Ljubljansko barje je vlažna ravnica, ki leži jugozahodno od Ljubljane, v Sloveniji. V arheologiji je poznano predvsem po ostankih prazgodovinskih koliščarjev, ki območje prvikrat poselijo v 5. tisočletju (46. stoletje), nato sledijo poselitveni ciklusi v 4. (med 37. in 32. stoletjem), 3. (med 28. in 24. stoletjem), ob koncu 3. in v prvi polovici 2. tisočletja pr. Kr.
Razmeroma številne najdbe, tudi novoodkrite in prvič predstavljene, kalupov, talilnih posod in drugih metalurških pripomočkov, kažejo, da je bila koliščarska poselitev Ljubljanskega barja tesno povezana z metalurško dejavnostjo. Najstarejša najdba te vrste je sicer datirana v 36. stoletje in izvira z najdišča Hočevarica pri Verdu.
Metalurška dejavnost je zahtevala veliko znanja. Po značaju je bila magijska. Ob tem pa je predstavljala stalno grožnjo naselbini in ljudem. Zdi se, da so kovači imeli zelo pomemben položaj v družbi, kar se odraža tudi v izpostavljenosti livarskih delavnic. Na Ljubljanskem barju je njih lega ožje locirana na območju treh koliščarskih naselbin iz 4. in 3. tisočletja pr. Kr.: Maharski prekop, Stare gmajne in Založnica. Gre za čas, ko na podlagi arheoloških virov na Ljubljanskem barju prvikrat lahko govorimo o delitvi dela in o pojavu družbenih elit.Ljubljansko barje is a wet plain which lies to the south-west of Ljubljana, Slovenia. In archaeology, it is primarily known for the remains of prehistoric pile-dwellings, which appeared in this region for the first time in the 5th millennium (46th century). The later settling cycles took place in the 4th millennium (between the 37th and 32nd century), 3rd millennium (between the 28th and 24th century), in the late 3rd millennium and in the first half of the 2nd millennium B.C.
The relatively numerous finds of moulds, melting pots and other metalworking utensils – both those recently discovered and those that have already been presented – indicate that the pile-dwelling settlements of Ljubljansko barje were closely connected to the metalworking activity. The oldest find of this kind has been dated to the 36th century B.C. and it was discovered on the site of Hočevarica near Verd.
The metal processing demanded a great deal of knowledge and skill. It had magical implications.
For this reason it presented a constant threat for settlements and people. It seems that metal workers held a very special position in the society, which was also reflected in the exposed location of their workshops. In Ljubljansko barje, their position is narrowly located in the area of three pile-dwelling settlements from the 4th and 3rd millennium B.C.: Maharski prekop, Stare gmajne and Založnica. Now for the first time, on the basis of the archaeological sources, in Ljubljansko barje we can talk about the division of labour and appearance of a social elite
