Na Ajdovskem gradcu je v času preseljevanja ljudstev živelo romanizirano staroselsko prebivalstvo. Zaradi skrite lege hriba in njegove utrjenosti v nepomembni stranski dolini Save je bilo Vranje že vnaprej določeno kot pribežališče v negotovih časih preseljevanja ljudstev. Mimo Vranja je proti Celju potekala rimska cesta. V rimski dobi je pripadala tukajšnja pokrajina provinci Norik, in sicer mestnemu področju Celeia (Celje), ki je bila hkrati tudi sedež škofije.
V njenem središču sta stali dve eno ladijski cerkvi. Osrednje mesto na vrhu Ajdovskega gradca je zavzemala zgornja cerkev - bazilika. Na nekoliko nižji terasi je stala spodnja cerkev, ki je bila sočasno zgrajena. V njej sta ohranjena škofovski sedež in polkrožna klop za duhovnike. Ob njej je bila postavljena krstilnica s šesterokotno krstilno kotanjo. Cerkvene stavbe je obdajalo sedem stanovanjskih hiš in vodni zbiralnik s prostornino 120.000 litrov.
Tovrstni so poznani z večine raziskanih utrdb, vendar je tukajšnji nekaj posebnega. Srečno naključje je hotelo, da se je v stalni vodi nepropustnega zbiralnika ob opustitvi naselbine ohranila celotna lesena konstrukcija, katere ostanke je voda odlično konzervirala. Najdeni so bili deli lesene strešne konstrukcije in ploščadi nad zbiralnikom Ter številni drugi leseni predmeti: iz enega kosa izdolbeno leseno korito, vedra, kolesce s škripca, lestev in cevi. Zbiralnik za vodo je tako znotraj poznoantičnih utrdb najbolj celovito znan objekt, razumljiv v vseh tehničnih nadrobnostih.
Naselbino je obdajalo obzidje z obrambnimi stolpi. V hišah so arheologi izkopali številne predmete za vsakdanjo rabo: lončenino, vretenca za prejo, rožene glavnike, kamnite žrmlje, tehtnice in različno orodje. Med najdbami izstopa bronasta utež v obliki boginje Lune, posrebrena skleda tehtnice, srebrna igla - pisalo, amfore kot merniki tekočine in možnar kot mera za razsuto blago (žito, sol). Med stavbami izstopa južno od zgornje cerkve tudi manjša zgradba kvadratne oblike, ki je nedvomno funkcionalno povezana s cerkvijo in zraven ležečim domnevnim bivališčem škofa, saj je bila v celoti centralno ogrevana.
Ajdovski gradec je bil dvakrat nasilno opustošen, kar sta pri izkopavanjih pokazali dve plasti žganine in pepela. Prvi požig je mogoče povezati z roparskim pohodom Hunov na Oglej in Rim, drugi požig in dokončno uničenje naselbine pa s prihodom naših prednikov Slovanov v drugi polovici 6. stoletja.
Ajdovski gradec velja za enega največjih starokrščanskih središč na območju Alp in Podonavja. Hkrati je na Ajdovskem gradcu najbolj celovito raziskano naselje iz obdobja preseljevanja ljudstev pri nas in jo lahko primerjamo z naselbinami kot so Rifnik pri Šentjurju, Ajdna nad Potoki in Veliki Korinj. Skupaj z njimi je zadnji glasnik rimske civilizacije na slovenskem ozemlju.
Kratek filmček/short movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_d-mrfowB-w
EN:
Ajdovski gradec was the settlement at the time of the migration. There has lived romanized Indigenous population. Due to the hidden location of the hill and its hardened in irrelevant side-valley of the Sava Vranje was already predetermined as a refuge in uncertain times, the migration of peoples. Past Vranje against Celje held roman road. In Roman times, it belonged to the province of Noricum, namely the urban area Celeia (Celje), which was also the seat of the diocese.
In the center of the settlement stood in two single vessel church. The central location on the top of Ajdovski gradec advocated the upper church - basilica. At a slightly lower terrace stood below the church, which was built at the same time. In it are preserved Episcopal seat and a semicircular bench for priests. When it was built with hexagonal baptistery basin. Church building was surrounded by seven houses and a reservoir with a capacity of 120,000 liters.
Such are known reservoir by the majority of studied fortifications, but the local one is special. Serendipity has wanted to be in a permanent water tight reservoir upon leaving the settlement preserved whole wooden structure, which remains conserved water is excellent. Found were parts of the wooden roof structures and platforms above the reservoir and many other articles of wood: from a single piece of hollowed wooden trough, buckets, pulley with a pulley, ladders and pipes. The water tank is also within the late Roman fortifications most comprehensive facility known, understood all the technical detail.
The settlement was surrounded by walls with towers. In the houses archaeologists have excavated a number of items for everyday use: pottery, bobbin for spinning, stratum comb, stone querns, scales and different tools. Among the finds stands a bronze weight in the form of the goddess of the moon, silver plated bowl scales, silver needle - a stylus amphorae a bushel fluid and mortar as a measure of bulk (grain, salt). Among the buildings stand to the south of the upper church of the smaller square-shaped building that is clearly functionally connected with the church and contiguous alleged residence of the bishop, since it was fully centrally heated.
Ajdovski gradec was devastated twice as violent as they are during excavations revealed two layers of Ganin and ash. The first burning may be associated with predatory march of the Huns to Aquilea and Rome, the second burning and finally the destruction of the settlement with the arrival of our forefathers of the Slavs in the second half of the 6th century.
Ajdovski gradec considered one of the greatest early Christian centers in the Alps and the Danube region. At the same time Ajdovski gradec studied the most comprehensive settlement of the Migration Period with us and can be compared to settlements such as Rifnik near Šentjuru, Ajdna nad Potoki and Veliki Korinj. Together with them is the last messenger of Roman civilization in the Slovenian territory.
Dostop do Vranja nad Sevnico:
Arheološko najdišče Ajdovski gradec se nahaja 5 km iz Sevnice proti Blanci (cesta proti Krškem ob levem bregu reke Save). Iz starega mestnega jedra Sevnice se peljemo proti Krškem po levem bregu reke Save. V naselju Gornje Brezovo zavijemo levo proti Lončarjevem Dolu in nadaljujemo naravnost. Vse do vasi Vranje so postavljene ob cesti usmerjevalne table. V Vranju je urejeno in označeno parkirišče (tudi za avtobuse). Iz vasi do vrha Ajdovskega gradca je okoli 15 minut zmerne hoje.