In 2015, divers from the Society for Underwater Activities Bled uncovered a larger wooden object, later identified as the sunken remains of a logboat. Through wood sample analysis, it was determined that the tree used to construct the logboat had been felled between the late 8th century and the beginning of the second half of the 9th century. This discovery establishes the logboat from Lake Bled as the earliest reliably dated Early Medieval vessel found in the Slovenian region. In addition to the prehistoric and ancient artifacts found on the island, this finding represents the oldest direct evidence of navigation on Lake Bled. It provides valuable insights into the utilization of lake resources and visits to the island during the initial phase of Slavic settlement in the Bled area. The estimated midpoint of the dating coincides roughly with the resistance of the Carniolan people against the Franks in the year 820.

The boat lay at the base of a steep underwater slope, approximately 12 meters deep and around 15 meters from the northern shoreline of the lake. Initially, the boat measured about 4 meters in length and had a width of up to 60 centimeters. It had a rounded triangular bow and a more bluntly rounded stern, with side walls reaching a height of 30 to 35 centimeters. The bow and stern featured raised partition walls, while a low transverse rib was present in the central part of the boat. These features suggest a functional division into two compartments or sections within the boat.

Considering its reconstructed dimensions and layout, the boat was designed to accommodate one or two crew members and was most likely used for fishing or local transportation purposes. Wood species analysis, carried out at the Department of Wood Science and Technology at the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, revealed that the boat was constructed using larch wood. It is worth noting that throughout Europe, logboats made from larch are exceptionally rare, as the choice of larch timber was likely driven by its water-resistant properties and the local abundance of tall, straight larch trees.

The work took place during a two-day campaign in February 2022, in collaboration between ZVKDS (Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia), the Institute for Underwater Archaeology, the Department of Archaeology at the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Arts, the Department of Wood Science and Technology at the Biotechnical Faculty, and with the support of divers from the Society for Underwater Activities Bled. During this time, the logboat was placed on a specially constructed framework, raised onto the shore, where it underwent a structural examination. Additionally, the it was carefully photographed in situ and on land to capture detailed imagery for future 3D reconstruction purposes. Samples were taken, and surface surveys were conducted in the immediate vicinity of the site. Following the analyses, the logboat was temporarily returned to its original location pending the decision on its conservation.In 2015, divers from the Society for Underwater Activities Bled uncovered a larger wooden object, later identified as the sunken remains of a logboat. Through wood sample analysis, it was determined that the tree used to construct the logboat had been felled between the late 8th century and the beginning of the second half of the 9th century. This discovery establishes the logboat from Lake Bled as the earliest reliably dated Early Medieval vessel found in the Slovenian region. In addition to the prehistoric and ancient artifacts found on the island, this finding represents the oldest direct evidence of navigation on Lake Bled. It provides valuable insights into the utilization of lake resources and visits to the island during the initial phase of Slavic settlement in the Bled area. The estimated midpoint of the dating coincides roughly with the resistance of the Carniolan people against the Franks in the year 820.

The boat lay at the base of a steep underwater slope, approximately 12 meters deep and around 15 meters from the northern shoreline of the lake. Initially, the boat measured about 4 meters in length and had a width of up to 60 centimeters. It had a rounded triangular bow and a more bluntly rounded stern, with side walls reaching a height of 30 to 35 centimeters. The bow and stern featured raised partition walls, while a low transverse rib was present in the central part of the boat. These features suggest a functional division into two compartments or sections within the boat.

Considering its reconstructed dimensions and layout, the boat was designed to accommodate one or two crew members and was most likely used for fishing or local transportation purposes. Wood species analysis, carried out at the Department of Wood Science and Technology at the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, revealed that the boat was constructed using larch wood. It is worth noting that throughout Europe, logboats made from larch are exceptionally rare, as the choice of larch timber was likely driven by its water-resistant properties and the local abundance of tall, straight larch trees.

The work took place during a two-day campaign in February 2022, in collaboration between ZVKDS (Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia), the Institute for Underwater Archaeology, the Department of Archaeology at the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Arts, the Department of Wood Science and Technology at the Biotechnical Faculty, and with the support of divers from the Society for Underwater Activities Bled. During this time, the logboat was placed on a specially constructed framework, raised onto the shore, where it underwent a structural examination. Additionally, the it was carefully photographed in situ and on land to capture detailed imagery for future 3D reconstruction purposes. Samples were taken, and surface surveys were conducted in the immediate vicinity of the site. Following the analyses, the logboat was temporarily returned to its original location pending the decision on its conservation.