213Arheološki vestnik 75, 2024, 213–244; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/AV.75.07; CC BY-SA 4.0
Izvleček 
V prispevku so predstavljena arheološka najdišča v okolici Bele Cerkve, podrobneje izsledki izkopavanj iz leta 2002, 
ko smo pri raziskavah na različnih lokacijah (Dolge njive, Draga 1, Draga 2 in Draga 3) dokumentirali del trase ceste, 
zidane temelje objektov, večje število vkopov za stojke, grobišče in naselbinsko gradivo iz rimske dobe. Povzeli bomo 
tudi hipoteze o domnevnih lokacijah rimske poštne postaje Crucium. Domnevamo, da smo odkrili rimski Crucium, ki 
je bil poseljen oziroma v funkciji od 1. do 4. st. n. št.
Ključne besede: Slovenija; Dolenjska; rimska doba; obcestna naselbina; Crucium (Dolge njive, Draga 1, Draga 2 in 
Draga 3); grobišče
Abstract
The paper presents the archaeological sites in the environs of the modern settlement of Bela Cerkev and the results 
of archaeological excavations in 2002, prior to motorway construction. Excavations at four (?) different, but contiguous 
locations (Dolge njive, Draga 1, Draga 2 in Draga 3) revealed and documented part of the line of the road, the masonry 
foundations of buildings, numerous post-built structures, a cemetery and domestic material, dating to the Roman period. 
The paper also considers hypotheses surrounding the location of the Roman-period  roadside settlement of Crucium. It 
is posited that the excavation on these sites  have revealed the location of the Roman roadside settlement of Crucium, 
which was occcupied or functioned in the period from the 1st to the 4th Centuries AD.
Key words: Slovenia; Dolenjska; Roman period; roadside settlement; Crucium (Dolge njive, Draga 1, Draga 2 and 
Draga 3); cemetery
The Dolge njive - Draga Roman roadside set-
tlement is located on the northern edge of the 
Šentjernejsko polje in the central part of the Krka 
valley in Dolenjska (Fig. 1). The valley of the 
Toplica stream (a left bank tributary of the Krka 
at Kronovo) defines the south-western edge of 
the Vinji vrh massif and the Krka terrace at the 
foot of the southern slopes of the Vinji vrh mas-
sif. The broad marshy valley of the river Radulja 
(a left bank tributary of the Krka at Dobrava pri 
Škocjanu) defines the northern edge of the Vinji 
vrh massif as a whole, combining with the Žlebec 
Dolge njive - Draga: Roman Crucium?
The Roman roadside settlement in Dolenjska
(southeast Slovenia)
Dolge njive - Draga: rimski Crucium?
Rimska naselbina na Dolenjskem 
Katarina UDOVČ, Philip MASON