Dežela (“the Land”) or the Radovljica plain is the westernmost natural and geographical region of the Ljubljana basin featuring a landscape that was shaped initially by glaciers and later by the erosion caused by the Sava River. The territory of Dežela comprises a plain in the Radovljica basin on the left bank of the Sava River between Žirovnica, Begunje and Radovljica. The aim of the thesis is to provide a description of Dežela and its development through historical periods as well as all the known topographic – archaeological elements it encompasses. The first part of the thesis presents an overview of the geographical and geological features of Dežela. Clearance cairns – important and recognizable elements of the landscape, but often overlooked and not described yet – are inventoried and defined. The central part of the thesis consists of a catalog of all the known archaeological sites and a description of potential sites in Dežela. A few recorded cases of destruction that have occurred within the region in recent years and that have indirectly or directly affected the cultural and archaeological heritage are also described and listed.
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