Šmihel pod Nanosom
Encyclopedia
Šmihel pod Nanosom is a village
at the eastern foothills
of Mount Nanos
in the Postojna
Municipality
in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia
.
To the north of the settlement, a site known as Grad is one of the most important archaeological site
s in the Inner Carniola region. The prehistoric site
attracted much attention in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it was suggested to be the site of Metalum, one of the main settlement of the Iapydes
. Though this is no longer claimed, the site remains one of the most important bases for the definition and chronology of the Iron Age
culture known as the Inner Carniola Iron Age Group, with continuous settlement between the 8th and 2nd centuries BC. It is believed the settlement was taken over by the Romans
in their 2nd century expansion to the north. As Roman rule was established the settlement was abandoned in the 1st century BC. In 1890 a major hoard
of Roman Republic
an weapons with over 350 arteficts
was found on the site. Finds from the site are kept in the Vienna Naturhistorisches Museum
and the National Museum of Slovenia
.
The village church, from which the settlement gets its name, is dedicated to Saint Michael
. A second church, built next to the cemetery
outside the village to the south is dedicated to Saint George
. Both belong to the Hrenovice
Parish
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
at the eastern foothills
Foothills
Foothills are geographically defined as gradual increases in elevation at the base of a mountain range. They are a transition zone between plains and low relief hills to the adjacent topographically high mountains.-Examples:...
of Mount Nanos
Nanos, Slovenia
Nanos is a karst limestone plateau in Slovenia that divides the continental part of Slovenia from the Littoral Region. It is about 6 km wide and 12 km long in the northern extension of the Dinaric Alps. The highest point of the plateau is Suhi vrh...
in the Postojna
Postojna
Postojna is a town and a municipality in the traditional region of Inner Carniola, from Trieste, in southwestern Slovenia. Population 14,581 .-History:...
Municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
.
To the north of the settlement, a site known as Grad is one of the most important archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
s in the Inner Carniola region. The prehistoric site
Prehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
attracted much attention in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it was suggested to be the site of Metalum, one of the main settlement of the Iapydes
Iapydes
The Iapydes were an ancient people who dwelt north of and inland from the Liburnians, off the Adriatic coast and eastwards of the Istrian peninsula...
. Though this is no longer claimed, the site remains one of the most important bases for the definition and chronology of the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
culture known as the Inner Carniola Iron Age Group, with continuous settlement between the 8th and 2nd centuries BC. It is believed the settlement was taken over by the Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
in their 2nd century expansion to the north. As Roman rule was established the settlement was abandoned in the 1st century BC. In 1890 a major hoard
Hoard
In archaeology, a hoard is a collection of valuable objects or artifacts, sometimes purposely buried in the ground. This would usually be with the intention of later recovery by the hoarder; hoarders sometimes died before retrieving the hoard, and these surviving hoards may be uncovered by...
of Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
an weapons with over 350 arteficts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
was found on the site. Finds from the site are kept in the Vienna Naturhistorisches Museum
Naturhistorisches Museum
The Naturhistorisches Museum Wien or NHMW is a large museum located in Vienna, Austria.The collections displayed cover , and the museum has a website providing an overview as a video virtual tour....
and the National Museum of Slovenia
National Museum of Slovenia
The National Museum of Slovenia is located in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It is situated in the Center district of the city near the Tivoli Park....
.
The village church, from which the settlement gets its name, is dedicated to Saint Michael
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
. A second church, built next to the cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
outside the village to the south is dedicated to Saint George
Saint George
Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic , Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox...
. Both belong to the Hrenovice
Hrenovice
Hrenovice is a settlement to the west of Postojna in the Inner Carniola region of Slovenia.The Parish Church, built about 1 km to the west of the main village, is dedicated to Saint Martin and belongs to the Koper Diocese.-External links:*...
Parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
.