Ajdna, Archaeological site at Karavanke mountain range, Slovenia.
Ajdna is an archaeological site atop a 1,064-meter (3,491 feet) peak in the Karavanke range where excavations have uncovered the foundations of roughly 25 ancient structures and fortifications. The location contains remains of an early Christian chapel alongside residential buildings that show settlement from the 8th through 11th centuries.
Systematic excavations beginning in the 1970s revealed this mountain stronghold was established as a refuge following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. The settlement then endured through the early medieval period, showing how elevated alpine locations attracted people seeking defensible ground.
The excavated temple and burial sites reveal how early inhabitants lived through everyday objects like pottery, tools, and ornaments they left behind. These finds show a community where religious practice and daily work were closely connected.
The ascent offers two options: a steep route equipped with steel cables for experienced hikers or a longer, gentler path suitable for families with children. Information boards along the routes guide visitors and explain the main discoveries at the site.
The site features an unusual tooth-shaped mountain profile that gives the location a natural fortress architecture. This distinctive peak shape likely influenced the original decision to establish a settlement at this exposed hilltop.
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