and revealed previously unexplored parts of Emona’s northern cemetery.

The northern cemetery extended to the left and right of today’s Dunajska cesta in its section between Kongresni trg and the Exhibition and Convention Centre. This road still leads to the former Celeia (now Celje), Poetovio (Ptuj) and on to the Danube, just as it did 2000 years ago. Last year’s archaeological dig revealed 183 Roman graves, the foundations of burial plots, and a side road leading eastwards from the main road. Along this side road was a smaller local cemetery, where another 45 Roman graves were discovered and the foundations of a funeral building explored.

The most frequently found grave goods in these Roman graves were ceramic and glass vessels, but few of them had survived intact. In only two graves had a glass vessel been used as an urn, and only one of these was intact: this was a glass pot-urn from an amphora burial that also contained three glass balsamaria, a glass beaker and a coin.

The commonest finds were glass drinking vessels, mainly beakers, cups, bottles and flasks. There were also large numbers of glass balsamaria used for storing fragrant oils and other costly cosmetic liquids or substances.

In addition to vessels, the graves also contained jewellery, typically necklaces, though only the glass beads once strung together on strings had survived. One fully preserved brooch for fastening garments was also found. A silver stylus (i.e. writing utensil) with a hexagonal handle was found in one of the graves; well-preserved mirrors were found in two others.

HIGHLIGHTS AMONG THE DISCOVERIES:

• The excavations have revealed traces of the parcels of agricultural land given to the colonists when the Romans colonised this area. No traces of this Roman land division had previously been found, despite intensive research.
• One of the burials with the highest number of objects was a grave in which 122 small iron hobnails were discovered. The Romans used hobnails like this for reinforcing shoe soles.
• A woman’s grave from the 4th century was especially rich in grave goods, including a large quantity of jewellery. On her left arm the deceased woman wore four bronze bracelets, two of them plain and two with ends shaped like snake heads. On her right hand was a silver ring with a green glass inlay. She also wore a necklace consisting of 15 dark blue glass beads and silver clasps. A small ceramic pot with food or drink had been placed at her feet.
• Two other rich graves nearby were explored. Among other objects, they each contained a single gold wire earring. One of the earrings was horizontally set with a green stone, possibly an emerald.