251 Arheološki vestnik 71, 2020, 251–269; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/AV.71.08
The Burgbichl in Irschen.
Late antique hilltop settlement with
an early Christian church in Carinthia (Austria)
Burgbichl pri Irschnu na avstrijskem Koroškem.
Poznoantično višinsko utrjeno naselje
z zgodnjekrščansko cerkvijo
Barbara KAINRATH, Gerald GRABHERR, Christian GUGL
Izvleček
Poznoantično višinsko naselje Burgbichl pri Irschnu v dolini Drave na avstrijskem Koroškem je bilo do sedaj raziskano 
v dveh arheoloških akcijah. Burgbichl leži na križišču ene glavne poti v jugovzhodnih Alpah – poti po Dravski dolini – in 
prečne poti, ki poteka iz Italije čez prelaz Gailpass (Gailbergsattel). Ker hrib kasneje ni bil poseljen, so antične zgradbe 
izredno dobro ohranjene: na severu obkroža približno hektar veliko poselitveno območje masiven obodni zid. Delno so 
bili izkopani deli vhoda in obzidja, velika stanovanjska stavba, dve obrtni območji, vodni zbiralnik in zgodnjekrščanska 
cerkev. V cerkvi s prizidkom na vzhodu sta ugotovljeni dve gradbeni fazi. Pomemben je dokaz o uporabi marmorja na 
več mestih: za prag, stopnico in okrasitev prezbiterija. V osrednjem delu prezbiterija je jama za relikviarij. Doslej sta 
bila odkrita dva grobova – eden v grobnici.
Pri poznoantičnih najdbah iz 5. in 6. st. gre za tipičen spekter, znan s sočasnih najdišč, z množico grobe keramike, 
posameznimi uvoženimi kosi keramike, novci in fibulami. Posebnost je koščena pasna spona, okrašena s koncentričnimi 
krožci s pikami. Na več mestih na hribu so vidni ostanki starejše uporabe prostora, tudi med najdbami je veliko pred-
metov iz rimskega imperialnega obdobja. Razumevanje teh starejših najdb v povezavi z očitno aktivnostjo na najdišču 
v obdobju od 1. do 3. st. bo vsekakor med glavnimi cilji prihodnjih raziskav.
Ključne besede: Avstrija; Koroška; pozna antika; višinska naselja; zgodnjekrščanska cerkev
Abstract
In two campaigns thus far, a late antique hilltop settlement on the so-called Burgbichl in Irschen in the Drava Val-
ley (Carinthia, Austria) has been investigated by archaeological excavations. The Burgbichl is situated at the crossing 
of the main road of the southeast Alps through the Drava Valley and the route from Italy over the Gail Pass. Due to 
the lack of later buildings, the ancient structures are particularly well preserved. In the north, a massive enclosure wall 
surrounds the approximately 1 ha-large settlement area. Thus far, parts of the gate and the surrounding wall, a large 
residential building, two places of craftsmanship, a cistern and an early Christian church have been partially excavated. 
In the church with the transverse annex in the east, two construction phases were identified. Of particular importance 
is the evidence of marble decoration in several places: both for the threshold and a step, the precious material was also 
used for the decoration of the presbytery. The reliquary pit was documented centrally within the presbytery. Two graves 
have been uncovered thus far, one of which is a chamber grave.
The late antique finds from the 5
th
 and 6
th
 centuries AD represent the typical spectrum of hilltop settlements with 
lots of coarse pottery, individual imported pieces, coins and fibulae. One special piece is the belt buckle made of bone, 
which bears multiple circular eye decorations. In many places on the hill, evidence of an older use can be seen, and in 
the archaeological finds, a remarkable number of objects of the Roman Imperial period can be found. The contextualiza-
tion of these earlier finds in connection with evident site activity during the 1
st
 until the 3
rd
 century AD will certainly 
be one of the central points of the next excavation campaigns.
Keywords: Austria; Carinthia; Late Antiquity; hilltop settlement; early Christian church

252 Barbara KAINRATH, Gerald GRABHERR, Christian GUGL
INTRODUCTION
The number of Roman sites in the Drava Val-
ley, the most important west-east axis in Upper 
Carinthia (Oberkärnten), is quite small compared 
to other regions of Noricum. Between the Clau-
dian municipia Aguntum and Teurnia, only the 
late antique settlement with two churches on the 
Kirchbichl in Lavant
1
 and the Roman site on the 
so-called Schröttelhofer Feld in Oberdrauburg
2
 
have been known for a long time (Fig. 1). A few 
remains of dedications or funerary monuments of 
unknown origin have been built into the church 
walls in Berg
3
 and Greifenburg.
4
 South of the 
Gailbergsattel, the pass to the Gailtal valley, on 
the Pittersberg,
5
 the find of several Solidi of Ius-
tinianus I probably indicates a late antique hilltop 
settlement.
Recently, a new site has become of particular 
interest for this part of Noricum. In the municipal 
area of Irschen (Spittal an der Drau district) the 
1
  Recently Kainrath 2011.
2
  Stadler, Franke, Ortisi 1997; Gostenčnik 2001.
3
  Marble slab with funerary inscription and dedication 
to the nymphs (Glaser 1992, 129–130).
4
  Funerary inscription mentioning a duumvir from 
Teurnia (Glaser 1992, 144).
5
  Glaser 1992, 177.
so-called Burgbichl rises on the south side of the 
Drava (Drau). Apart from the fact that the Burg-
bichl is mentioned in a compilation of medieval 
castles of Carinthia in 1956
6
 and in the community 
chronicle of 1975,
7
 where it was thought to be a 
fortification from the 8
th
 to the 11
th
/12
th
 centuries, 
respectively, the site has not received any atten-
tion from previous research. With regard to the 
topography, this is somewhat surprising, since it 
represents a prominent elevation with a height 
of about 170 m above the bottom of the valley in 
front of the cliffs to the west, south and east (Fig. 
2). Access to the hilltop is only possible via the 
northern slope, because the other sides are very 
steep and difficult to climb, so the topography 
provides strategic advantages. The trapezoidal 
hilltop of almost one hectare is divided into several 
terraces well suited for settlement activities. These 
specific topographical characteristics are typical 
for hilltop settlements in late antique Noricum.
The two excavation campaigns in 2016 and 2017 
were carried out by the Institute for Archaeology 
of the University of Innsbruck in cooperation with 
the Institute for the Study of Ancient Culture at the 
Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW-IKAnt).
8
6
  Knapp 1956, 102.
7
  Schnorr 1975, 25; 53–55.
8
 
 
Grabherr, Kainrath 2017; Kainrath, Grabherr, Gugl 2020.
Fig. 1: Map of Upper Carinthia with the locations mentioned in the text.
Sl. 1: Zgornja Koroška z najdišči, omenjenimi v besedilu.

253 The Burgbichl in Irschen – a late antique hilltop settlement ...
Fig. 2: The Burgbichl hill; view from northeast.
Sl. 2: Vzpetina Burgbichl; pogled s severovzhoda.
Fig. 3: The path up to the Burgbichl and the extent of the settlement. Terrain model indi-
cating the excavation areas 3, 4 and 9–11. 
Sl. 3: Pot na Burgbichl in obseg naselbine. Model reliefa najdišča z območji izkopavanj 3 
in 4, 9–11.

254 Barbara KAINRATH, Gerald GRABHERR, Christian GUGL
THE GATE AND THE
FORTIFICATION WALL
On the north side, a path leads to the top of 
the hill, which is clearly visible in the laser scan 
terrain model (Fig. 3) and which corresponds to 
the ancient access. Where this path reaches the 
terraced area, a gate offers access to the settle-
ment through the fortification wall. A section of 
this wall running from northwest to southeast was 
uncovered (Area 10), which is 1.70 m wide and 
built of limestone, calcareous tufa, and slate of 
different sizes (Figs. 3: 10; 4). It probably belongs 
to the gateway, as does a corresponding feature on 
the Duel (Feistritz an der Drau/Paternion).
9
 The 
wall is preserved in four stone layers, with a strong 
northeast inclination and overhang. Underneath 
this wall, earlier structures also came to light: 
northeast of it a 0.1 m-thick screed floor of about 
6 sqm was uncovered, which proceeds under the 
enclosure wall. To this phase also belongs a razed 
wall running from northeast to southwest, thus at 
right angles to the gate wall.
The enclosure wall leading from west to east 
can be observed over almost the entire north side 
of the hill in the terrain. Another section of the 
1.4 m-wide wall was uncovered west of the gate 
(Area 3). It is built of quarry stones of different 
sizes. The wall rises at a maximum preservation 
9
  Steinklauber 2013, 37.
height of 1.5 m above a 0.2 m-thick level of gravel 
(Figs. 3: 3; 5). In this layer, several finds were made 
that provide a chronological indication for the 
substructure of the wall. For example, a sherd of 
African Red Slip Ware (D) and an Antoninianus 
of Gallienus (265/266 A.D., RIC 236, MIR 569a?) 
belong to a phase anterior to the construction of 
the massive fortification wall. Just 0.8 m short of 
the wall, a hearth, bricked in limestone and covered 
with burnt clay, was detected (Fig. 6).
THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
In the 5
th
/6
th
 centuries, an early Christian 
church was built on a small plateau on the top 
of the Burgbichl. It is oriented from west to east 
where it ends with an apse (Fig. 9).
The church nave is accessed from the west via a 
threshold formed by two marble blocks. The nave 
is about 6 metres wide and shows two square side 
annexes, resulting in a cruciform floor plan. In the 
north, a narrow flanking room or an open portico 
was added in a second construction phase
10
 (Fig. 
7). To the south, a corresponding element may 
very likely be reconstructed symmetrically. From 
the northern adjoined element, a staircase leads 
eastward into the church, the lowest step of which 
10
  Perhaps they are colonnaded halls instead of closed 
side aisles (Glaser 2003, 430–431).
Fig. 4: Burgbichl. Part of the gate and the fortification wall (Area 10).
Sl. 4: Burgbichl. Del vhoda in obrambnega obzidja (območje 10).

255 The Burgbichl in Irschen – a late antique hilltop settlement ...
is formed by a marble plate. Due to the profiling 
on the quoin and the tap hole with a casting chan-
nel filled with lead on the former upper side, the 
marble block stands out as a reused statue base.
The apse is adjoined to the north by another 
room with a screed floor. Its easternmost wall 
points to the northeast, and the rest of the room 
has eroded because of the steep gradient. Inside 
the apse, there is the semicircular, freestanding 
priest’s bench (synthronon), which was erected 
about 0.6 m from the apse wall. The eastern part 
was destroyed by falling trees, but the remaining 
sections are preserved in two stone layers. A reli-
quary lacuna, which measures approx. 1.3 × 0.8 m 
(Fig. 8), is situated in the centre of the semicircular 
bench. It has a rectangular outline with a rounded 
end in the east and was bricked and mortar-dried 
in several stone layers.
Remains of the church’s screed floor have been 
discovered in all the rooms uncovered thus far. 
Fig. 5: Burgbichl. The fortification wall (Area 3).
Sl. 5: Burgbichl. Obrambni zid (območje 3).
Fig. 6: Burgbichl. Hearth in the immediate vicinity of the fortification wall (Area 3).
Sl. 6: Burgbichl. Kurišče v neposredni bližini obrambnega obzidja (območje 3).

256 Barbara KAINRATH, Gerald GRABHERR, Christian GUGL
The interior walls of the church were plastered, 
as white and red fragments from the lintel found 
upon the screed show. Wedge and ashlar stones of 
calcareous tufa indicate arches for windows and/
or doors. In the presbytery, fragments of a marble 
column with a leaf capital were found (Fig. 15), 
which was perhaps part of the altar enclosure or 
of the altar table itself.
As was common practice in Late Antiquity, 
graves were also found in the immediate vicinity 
of the church. T o the west of the marble threshold, 
an individual was buried (Figs. 9;10), who was 
found severely disturbed by erosion and collapse 
debris from the church (Grave 1). This burial in 
a stretched-out supine position is oriented from 
south to north and thus following the orientation 
Fig. 7: Burgbichl. Later extension to the main room of the church with marking of the 
construction joint.
Sl. 7: Burgbichl. Poznejši prizidek k cerkveni ladji z označenim gradbenim spojem.
Fig. 8: Burgbichl. Reliquary lacuna.
Sl. 8: Burgbichl. Odprtina za relikviarij.

257 The Burgbichl in Irschen – a late antique hilltop settlement ...
of the western church wall. The anthropological 
analysis
11
 has shown that this male individual 
lived to between the ages of 40 and 60 and had 
both massive wear and tear of the upper jaw and 
suffered from severe calcifications in the spine, 
which could possibly indicate a thyroid dysfunction.
South of the church apse, a masonry burial 
chamber was uncovered (Grave 2). The south wall 
of the apse rests upon the tomb walls (Figs. 9;11). 
Considering the fact that this tomb was apparently 
designed together with the church building, it may 
be assumed that a prominent person would find 
his final resting place in this burial chamber. It is 
obvious to assume the founder of the church or 
an important clergyman of the parish in it. After 
removing the broken cover of a large slate slab, 
eight individuals were found inside the tomb: two 
newborns, three infants, one adolescent and two 
adults were buried here, who will be subjected to 
further anthropological research. The first results 
of the analysis of the adolescent burial indicate a 
female person with severe wear and tear of the 
arms and ankle joints, probably due to heavy 
physical work.
The question about the founder cannot be clari-
fied at the current state of research. The newly 
11
  We would like to thank Maria Marschler for the 
research that is being carried out at the Natural History 
Museum in Vienna.
discovered church represents a relatively small 
example (approx. 13.7 m long and 12.0 m wide) of 
early Christian architecture but with remarkably 
precious marble furnishings. This building mate-
rial was not only used as spolia for the staircase 
construction in the northern side room, but the 
entrance threshold was also made of marble. A 
column from the presbytery as well as further 
fragments from the debris indicates corresponding 
high-class furnishings of the altar area.
THE SETTLEMENT SITE
The fact that the Burgbichl is not exclusively a 
sacral centre
12
 but a permanent settlement site has 
already been demonstrated by initial investigations 
at several places on the hilltop. In the northeast 
of the settlement area, near to the gateway, a 
large building (Building 1) was discovered. It is 
characterized by a wall, at least 9 m long, and 
adjoining walls in all directions (Fig. 3: 11). Also 
two doorways have been excavated. In the middle 
of the eastern threshold, there is a semi-circular 
recess of 6 cm in diameter and 3 cm in depth serv-
ing as a retainer for a door bolt (Fig. 12). Large 
12
  The sites on Kučar, Vranje, and Tonovcov grad in 
Slovenia are described as pilgrimage sanctuaries or regional 
sacral centres (Ciglenečki 2008, 499).
Fig. 9: Burgbichl. Ground plan of the early Christian church.
Sl. 9: Burgbichl. Tloris zgodnjekrščanske cerkve.

258 Barbara KAINRATH, Gerald GRABHERR, Christian GUGL
Fig. 10: Burgbichl. Grave 1; west of the marble threshold.
Sl. 10: Burgbichl. Grob 1; zahodno od marmornega praga.
Fig. 11: Burgbichl. Masonry chamber tomb (Grave 2) south of the apse.
Sl. 11: Burgbichl. Zidana grobnica (grob 2) južno od apside.
Fig. 12: Burgbichl. Threshold in Building 1 (Area 11).
Sl. 12: Burgbichl. Prag v stavbi 1 (območje 11).

259 The Burgbichl in Irschen – a late antique hilltop settlement ...
sections of the screed floor and wall plaster have 
been preserved. The impressions of the wooden 
door frame in the plaster of the western doorway 
of the house are also particularly well preserved. 
A very small ditch in the screed floor running 
parallel to the long wall and starting at a right 
angle directly to the threshold probably served as 
the foundation of a wooden panel.
Another area (Fig. 3: 4; 14) looked promising 
in the run-up to the excavations due to numerous 
pieces of iron slag scattered on the surface. Excava-
tions uncovered a plate of burnt clay, almost square 
in dimension, which probably suggests a place of 
work for metalworking at this point.
Due to the lack of a natural spring, at least one 
cistern was necessary for the water supply of the 
settlement. Such a cistern was found on a terrace 
just beneath the church (Fig. 3: 9; 13). Thus far, 
remains of the western and southern walls, as well 
as the southwestern corner, have been uncovered. 
Waterproof brick split mortar still adhered to the 
cavity walls confirms the identification as a water 
reservoir. The western wall is approx. 0.7–0.75 m 
wide and the northern approx. 0.6 m. Regarding 
the extent of the depression, which already indi-
cated this type of building before the beginning 
of the excavation work, the water cistern should 
have been approximately 8 × 8 m in size. The 
bottom of the basin has not yet been reached. To 
the south and a little above of the cistern, a two-
phase fireplace made of slate and limestone slabs 
was embedded in an ash layer.
13
 Due to erosion, 
all layer connections between the fireplace and 
the cistern have vanished, and the stratigraphic 
relations of the findings to each other cannot be 
determined.
THE FINDS
Within the range of finds, two pieces from a 
belt buckle stand out as an extraordinary arte-
fact (Fig. 16). It is made of bone, rectangular and 
shows circular eye decoration on both sides. To 
date, it is a unique find on hilltop settlements in 
the Eastern Alps.
Numerous fragments of ceramics and metal ob-
jects were recovered, especially from the cistern and 
the gateway area.
14 
Fragments of imported goods 
such as African Red Slip Ware and an oil lamp, 
also from North Africa, are occasionally retrieved. 
LRA-2 amphorae from the eastern Mediterranean 
and so-called spatheia from North Africa also 
reached the Burgbichl site. As in every late antique 
13
  A C14 dating is still pending.
14
 
 
For the imported finds as well as the most important 
costume components, cf. Kainrath, Grabherr, Gugl, 2020.
Fig. 13: Burgbichl. Cistern; view from the north (Area 11).
Sl. 13: Burgbichl. Cisterna (območje 11); pogled s severa.

260 Barbara KAINRATH, Gerald GRABHERR, Christian GUGL
context, coarse ceramic pots and bowls, often with 
characteristic wave decorations, have been found 
much more frequently. Late antique metal finds 
include brooches such as the Hrušica type or bow 
brooches with a triangular head plate and several 
iron Stilus needles.
15
 This completes a spectrum 
typical for this region in Late Antiquity.
Artefacts from the Roman Imperial period are 
quite common in the context of late antique hilltop 
settlements in Noricum. In almost all publications 
15
  About typology and chronology (Čaval 2013). Iron 
specimens are rarely compared to bronzes (Modrijan, 
Milavec 2011, 39).
that contain archaeological objects, earlier finds, 
especially those made of metal, are present.
16
 At 
the Burgbichl site, there are also fibulae, such as a 
double knot fibula of the Almgren 236h type and 
a heavily profiled fibula with chevron decoration 
of the form Almgren 70/73d as well as ceramics 
from earlier Roman times.
The interpretation of these earlier finds in con-
nection with activities of the Roman Imperial age 
will undoubtedly be one of the core issues of the 
upcoming excavation campaigns at the Burgbichl 
site.
17
 The marble spolium from the church used 
as a tread is of particular significance in this re-
spect and raises the question of whether a statue 
base was dragged from the valley up to the hill or 
whether a temple already existed on the Burgbichl 
during the Roman Imperial period. The find as-
sembly from the hilltop also contains a fragment 
of the handle of a simpulum, a specific ladle from 
the 1
st
 century AD which was often used in ritual 
acts. The evidence of earlier remains of masonry 
and mortar screed under the late antique gateway 
(Fig. 4) as well as of relocated material underneath 
the fortification wall has special significance in 
the clarification of the chronology and function 
of the early structures.
THE BURGBICHL SITE IN THE
CONTEXT OF SOUTHEASTERN
ALPINE LATE ANTIQUE HILLTOP
SETTLEMENTS
Although the research on the Burgbichl is in 
the early stages, it is evident that the site can be 
assessed as a permanent settlement from Late An-
tiquity with an early Christian church. However, 
precise data on the chronology are not yet available 
and, at present, it is also not possible to assign it 
to a particular type of settlement, as defined by 
16
  Examples have been found on the Hemmaberg (Lad-
stätter 2000), on the Kappele ob Jadersdorf (Felgenhauer-
Schmiedt 1993) or on the Kathreinkogel (Baumgartner 2017). 
Finds from the Roman Imperial period are also common 
in the find complexes in Slovenia, such as on Tonovcov 
grad (Modrijan, Milavec 2011, 11–12; Ciglenečki 2016, 13).
17
  The explanation of the metal objects as collection 
finds for recycling, as assumed for the Hemmaberg, is not 
suitable for all other sites, since deposits and rare individual 
finds would have to be available more frequently (Ladstätter 
2000, 169). Ciglenečki is considering the same purpose or 
secondary use because of the heavy wear marks on most 
of the finds (Ciglenečki 2016, 13).
Fig. 14: Burgbichl. W orkplace with bricked clay slab (Area 4).
Sl. 14: Burgbichl. Delovno območje z blokom ožgane gline 
(območje 4).
Fig. 15: Burgbichl. Marble capital found in the presbytery.
Sl. 15: Burgbichl. Marmorni kapitel, najden v prezbiteriju.

261 The Burgbichl in Irschen – a late antique hilltop settlement ...
Ciglenečki.
18
 In comparison with other fortified 
settlements, which have been well known
19
 since the 
early 20
th
 century in numerous examples, several 
quite common findings are recorded. Even before 
the excavations, wall structures were visible on the 
surface area. Both the enclosure wall and other 
particular structures on the hilltop, like the early 
Christian church, were visible as terrain features 
before the excavations. However, complete ground 
plans of buildings cannot be reconstructed in the 
same way as was apparently successful at several 
Slovenian sites, where not only the number of 
18
  Ciglenečki 1987; Ciglenečki 2008, 490–502.
19
  Compositions by Glaser 1997; Glaser 2008; Ciglenečki 
2008.
buildings but also their size and shape could be 
recognized because of the surface relief.
20
It is not only the exposed location on hills that 
are difficult to reach due to steep slopes that is 
typical for late antique hilltop settlements, but 
also the walls for defensive purpose on one or 
more sides of the sites. Some of these fortified 
hilltops reveal buildings directly adjacent to this 
wall, such as the Duel at Feistritz
21
 for example 
(Fig. 1). This hilltop is enclosed and surrounded 
by a wall, to which numerous houses are attached. 
When it was discovered, it was considered to 
have a military purpose and was associated with 
Byzantine domination shortly before the middle 
of the 6
th
 century. Also in Slovenia, particular 
settlements were considered purely military and 
defensive. The beginning of this thesis started with 
the site of Korinjski hrib, where Germanic finds 
were also discovered, which seemed to confirm 
a military presence.
22
 In the meantime there are 
more comparable enclosures with small temporary 
buildings directly behind the fortification wall 
(e.g., Ančnikovo gradišče or Gradec near Velika 
Strmica).
23
Due to the topographical location, the aspect of 
the control function of fortified hilltop settlements 
should not be neglected. Sometimes they were also 
built along important roads or at crossroads. In 
this respect, the Burgbichl site, in particular, pro-
vided a good view over the Roman Drava Valley 
road, the primary transport connection between 
Aguntum and Teurnia, and could, therefore, hold 
an essential function of regional control. Further 
investigations will clarify whether there were several 
buildings (‘barracks’?) adjacent to the fortification 
wall at the site in Irschen. Respective indications 
for this are provided by a stove unearthed in area 
3 (Fig. 3: 3; 6), indicating a building not far from 
the fortification wall. For the Burgbichl, it is still 
too early to determine the total number of build-
ings and, in particular, their function. In April 
20
  This applies to the Gradec fortifications at Prapre-
tno, Ajdna, Tonovcov grad, Zidani gaber, Korinjski hrib, 
Sv. Radegunda, Gračnica, Gradec at Velika Strmica, Rodik 
and Kučar (Ciglenečki 2008, 491).
21
  The excavators called these buildings barracks or 
casemates. The term ‘barrack’ is also used by Steinklauber, 
even if she does not think the rooms were used for military 
purposes because of the lack of specific finds (Steinklauber 
2013, 36–43).
22
  The military interpretation was not uncontroversial 
(Bierbrauer 1990, 44–45).
23
  Ciglenečki 2008, 500–501.
Fig. 16: Burgbichl. Belt buckle made of bone. Scale = 1:1.
Sl. 16: Burgbichl. Koščena pasna spona. M. = 1:1.

262 Barbara KAINRATH, Gerald GRABHERR, Christian GUGL
2018, terrestrial laser scanning was performed in 
the settlement area within the enclosure wall to 
record terraces appropriate for settling activities.
The eastern part of the Burgbichl is structured 
into several terraces, which were probably man-
made for residential buildings. This phenomenon 
also represents a significant feature of some sites 
in Slovenia,
24
 even though buildings, either in 
stone or in wood,
25
 were not discovered every-
where. The extension of the Burgbichl settlement 
can be clearly outlined by the topography of the 
hilltop on an area of only approx. 1 ha. However, 
it is still completely unclear how dense the build-
ing development was. Ciglenečki distinguishes 
between smaller settlements with dense, regular 
development, such as on Tonovcov grad,
26
 and 
larger settlements with only partially developed 
areas and open spaces for the temporary reception 
of the population, for which he mainly cites the 
well-studied Rifnik as an example.
27
The cistern in Area 9 is an indicator for a 
permanent settlement activity on the Burgbichl. 
The remarkable size of the water basin of over 60 
sqm, in which water could be gathered for many 
inhabitants, supports this presumption. The depth 
of the basin is still unknown, but at the current 
state of the excavation a depth range of at least 
2 m is confirmed. Typically for the location of the 
cistern, a place close to large buildings, mostly 
churches, which could drain a lot of water with 
their large roofs, was chosen. The Irschen cistern 
is located right beneath the church, from where 
water could efficiently be conducted into the basin. 
Comparable facilities are well known from sites 
such as Kathreinkogel,
28
 Hemmaberg,
29
 Ajdovski 
Gradec
30
 or Rifnik.
31
Traces of handicraft activities, which may be 
expected in a permanently populated place, came 
to light in two places. The workplace southwest of 
24
  Ciglenečki 2008, 492: wooden buildings on the V eliki 
vrh and the Vipota.
25 
 For evidence on the Hemmaberg cf. Glaser 2008, 617.
26
  He also assigns the settlements on the Ulrichsberg 
and the Kappele to this category.
27
  Ciglenecki 2008, 498. In Austria he also mentions 
the Kathreinkogel and the Tscheltschnigkogel.
28
  Two cisterns were excavated here (Glaser 1997, 124).
29
  Two cisterns are located in the immediate vicinity 
of churches (Glaser 1991, 47, 72).
30
  A cistern with a capacity of 100,000 litres and with 
remains of a wooden construction was discovered here 
(Glaser 1997, 77 Fig. 29).
31
  Glaser 1997, 71; Bolta 1981, 9.
the excavated section of the fortification wall (Figs. 
3: 4; 14) including pieces of iron slag is evidence 
for iron processing. The fireplace south of the 
cistern probably also indicates craftsmanship.
32
One or even more churches function as centres 
of cultic activities in late antique settlements. On 
Burgbichl, a small church stood on the highest 
point (Fig. 9). Until now, it is the best-investigated 
building. Only the existence of a narthex in the 
entrance area of the church is not yet confirmed. 
Two different temporal phases can be distinguished. 
The church of the first phase was built in a cru-
ciform ground plan with the transverse annexes 
and ends in an apse. This scheme is thus one that 
derives from the Ambrosian building programme 
of the late 4
th
 and 5
th
 centuries. It became the pro-
totype in the Alpine region and Northern Italy in 
the 5
th
 and 6
th
 centuries.
33
 Above all, in western 
Noricum this layout seems to appear frequently: 
the churches in Oberlienz,
34
 in Lavant under the 
parish church,
35
 on the Hoischhügel,
36
 on the 
Duel
37
 and also the first phase of the so-called 
Bischofskirche in T eurnia
38
 show the same outline 
and suggest a common ground plan. This may be 
due to a uniform construction office. All these 
churches also have in common a so-called sacristy 
attached north or south of the apse.
39
Even though the church on the Burgbichl cannot 
be dated by archaeological artefacts, due to the 
absence of finds inside the church ruins, com-
parable buildings indicate a dating in the 5
th
 and 
6
th
 centuries. This period is defined by Ciglenečki 
as the third and most diverse phase of the late 
antique hilltop settlements, when many of them 
were built or enlarged.
40
 Neither the enclosure wall, 
the gateway, nor the well-preserved building on 
the eastern terrace can be dated precisely at the 
current state of the excavations, but the finds from 
these areas also point to the 5
th
 and 6
th
 centuries. 
The earlier phases in the north of the settlement 
are particularly interesting. The fortification wall 
32
  A similar kiln is recorded in Lavant (Kainrath 2011, 
66, Fig. 66).
33
  Bierbrauer 2015, 139.
34
  Glaser 2003, 146–147.
35
  Winkler 1996.
36
  Glaser 1997, 88–89; Glaser 2003, 432, Fig. 15.
37
  Glaser 2003, 429, Fig. 13.
38
  Glaser 2003, 415–416.
39
  However, the state of preservation of the churches 
and the illustrated floor plans, which have often been 
heavily reconstructed, must be taken into account.
40
  Ciglenečki 2008, 496.

263 The Burgbichl in Irschen – a late antique hilltop settlement ...
was built above relocated material, which contains 
finds from the 3
rd
 and 4
th
 centuries, and an anterior 
building has been removed for the construction of 
the gateway. This is documented by the foundation 
of a wall with the corresponding screed floor (Fig. 
4). These indications suggest that the area was al-
ready in use before the 5
th
 and 6
th
 centuries, when 
both the fortification wall including the gateway 
and the early Christian church of the settlement 
were probably erected.
The general dating of late antique settlements 
may be classified as at Tonovcov grad (phases 
LA 1 and LA 2),
41
 but unless a detailed chro-
nology on the basis of archaeological finds can 
be established, such classifications must remain 
hypothetical. The most obvious reasons for this 
are the lack of stratigraphy in the hilltop settle-
ments, the uniformity of the coarse pottery, which 
constitutes the main part of the ceramic finds in 
each of these settlements, and the few pieces of 
imported pottery, which generally can be dated 
more precisely. Finally, the fading of the regular 
coinage supply prevents a detailed chronological 
classification for the last centuries of the Roman 
presence in Noricum. Despite these difficulties, 
41
  LA 1: 2
nd
 half 4
th
 to mid-5
th
 century and LA 2: late 
5
th
 to early 7
th
 century (Modrijan, Milavec 2011, 12–13).
three chronological phases have been defined for 
the Slovenian sites,
42
 the first of which began in 
the 270s. The second phase, when most of the 
settlements were established, is delimited from 
the second half of the 4
th
 to the first half of the 
5
th
 century and thus corresponds to the phase LA 
1 on the Tonovcov grad site. The second half of 
the 5
th
 century and the entire 6
th
 century form 
the last division of Late Antiquity, which covers 
a longer period than phase LA 1. These 250 years 
(LA1 and LA2), during which people settled on 
steep hills in the southeastern part of the Alps, 
are also the main period of use of the Burgbichl 
site at Irschen.
This newly discovered site in the upper Drava 
Valley, therefore, still raises many questions, but 
at the same time offers great potential for future 
research. After the successful research activities 
in Slovenia during the last decades, it is very en-
couraging that new research is now starting in a 
late antique site in the Austrian part of Noricum 
Mediterraneum, in a region with a long tradition 
of research in this field.
42
  First stated by Ciglenečki in 1987 and adapted sev-
eral times to current results (Ciglenečki 1987, 109–120; 
Ciglenečki 2008, 486–490).
BAUMGARTNER, C. 2017, Die Fibeln vom Kathreinkogel 
in Kärnten. – In: Historischer V erein Schiefling-V elden-
-Rosegg (eds.), Entdeckungen rund um den Kathreinkogel. 
Archäologie und Präsentation zwischen Wörthersee und 
Keutschacher See, Archäologie Alpen Adria 6, 85–105.
BIERBRAUER, V . 1990, Relazione conclusiva al seminario: 
“Insediamenti fortificati tardoromani e altomedievali 
nell’arco alpino” . – Archeologia Medievale 17, 43–56.
BIERBRAUER, V. 2015, Die frühchristliche Kirche des 
5. bis frühen 8. Jahrhunderts – Interpretation. – In: 
V. Bierbrauer, H. Nothdurfter, Die Ausgrabungen im 
spätantik-frühmittelalterlichen Bischofssitz Sabiona-Sä-
ben in Südtirol I. Frühchristliche Kirche und Gräberfeld, 
Münchner Beiträge zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte 58, 
137–190.
BOLTA, L. 1981, Rifnik pri Šentjurju. Poznoantična naselbina 
in grobišče (Rifnik-Spätantike Siedlung und Gräberfeld). 
– Katalogi in monografije 19.
CIGLENEČKI, S. 1987, Höhenbefestigungen aus der Zeit 
vom 3. bis 6. Jh. im Ostalpenraum / Višinske utrdbe iz 
časa 3. do 6. st. v vzhodnoalpskem prostoru. – Dela 1. 
razreda SAZU 31.
CIGLENEČKI, S. 2008, Castra und Höhensiedlungen vom 
3. bis 6. Jahrhundert in Slowenien. – In: H. Steuer, V. 
Bierbrauer, M. Hoeper (eds.), Höhensiedlungen zwischen 
Antike und Mittelalter von den Ardennen bis zur Adria, 
Ergänzungsbände zum Reallexikon der Germanischen 
Altertumskunde 58, 481–532, Berlin, New York.
CIGLENEČKI, S. 2016, Kontinuität oder Diskontinuität? 
Höhenbefestigungen von der La Tène-Zeit bis zum 
Frühmittelalter. – In: M. Lehner, B. Schrettle (eds.), 
Zentralort und Tempelberg. Siedlungs- und Kultent-
 wicklung am Frauenberg bei Leibnitz im Vergleich. Akten 
des Kolloquiums im Schloss Seggau am 4. und 5. Mai 
2015, Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Archäologie 
der Universität Graz 15 (= Studien zur Archäologie der 
Steiermark 1), 11–23.
ČAVAL, S. 2013, Poznoantične okrasne igle vrste stilus v 
Sloveniji / Late Antique decorative pins of the stylus 
type in Slovenia. – Arheološki vestnik 64, 197–248.
FELGENHAUER-SCHMIEDT, S. 1993, Das Kappele (die 
Kåpile) ob Jadersdorf. Eine spätantik-frühmittelalterliche 
Höhensiedlung in Oberkärnten. – Aus Forschung und 
Kunst 27.
GLASER, F. 1991, Das frühchristliche Pilgerheiligtum auf 
dem Hemmaberg. – Aus Forschung und Kunst 26.
GLASER, F. 1992, Teurnia. Römerstadt und Bischofssitz. 
Ein Führer zu den Ausgrabungen und zum Museum in 
Museum in St. Peter in Holz sowie zu den Fundorten im 
Stadtgebiet von Teurnia. – Klagenfurt.

264 Barbara KAINRATH, Gerald GRABHERR, Christian GUGL
Uvod
Število rimskih najdišč v Dravski dolini, ki 
predstavlja najpomembnejšo os v smeri vzhod–
zahod na Zgornjem Koroškem (Oberkärnten), je 
v primerjavi z ostalimi pokrajinami Norika precej 
majhno. Dolgo časa sta bila med klavdijskim muni-
cipijem Aguntum in T eurnijo znana le poznoantična 
naselbina z dvema cerkvama na Kirchbichlu nad 
Lavantom
1
 in rimsko najdišče na tako imenovanem 
Schröttelhoferjevem polju (Schröttelhofer Feld) v 
Oberdrauburgu
2
 (sl. 1). V cerkvene zidove v Ber-
1
  Nedavno Kainrath 2011.
2
  Stadler, Franke, Ortisi 1997; Gostenčnik 2001.
gu
3
 in Greifenburgu
4
 je vzidanih nekaj fragmentov 
posvetilnih ali nagrobnih spomenikov neznanega 
izvora. Najdba nekaj solidov cesarja Justinijana I. 
na Pittersbergu
5
 južno od Gailbergsattla, prehoda 
v Ziljsko dolino (Gailtall), verjetno kaže na obstoj 
poznoantične naselbine na tej lokaciji. Nedavno 
pa je v tem delu Norika zelo zanimivo postalo 
novo najdišče.
Na občinskem območju kraja Irschen v okrožju 
Špital (Spitall an der Drau) se na južnem bregu 
3
  Marmorna plošča z nagrobnim napisom in posvetilo 
nimfam. Glaser 1992, 129–130.
4
  Nagrobni napis, omenjen je duumvir iz Teurnije. 
Glaser 1992, 144.
5
  Glaser 1992, 177.
Burgbichl pri Irschnu na avstrijskem Koroškem.
Poznoantično višinsko utrjeno naselje
z zgodnjekrščansko cerkvijo
Povzetek
GLASER, F . 1997, Frühes Christentum im Alpenraum. Eine 
archäologische Entdeckungsreise. – Graz, Wien, Köln.
GLASER, F. 2003, Der frühchristliche Kirchenbau in der 
nordöstlichen Region (Kärnten/Osttirol). – In: H. Sen-
nhauser (ed.), Frühe Kirchen im östlichen Alpengebiet. 
Von der Spätantike bis in ottonische Zeit, Abhandlungen 
der Bayerischen Akademie Wiss. Phil.-Hist. Klasse 
123, 413–437.
GLASER, F . 2008, Castra und Höhensiedlungen in Kärnten 
und Nordtirol. – In: H. Steuer, V . Bierbrauer, M. Hoeper 
(eds.), Höhensiedlungen zwischen Antike und Mittelalter 
von den Ardennen bis zur Adria, Ergänzungsbände zum 
Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde 58, 
595–642, Berlin, New York.
GOSTENČNIK, K. 2001, Die Ausgrabungen in Oberdrau- 
burg 1995–2001. – Rudolfinum 2001 (2002), 103–115.
GRABHERR, G., B. KAINRATH 2017, Die spätantike Hö-
henbefestigung auf dem Burgbichl in Irschen. Ein erster 
Einblick. – Römisches Österreich 40, 101–108.
KAINRATH, B. 2011, Die Spuren der Römer auf dem 
Kirchbichl von Lavant. Fiktion und Wirklichkeit. – In: G. 
Grabherr, B. Kainrath (eds.), Die spätantike Höhensiedlung 
auf dem Kirchbichl von Lavant. Eine archäologische und 
archivalische Spurensuche, IKARUS 5, 14–438.
KAINRATH, B., G. GRABHERR, C. GUGL 2020, Die 
spätantike Höhensiedlung auf dem Burgbichl in Ir-
schen. – In: L. Berger, L. Huber, F. Lang, J. Weilhartner 
(eds.), Akten des 17. Österreichischen Archäologentages 
am Fachbereich Altertumswissenschaften, Klassische und 
Frühägäische Archäologie der Universität Salzburg vom 
26. bis 28. Februar 2018, ArchaeoPlus 11, 173–186.
KNAPP, W. 1956, Zur Burgenkunde Kärntens. – Ca-
rinthia 146, 150–151.
LADSTÄTTER, S. 2000, Die materielle Kultur der Spätantike 
in den Ostalpen. Eine Fallstudie am Beispiel der westlichen 
Doppelkirchenanlage auf dem Hemmaberg. – Mitteilungen 
der Prähistorischen Kommission der Österreichischen 
Akademie der Wissenschaften 35.
MODRIJAN, Z., T. MILAVEC 2011, Poznoantična utrjena 
naselbina Tonovcov grad pri Kobaridu. Najdbe / Late 
Antique fortified settlement T onovcov grad near Kobarid. 
Finds. – Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae 24.
SCHNORR, G. 1975, Irschen. Eine Gemeindechronik. – 
Irschen.
STADLER, H., R. FRANKE, S. ORTISI 1997, Eine bislang 
unbekannte römische Strassenstation in Oberdrauburg, 
Kärnten. Vorbericht (Nova rimska cestna postaja v 
Oberdrauburgu na Koroškem). – Arheološki vestnik 
48, 53–62.
STEINKLAUBER, U. 2013, Fundmaterial spätantiker Hö-
hensiedlungen in Steiermark und Kärnten. Frauenberg 
im Vergleich mit Hoischhügel und Duel. – Forschungen 
zur geschichtlichen Landeskunde der Steiermark 61.
WINKLER, K. 1996, Die Ausgrabungen im Inneren der 
Pfarrkirche St. Ulrich, Gemeinde Lavant, Osttirol. – In: 
Th. Lorenz,. G. Erath, M. Lehner, G. Schwarz (eds.), 
Akten des 6. Österreichischen Archäologentages, 3.-5. 
Februar 1994, Universität Graz, 185–188, Wien.

265 Burgbichl pri Irschnu na avstrijskem Koroškem – poznoantično višinsko utrjeno naselje ...
Drave (Drau) dviga tako imenovani Burgbichl. 
Čeprav je bilo naselje omenjeno v zborniku o 
srednjeveških gradovih na Koroškem leta 1956
6
 
in v občinski kroniki iz leta 1975,
7
 kjer je bilo 
opredeljeno kot utrdba iz 8. in 11./12. st., pred 
zadnjimi raziskavami ni bilo zanimivo. Glede na 
lego je to nekoliko nenavadno, saj gre za izstopa-
jočo vzpetino, ki se dviga pribl. 170 m nad dnom 
doline. Na zahodu, jugu in vzhodu jo obdajajo 
pečine, dostop na vrh je mogoč samo po severnem 
pobočju, preostala so strma in neprehodna, tako da 
oblikovanost vzpetine omogoča strateške prednosti. 
Trapezoidni vrh hriba, ki obsega skoraj hektar, je 
razdeljen na več teras, primernih za poselitev. Te 
specifične topografske značilnosti so tipične za 
višinska naselja pozne antike.
V letih 2016 in 2017 je Inštitut za arheologijo 
Univerze v Innsbrucku (Institut für Archäologien 
der Universität Innsbruck) v sodelovanju z Inštitu-
tom za antično zgodovino umetnosti na Avstrijski 
akademiji znanosti (Institut für Kulturgeschichte 
der Antike der Österreichischen Akademie der 
Wissenschaften) na hribu izvedel dve izkopavalni 
akciji.
8
Vhod in obrambno obzidje
Pot, ki po severni strani vodi na vrh hriba in je 
jasno vidna tudi na lasersko skeniranem modelu 
reliefa (sl. 3), ustreza tudi antičnemu dostopu. Na 
mestu, kjer pot doseže terasiran predel, so vrata, 
ki omogočajo dostop skozi obzidje. Raziskan je bil 
odsek tega obzidja, ki poteka od severozahoda do 
jugovzhoda (območje 10). Zid je bil tu širok 1,7 
m in zgrajen iz apnenca, apnenčastega lehnjaka in 
skrilavca različnih velikosti (sl. 3: 10; sl. 4). V erjetno 
spada k vhodu, kot pri primerljivem objektu na 
Duelu.
9
 Zid je ohranjen v štirih vrstah kamnov 
in močno nagnjen proti severovzhodu. Pod tem 
zidom so se pojavile tudi starejše strukture: severo-
vzhodno je bil odkrit 10 cm debel estrih, površine 
6 m
2
, ki poteka pod obodnim zidom. V to fazo 
spada porušen zid, ki poteka od severovzhoda do 
jugozahoda in je torej pravokoten na steno z vrati.
Obodni zid, ki vodi od zahoda proti vzhodu, 
je v terenu viden na skoraj celotni severni strani 
6
  Knapp 1956, 102.
7
  Schnorr 1975, 25, 53–55.
8
  Grabherr, Kainrath 2017; Kainrath, Grabherr, Gugl 
2020.
9
  Steinklauber 2013, 37.
hriba. Drugi del zidu, širok 1,4 m, je bil odkrit 
zahodno od vrat (območje 3). Zgrajen je iz kamnov 
različnih velikosti. Zid se dviguje do 1,5 m nad 0,2 
m debelo gramozno plast (sl. 3: 3; 5). V njej je bilo 
odkritih več predmetov, ki časovno opredeljujejo 
strukture pod zidom. Tako npr. odlomek afriške 
sigilate D in novec (antoninijan cesarja Gallena) 
pripadata fazi pred gradnjo masivnega obrambnega 
zidu. Le 0,6 m od zidu je bilo odkrito ognjišče, 
obdano z apnenčevimi kamni in prekrito z ožgano 
ilovico (sl. 6).
Zgodnjekrščanska cerkev
V 5./6. st. je bila na majhnem platoju na vrhu 
Burgbichla zgrajena zgodnjekrščanska cerkev. 
Usmerjena je od zahoda proti vzhodu, kjer se 
konča z apsido (sl. 3; 9).
Dostop v cerkveno ladjo je z zahoda, čez prag, 
ki ga sestavljata marmorna bloka. Ladja je široka 
pribl. 6 m in ima dve kvadratni stranski razširitvi, 
zaradi česar je njen tloris križne oblike. V drugi 
gradbeni fazi je bil na severu dodan ozek stranski 
prostor ali odprt portik
10
 (sl. 7). Severnemu po-
doben stranski prostor verjetno lahko rekonstru-
iramo tudi na južni strani. Iz severnega dodanega 
prostora proti vzhodu v cerkev vodijo stopnice, 
katerih najnižjo stopnjo predstavlja marmornat 
blok. Ta ima na zgornji strani profilirano odpr-
tino in luknjo z ulivnim kanalom, zapolnjenim 
s svincem, zato ga interpretiramo kot ponovno 
uporabljen podstavek kipa. Apsidi je na severni 
strani dodan še en prostor z estrihom. Njegova 
vzhodna stena je usmerjena proti severovzhodu, 
preostali del prostora je bil uničen zaradi strme-
ga pobočja. V apsidi je polkrožna prostostoječa 
duhovniška klop (synthronon), postavljena okrog 
0,6 m od zidu apside. Njen vzhodni del so uničila 
podrta drevesa, preostali del je ohranjen v dveh 
vrstah kamnov. V sredini med stranicami polkrožne 
klopi je odprtina za relikviarij, velika pribl. 130 
× 80 cm (sl. 8). Odprtina je pravokotne oblike z 
zaobljenim koncem na vzhodu, obložena pa je bila 
z več vrstami kamnov, povezanih z malto.
Ostanki estriha so bili najdeni v vseh do sedaj 
raziskanih prostorih. Notranje stranice cerkvenih 
zidov so bile ometane, kar kažejo rdeči in beli kosi 
ometa, najdeni nad estrihom. Klinasti in kvadrasti 
klesani kamni iz apnenčastega lehnjaka predstavljajo 
10
  Morda gre za stebriščne dvorane namesto zaprtih 
stranskih prehodov (Glaser 2003, 430–431).

266 Barbara KAINRATH, Gerald GRABHERR, Christian GUGL
dele lokov oken in/ali vrat. V prezbiteriju so bili 
najdeni fragmenti marmornega stebra z listnim 
kapitelom (sl. 15), ki je bil morda del oltarne 
pregrade ali oltarne mize.
Kot je pogosta praksa v pozni antiki, so bili v 
neposredni bližini cerkve najdeni grobovi. Zaho-
dno od marmornega praga je bil odkrit pokop (sl. 
9;10), ki sta ga močno uničili erozija in ruševina 
cerkve (grob 1). T a pokop v iztegnjenem položaju je 
usmerjen v smeri sever–jug in tako sledi orientaciji 
zahodnega cerkvenega zidu. Antropološka analiza
11
 
je pokazala, da je bil moški star od 40 do 60 let 
in da je imel hudo obrabo zgornje čeljusti, trpel 
pa je tudi zaradi močne kalcifikacije v hrbtenici, 
kar bi lahko kazalo na disfunkcijo ščitnice. Južno 
od cerkvene apside je bila odkrita zidana grobna 
komora (grob 2). Južni zid apside stoji na stenah 
grobnice (sl. 9;11). Ker je bila grobnica očitno 
zasnovana skupaj s cerkvijo, lahko domnevamo, da 
je v njej našla zadnje počivališče pomembna oseba. 
Očitno gre za ustanovitelja cerkve ali pomembne-
ga duhovnika. Po odstranitvi razbitega pokrova, 
narejenega iz velikega kosa skrilavca, je bilo v 
grobnici najdenih osem oseb: dva novorojenčka, 
trije dojenčki, en mladostnik in dve odrasli oseb. 
Vsi pokopi bodo predmet nadaljnjih antropoloških 
raziskav. Prvi rezultati analize pokopa mladostni-
ka kažejo na žensko osebo s hudo obrabo rok in 
sklepov gležnjev, kar je verjetno rezultat težkega 
fizičnega dela.
Vprašanja o ustanovitelju ob trenutnem stanju 
raziskav ni mogoče razjasniti. Novoodkrita cerkev 
je razmeroma majhen (približno 13,7 m dolga in 
12 m široka) primer zgodnjekrščanske arhitekture, 
vendar z izredno dragoceno marmorno opremo. T a 
gradbeni material se ni uporabljal samo kot spolija 
za konstrukcijo stopnišča v severnem stranskem 
prostoru, ampak je bil iz marmorja tudi vhodni 
prag. Steber iz prezbiterija in ostali fragmenti 
iz ruševine kažejo na ustrezno visoko kakovost 
opreme oltarnega prostora.
Naselje
T o, da Burgbichl ni izključno sakralno središče,
12
 
ampak stalno naselje, je bilo dokazano že z za-
11
  Radi bi se zahvalili Marii Marschler za raziskavo, ki 
je bila izvedena v Naravoslovno-zgodovinskem muzeju na 
Dunaju (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien).
12
  Naselja na Kučarju, Vranju in Tonovcovem gradu so 
opredeljena kot romarska svetišča ali regionalni sakralni 
centri (Ciglenečki 2008, 499).
četnimi raziskavami na več mestih na vrhu hriba. 
Na severovzhodnem delu naselja, v bližini vhoda, 
je bila odkrita velika stavba (stavba 1). Na njen 
najdaljši zid, ki je dolg najmanj 9 m, se v vseh 
smereh navezujejo drugi zidovi (sl. 3: 11). Odkritih 
je bilo tudi dvoje vrat. Na sredini vzhodnega praga 
je 3 cm globoka polkrožna vdolbina premera 6 cm, 
ki služi za tečaj (sl. 12). Ohranjeni so bili veliki 
deli estrihov in stenskih ometov. Posebno dobro 
ohranjen je tudi odtis lesenega okvirja vrat v ometu 
zahodnih hišnih vrat. Zelo majhna vdolbina v tleh 
estriha, ki poteka vzporedno z dolgim zidom in se 
začne pod pravim kotom neposredno ob pragu, je 
verjetno služila kot temelj lesene plošče.
Drugo območje (sl. 3: 4; 14) je bilo v času pred 
izkopavanjem videti obetavno zaradi številnih 
kosov železne žlindre, raztresenih po površini. 
Izkopavanja so odkrila skoraj kvadratno ploščo 
žgane gline, ki verjetno nakazuje, da gre za območje 
za predelavo kovin.
Ker na hribu ni bilo naravnega izvira, je bila za 
oskrbo z vodo v naselju potrebna vsaj ena cister-
na. Takšna cisterna je bila najdena na terasi tik 
pod cerkvijo (sl. 3: 9; 13). Do sedaj so bili odkriti 
ostanki zahodnega in severnega zidu ter severoza-
hodni vogal. V odoodporna malta, mešana s koščki 
opeke, s katero so še vedno premazani zidovi, 
potrjuje interpretacijo, da gre pri tem objektu za 
vodni zbiralnik. Zahodni zid je širok 0,7–0,75 m, 
severni pa pribl. 0,6 m. Glede na obseg poglobi-
tve v terenu, ki je že pred začetkom izkopavanj 
nakazovala, da gre za tovrsten objekt, bi morala 
biti cisterna velika približno 8 × 8 m. Njeno dno 
še ni bilo doseženo. Na jugu, malo nad cisterno, 
je bilo v sloju pepela odkrito dvofazno ognjišče, 
zgrajeno iz skrilavca in apnenčastih plošč.
13
 Zaradi 
erozije so vse plasti med ognjiščem in cisterno 
izginile, zato stratigrafskih odnosov med njima 
ni bilo mogoče določiti.
Najdbe
Med najdbami izstopata kosa pasne spone (sl. 
16). Spona je izdelana iz kosti, pravokotne oblike 
in na obeh straneh okrašena s krožci s piko. Do 
danes je to edinstvena oblika v naseljih v vzho-
dnih Alpah.
Odkriti so bili številni fragmenti keramike in 
kovinskih predmetov, predvsem iz cisterne in z 
13
  Datacija C14 je še vedno v pripravi.

267 Burgbichl pri Irschnu na avstrijskem Koroškem – poznoantično višinsko utrjeno naselje ... 
vhodnega območja.
14
 Fragmenti uvoženih pred-
metov, kot so afriška sigilata in oljenke iz severne 
Afrike, so zastopani sporadično. Na Burgbichl so 
prispele tudi amfore LRA2, ki izvirajo iz vzho-
dnega Sredozemlja, in tako imenovani spatejoni 
iz severne Afrike. Mnogo pogostejši so bili – kot 
v vseh poznoantičnih kontekstih – lonci in sklede, 
izdelani iz grobe keramike in včasih okrašeni z 
značilno valovnico. Poznoantične kovinske najdbe 
vključujejo npr. sponke tipa Hrušica, ločne sponke 
s trikotno glavo in več železnih igel (stilusi).
15
 To 
je tipičen spekter najdb, značilen za to regijo v 
pozni antiki.
V kontekstih poznoantičnih višinskih naselij 
v Noriku se pogosto pojavljajo predmeti iz zgod-
njerimskega obdobja. Tovrstne – zlasti kovinske 
– najdbe so prisotne v skoraj vseh publikacijah z 
arheološkimi predmeti.
16
 Na najdišču Burgbichl 
so pojavljajo fibule, kot sta tipa Almgren 236h in 
močno profilirana in okrašena fibula tipa Almgren 
70/73d, pa tudi keramika iz zgodnjerimskega obdobja.
Razlaga teh starejših najdb v povezavi z dejav-
nostmi v rimskem cesarskem obdobju bo zagotovo 
eno od osrednjih vprašanj prihodnjih raziskovalnih 
akcij na Burgbichlu.
17
 Poseben pomen pri tem ima 
marmorna spolija iz cerkve, uporabljena kot sto-
pnica, saj se postavlja vprašanje, ali so podstavek 
za kip privlekli na hrib iz doline ali pa je v času 
rimskega cesarskega obdobja na Burgbichlu obstajal 
npr. tempelj. Med najdbami iz naselbine je tudi del 
ročaja simpuluma, posebnega lončka iz 1. st. n. št., 
ki so ga uporabljali predvsem pri ritualih. Poseben 
pomen pri pojasnjevanju kronologije in funkcije 
zgodnjih struktur imajo tudi ostanki starejših zidov 
in maltnih estrihov pod poznoantičnim vhodom 
(sl. 4) ter premešane plasti pod obzidjem.
14
 
 
Za uvožene najdbe in pomembnejše dele noše glej 
Kainrath, Grabherr, Gugl 2020.
15 
 O tipologiji in kronologiji: Čaval 2013. Železni 
primeri so redkejši v primerjavi z bronastimi: Modrijan, 
Milavec 2011, 39.
16
  Primeri so bili najdeni na Hemmabergu (Ladstätter 
2000); na najdišču Kappele pri Jadersdorfu (Felgenhauer-
Schmiedt 1993); na Kathreinkoglu (Baumgartner 2017). 
Najdbe iz rimskega cesarskega obdobja so pogoste tudi 
v kompleksih v Sloveniji, kot npr. na Tonovcovem gradu 
(Modrijan, Milavec 2011, 11–12; Ciglenečki 2016, 13).
17
  Razlaga kovinskih najdb kot zbirke predmetov, 
namenjenih recikliranju, kot se domneva za najdbe na 
Hemmabergu, ni primerna za ostala najdišča, ker bi de-
poziti in redke posamične najdbe morale biti pogostejše 
(Ladstätter 2000, 169). Ciglenečki domneva podoben namen 
oz. sekundarno uporabo zaradi močnih sledov uporabe na 
večini teh najdb (Ciglenečki 2016, 13).
Burgbichl v kontekstu jugovzhodnoalpske 
poznoantične poselitve
Čeprav so raziskave na Burgbichlu šele v zgodnji 
fazi, je očitno, da lahko najdišče opredelimo kot 
stalno poseljeno poznoantično naselbino z zgo-
dnjekrščansko cerkvijo. Po drugi strani natančni 
podatki o kronologiji še niso na voljo in ga zato 
trenutno ni mogoče dodeliti določeni vrsti naselja, 
kot jih je definiral S. Ciglenečki.
18
 V primerjavi s 
številnimi drugimi utrjenimi naselji, ki so znana 
že od začetka 20. stoletja,
19
 lahko navedemo več 
splošnih ugotovitev. Že pred izkopavanjem so 
bile na površini vidne zidane strukture. Obzidje 
in drugi objekti na vrhu hriba, kot je zgodnjekr-
ščanska cerkev, so bili pred izkopavanji vidni v 
reliefu. Popolnih tlorisov zgradb ni bilo mogoče 
rekonstruirati enako, kot je bil to primer na več 
slovenskih lokacijah, kjer je zaradi ugodnih razmer 
mogoče v reliefu prepoznati ne le števila stavb, 
temveč tudi njihovo velikost in obliko.
20
Za poznoantična višinska naselja ni značilna 
le izpostavljena lokacija na vrhu hriba, ki je bil 
težko dostopen zaradi strmih pobočij, ampak 
tudi obrambno obzidje na eni ali več straneh 
najdišča. Nekaj teh naselij ima stavbe prislonjene 
neposredno na obzidje, npr. Duel pri Bistrici (sl. 
1).
21
 To naselje je obdajalo obzidje, na katerega 
so bile dodane številne hiše. Ob odkritju so mu 
pripisali vojaško namembnost v povezavi z bizan-
tinsko dominacijo malo pred sredino 6. st. Tudi 
v Sloveniji je nekaterim naselbinam pripisana 
izključno vojaška in obrambna funkcija. Ta teza 
se je pojavila v zvezi s Korinjskim hribom, kjer so 
bile odkrite tudi germanske najdbe, za katere se je 
zdelo, da potrjujejo vojaško prisotnost.
22
 Medtem 
je bilo odkritih še več utrjenih naselbin z manjšimi 
začasnimi stavbami neposredno ob obrambnem 
18
  Ciglenečki 1987; Ciglenečki 2008, 490–502.
19
  Zbrano pri Glaser 1997; Glaser 2008; Ciglenečki 2008.
20
  To velja za utrdbe Gradec pri Prapretnem, Ajdna, 
Tonovcov grad, Zidani gaber, Korinjski hrib, Sv. Radegun-
da, Gračnica, Gradec pri Veliki Strmici, Rodik in Kučar 
(Ciglenečki 2008, 491).
21
  Izkopavalci so stavbe imenovali vojaške barake ali 
kazemate. Izraz vojaška baraka uporablja tudi U. Steink-
lauber, čeprav zaradi pomanjkanja specifičnih najdb misli, 
da niso bile uporabljane v vojaške namene (Steinklauber 
2013, 36–43).
22
  Vojaška razlaga ni bila nesporna (Bierbrauer 1990, 
44–45).

268 Barbara KAINRATH, Gerald GRABHERR, Christian GUGL
obzidju (npr. Ančnikovo gradišče in Gradec pri 
Veliki Strmici).
23
Aspekta kontrolne funkcije višinskih naselbin 
zaradi njihovega topografskega položaja ne moremo 
zanikati. V časih so bile zgrajene ob pomembnih poteh 
in križiščih. V tem pogledu je Burgbichl zagotavljal 
dober razgled na rimsko cesti po Dravski dolini, ki 
je bila glavna prometna povezava med Aguntom 
in Teurnijo, zato je gotovo imel pomembno vlogo 
v regionalnem nadzoru. Nadaljnje raziskave bodo 
razjasnile, ali so bile tudi na Burgbichlu stavbe (vo-
jaške barake?) dodane neposredno k obrambnemu 
obzidju. Delno potrditev tega pomeni peč, odkrita 
v območju 3 (sl. 3: 3; 6), ki kaže na obstoj stavbe 
nedaleč od obrambnega obzidja. Za Burgbichl je še 
vedno prezgodaj, da bi določili skupno število stavb 
in posebej njihovo funkcijo. Avgusta leta 2016 je 
bilo na območju naselbine znotraj obzidja izvedeno 
lasersko skeniranje z namenom dokumentiranja teras, 
primernih za poselitev.
Vzhodni del Burgbichla je razdeljen na več te-
ras, ki so bile verjetno namenjene stanovanjskim 
stavbam. Ta pojav je značilnost tudi nekaterih 
lokacij v Sloveniji,
24
 čeprav stavbe, kamnite ali 
lesene,
25
 niso bile odkrite na vseh. Obseg naselja na 
Burgbichlu je jasno razviden iz oblikovanosti vrha 
hriba na površini le pribl. enega hektarja. Vendar 
pa je še vedno popolnoma nejasno, kakšen je bil 
njegov gradbeni razvoj. Ciglenečki razlikuje med 
manjšimi naselji s popolnim, pravilnim tlorisom, 
kot je Tonovcov grad,
26
 in večjimi naselji s samo 
delno pozidanimi območji in odprtimi prostori 
za začasni sprejem prebivalstva, za kar v glavnem 
navaja dobro preučen Rifnik.
27
Cisterna v območju 9 dokazuje stalno naselbin-
sko aktivnost na Burgbichlu. To domnevo podpira 
izjemna velikost vodnega zbiralnika (po površini 
meri več kot 60 m
2
), v katerem so lahko hranili 
vodo za veliko prebivalcev. Globina zbiralnika še ni 
znana, glede na sedanje stanje raziskav je bila vsaj 
2 m. Za lokacijo cisterne je bilo običajno izbrano 
mesto v bližini velikih zgradb, večinoma cerkva, 
ki s svojimi velikimi strehami lahko zagotovijo 
veliko vode. Cisterna na Burgbichlu stoji tik pod 
cerkvijo, od koder bi bilo vodo zlahka speljati v 
zbiralnik (sl. 3:11; 13). Primerljivi objekti so znani 
23
  Ciglenečki 2008, 500–501.
24
  Ciglenečki 2008, 492: lesene stavbe na Velikem 
vrhu in Vipoti.
25
  Za Hemmaberg cf. Glaser 2008, 617.
26 
 V to skupino uvršča tudi višinski naselbini Ulrichs-
berg in Kappele.
27
  Ciglenečki 2008, 498. V Avstriji omenja Kathrein-
kogel in Tscheltschnigkogel.
z najdišč Kathreinkogel,
28
 Hemmaberg,
29
 Ajdovski 
gradec
30
 ali Rifnik.
31
Sledovi obrtniških dejavnosti, ki jih je mogoče 
pričakovati na stalno naseljenem prostoru, so bili 
odkriti na dveh mestih. Delovni prostor jugoza-
hodno od izkopanega odseka obzidja (sl. 3: 4; 
14), vključno s koščki železne žlindre, je dokaz za 
obdelavo železa. Tudi ognjišče južno od cisterne 
verjetno kaže na obrtniške dejavnosti.
32
V poznoantičnih naseljih je kot religiozni center 
delovala ena ali celo več cerkva. Na Burgbichlu je 
majhna cerkev postavljena na najvišji točki (sl. 3; 7). 
To je do zdaj najbolje raziskana stavba. Potrjen ni 
samo obstoj narteksa na vhodnem delu cerkve, kjer 
je mogoče ločiti dve časovni fazi. Cerkev prve faze 
je bila zgrajena v obliki križa s prečnimi priključki 
in zaključkom v obliki apside. To je shema, ki se je 
razvila iz Ambrozijevega gradbenega programa ob 
koncu 4. in v 5. stoletju. V 5. in 6. st. je postala pro-
totip cerkva na območju Alp in v severni Italiji. Zdi 
se, da se ta tloris najpogosteje pojavlja v zahodnem 
delu Norika: cerkev v Oberlienzu,
33
 v Lavantu pod 
župno cerkvijo,
34
 na Hoischuglu,
35
 na Duelu
36
 in 
tudi prva faza tako imenovane škofovske cerkve v 
Teurniji
37
 kažejo enak tloris in s tem na skupen načrt. 
Mogoče je to posledica enotnega gradbenega urada. 
Skupna vsem tem cerkvam je tudi tako imenovana 
zakristija, dodana severno ali južno od apside.
38
Čeprav cerkev na Burgbichlu zaradi pomanjkanja 
najdb v ruševinskih plasteh ne more biti datirana na 
podlagi arheoloških predmetov, primerljive stavbe 
kažejo na datacijo v 5. in 6. st. T o obdobje opredeljuje 
Ciglenečki kot tretjo in najbolj raznoliko fazo, ko je 
bilo veliko poznoantičnih višinskih naselbin zgrajenih 
ali povečanih.
39
 Glede na današnje stanje raziskav ni 
mogoče natančno datirati niti obodnega zidu, niti 
vhoda, niti dobro ohranjene zgradbe na vzhodni 
28
  Izkopani sta bili dve cisterni (Glaser 1997, 124).
29
  Dve cisterni sta v neposredni bližini cerkva (Glaser 
1991, 47, 72).
30
  Odkrita je bila cisterna s prostornino 100 000 lit-
rov, v kateri so bili ohranjeni ostanki lesene konstrukcije 
(Glaser 1997, 77 Fig. 29).
31
  Glaser 1997, 71; Bolta 1981, 9.
32
  Podobna peč je bila dokumentirana na Lavantu 
(Kainrath 2011, 66, Fig. 66).
33
  Glaser 2003, 146–147.
34 
 Winkler 1996.
35
  Glaser 1997, 88–89; Glaser 2003, 432, Fig. 15.
36
  Glaser 2003, 429, Fig. 13.
37
  Glaser 2003, 415–416.
38
  Upoštevati pa je treba tudi stanje ohranjenosti 
cerkva in ponazorjenih tlorisov, ki so marsikdaj močno 
rekonstruirani.
39
  Ciglenečki 2008, 496.

269 Burgbichl pri Irschnu na avstrijskem Koroškem – poznoantično višinsko utrjeno naselje ...
terasi, vendar pa najdbe s teh območij prav tako 
kažejo na 5. in 6. st. Posebno zanimive so zgodnejše 
faze na severu naselbine. Obrambno obzidje je bilo 
zgrajeno nad premešanim materialom, ki vsebuje 
najdbe iz 3. in 4. st., za gradnjo vhoda pa je bila 
odstranjena starejša stavba. T o dokazuje temelj zidu 
z ustreznim podom – premazom estriha (sl. 4) in 
kaže, da je bilo to območje v uporabi že pred 5. 
in 6. st., ko sta bila verjetno postavljena obrambni 
zid z vhodom in zgodnjekrščanska cerkev.
Okvirno lahko datacijo poznoantične poselitve 
opredelimo podobno kot na T onovcovem gradu (fazi 
LRA 1 in LRA 2),
40
 toda brez detajlne kronologije, 
ki bi temeljila na arheološkem gradivu, ostajajo 
take klasifikacije hipotetične. Najočitnejši razlog 
za to je pomanjkanje stratigrafije na višinskih na-
selbinah, uniformnost grobe keramike, ki pomeni 
v vseh naselbinah glavni del keramičnih najdb, in 
skromna zastopanost uvožene keramike, ki bi jo 
bilo mogoče natančneje datirati. In ne nazadnje, 
tudi upad rednega novčnega obtoka onemogoča 
natančnejšo kronološko razdelitev zadnjih stoletij 
rimske navzočnosti v Noriku. Kljub tem težavam 
je bilo na slovenskih najdiščih mogoče definirati 
tri kronološke stopnje.
41
 Prva se začne v sedemde-
setih letih 3. st., druga je postavljena med drugo 
polovico 4. in drugo polovico 5. st., ko je bila 
ustanovljena večina naselbin, ustreza pa fazi LA 
1 na Tonovcovem gradu. Zadnje obdobje pozne 
antike obsega čas druge polovice 5. in celotno 6. 
stoletje. Teh 250 let (LA 1 in LA 2), v katerih so 
se ljudje naselili na strmih hribih v jugovzhodnem 
delu Alp, pomeni tudi glavno obdobje poseljenosti 
Burgbichla pri Irschnu.
Novoodkrito najdišče v zgornji Dravski dolini 
tako še vedno postavlja veliko vprašanj, hkrati pa 
ponuja velik potencial za prihodnje raziskave. Po 
uspešnih raziskovalnih aktivnostih v Sloveniji je 
zelo spodbudno, da so se začele nove raziskave 
poznoantičnega najdišča tudi v avstrijskem delu 
mediteranskega Norika, na območju z dolgo raz-
iskovalno tradicijo na tem področju.
Prevod: Zvezdana Modrijan
  40
  LA 1: druga polovica 4. in prva polovica 5. st. LA 
2: od poznega 5. do zgodnjega 7. st. (Modrijan, Milavec 
2011, 12–13).
41
  Prvič definirano pri Ciglenečki leta 1987 in nekajk-
rat dopolnjeno glede na nove raziskave (Ciglenečki 1987, 
109–120; Ciglenečki 2008, 486–490).
Barbara Kainrath
Research Archaeology
Laxenburgerstraße 26
A-1020 Wien
barbara.kainrath@researchaeology.at
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0747-3316
Gerald Grabherr
Institut für Archäologien
Arbeitsbereich Archäologie der Römischen Provinzen
Universität Innsbruck
Langer Weg 11
A-6020 Innsbruck
gerald.grabherr@uibk.ac.at
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4146-6424
Christian Gugl
Institut für Kulturgeschichte der Antike
Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Hollandstraße 11–13
A-1020 Wien
christian.gugl@oeaw.ac.at
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6607-959X