Barbara Horn

We applied an interdisciplinary approach to analyze the late Quaternary activity of the Sava Fault in the Slovenian Southern Alps. The Sava Fault is an active strike-slip fault, and part of the Periadriatic Fault System that accommodated the convergence of Adria and Europe. It is one of the longest faults in the Southern Alps. Using high-resolution digital elevation models from lidar and photogrammetric surveys, we were able to overcome the challenges of assessing fault activity in a region with intense surface processes, dense vegetation, and relatively low fault slip rates. By integrating remote sensing analysis, geomorphological mapping, structural geological investigations, and near-surface geophysics (electrical resistivity tomography and ground penetrating radar), we were able to find subtle geomorphological indicators, detect near-surface deformation, and show distributed surface deformation and a complex fault pattern. Using optically stimulated luminescence dating, we tentatively estimated a slip rate of 1.8 ± 0.4 mm/a for the last 27 ka, which exceeds previous estimates and suggests temporal variability in fault behavior. Our study highlights the importance of modern high-resolution remote sensing techniques and interdisciplinary approaches in detecting tectonic deformation in relatively low-strain rate environments with intense surface processes. We show that slip rates can vary significantly depending on the studied time window. This is a critical piece of information since slip rates are a key input parameter for seismic hazard studies.

Kamnolom v naselju Podpeč pri Ljubljani velja za glavni kamnolom rimske kolonije Emone (Ljubljana). Obstoj antičnega kamnoloma v Podpeči je bil do sedaj utemeljen le na podlagi makroskopske podobnosti med Členom litiotidnega apnenca, ki izdanja v Podpeči, in z njim povezanimi rimskimi spomeniki, odkritimi v Ljubljani. V okviru pričujočega dela smo skušali poiskati oprijemljive arheološke in geoarheološke dokaze za njegov obstoj. V skrajno severnem delu kamnoloma smo izvedli arheološko sondiranje, hkrati pa natančno določili sestavo apnenca na tem območju in v 288 izdelkih iz antične Emone. Sondiranje severno od modernega kamnoloma je odkrilo dobro ohranjene sledove rimskodobne kamnoseške dejavnosti. Hkrati je litološka analiza spomenikov iz Emone razkrila, da je kar 182 (ali 64 odstotkov) analiziranih spomenikov izdelanih iz apnenca, litološko identičnega različkom, ki izdanjajo v Podpeči. Ti različki se prostorsko grupirajo severno od modernega kamnoloma. Pri tem sicer ostaja odprto vprašanje pripadnosti nekaterih različkov apnenca v izdelkih, ki so brez diagnostičnih komponent in bi lahko pripadali tudi nekoliko starejšemu Členu krkinega apnenca. Rekonstrukcijo obsega starega kamnoloma omogoča primerjava faciesov izvornih litostratigrafskih enot in izdelkov, pa tudi historična analiza zgodnjih kartografskih in katastrskih dokumentov. Analiza najzgodnejših izdelkov je omogočila hipotezo o prihodu kamnosekov iz kamnoloma v Nabrežini.

The prehistoric complex of Cvinger near Dolenjske Toplice occupies a strategic position between the regions of Dolenjska and Bela krajina. It has yielded important finds for the understanding of the Late Hallstatt period and holds the largest known iron-smelting area in the region. In recent years, several interdisciplinary research campaigns took place at Cvinger, combining modern remote sensing techniques, such as airborne laser scanning and geophysical surveys, with more established archaeological methods. Importantly, the results have brought new understanding about the whole complex, including the chronological refinement of the iron smelting area thanks to archaeomagnetic dating.