Ljudmila Plesničar Gec

{{Infobox person

| name = Ljudmila Plesničar Gec

| image = Ljudmila_Plesničar_Gec.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Ljudmila Plesničar attending a gallery opening at Lamut's Art Salon, 1978

| birth_name = Ljudmila Gec

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1931|12|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Sežana, Province of Trieste, Kingdom of Italy

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|07|10|1931|12|12|df=y}}

| death_place = Ljubljana, Slovenia

| nationality = Italian, Yugoslavian, Slovenian

| other_names = Ljudmila Plesničar-Gec

| occupation = archaeologist, museum curator

| years_active = 1956–1996

| known_for =

| notable_works =

}}

Ljudmila Plesničar Gec (12 December 1931 – 10 July 2008) was a Slovenian archaeologist who specialized in uncovering the Roman history of Ljubljana. Best known for her excavations at Emona, she received the Valvasor Prize in 1985, the Golden Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia in 1997, and was honored in 2000 with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Archaeological Society of Slovenia.

Early life

Ljudmila Gec was born on 12 December 1931,{{sfn|Jakopič|2016}} in Sežana during the annexation of the area to the Kingdom of Italy{{sfn|Sivec|2009|p=337}} to Mila (née Mahnič) and Franc Gec.{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}} Her parents were farmers and Gec attended primary school and began her gymnasium studies in Sežana. She completed her secondary studies in Trieste. At the end of World War II, the family moved to Postojna. Gec entered the University of Ljubljana, where she studied archaeology under Srečko Brodar, {{ill|Josip Korošec|sl}} and Josipa Klemenca,{{sfn|Sivec|2009|p=337}} graduating in 1956,{{sfn|Jakopič|2016}} and by 1957, was publishing in the name of Plesničar.{{sfn|Plesničar|1957|p=95}}

Career

After completing her schooling, Plesničar began working at the Provincial Museum of Koper and later, worked in the City Archives. Moving to Ljubljana in 1961, she began working at the City Museum of Ljubljana as the head of the archaeological work at Emona.{{sfn|Sivec|2009|p=337}}{{sfn|Jakopič|2016}} She led numerous excavations at the site, discovering an Early Christian religious center and baptistery, necropolises, the northern gate of the city, several residential areas and a Roman Forum.{{sfn|Jakopič|2016}} She began work on Emona in 1962 when construction equipment engaged in a project to restore the subway uncovered graves in the northern cemetery. Plesničar and her team uncovered over 1,000 graves at the site and began pressing for conservation measures to be enacted by the town council to protect archaeological sites.{{sfn|Sivec|2009|p=337}}{{sfn|Fras|2017}}{{sfn|Županek|Bregar|2015|p=117}} By 1965, regulations had been passed to require that archaeological preservation be integrated into construction planning.{{sfn|Fras|2017}}{{sfn|Sivec|2009|p=337}} Extending her work to include urban planning, she introduced legislation requiring builders to provide insurance in their proposals to cover the costs of archaeological exploration, should remains be uncovered at proposed construction sites.{{sfn|Sivec|2009|p=337}}

Unlike her predecessor, Jože Plečnik, who redesigned the Roman walls to create a pleasing artificial display of the artifacts,

Plesničar adopted a minimal intervention approach, leaving remains in situ.{{sfn|Županek|Bregar|2015|p=118}}{{sfn|Županek|2014|pp=19–20}} She attempted to incorporate the archaeological sites within the modern urban environment to give an image of the diverse heritage of the city{{sfn|Jakopič|2016}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}} and provide a cultural experience for study.{{sfn|Županek|Bregar|2015|p=118}} In 1967, Jakopič Gardens, now known as Emonan House, were opened to the public, after Plesničar's excavations{{sfn|Sivec|2009|p=338}} in the 1963–1964 season uncovered the dwelling remains of a wealthy family on the outskirts of Ljubljana in the Mirje neighborhood.{{sfn|Museum and Galleries of the City of Ljubljana|2009}} She prepared an exhibition in 1974 at the current location of the Bukvarna store, which exhibited the northern gates of Emona{{sfn|Sivec|2009|p=337}} and the following year, completed her PhD with the thesis Kronološka in tipološka analiza lončenim emonskih grobišč (Chronological and

typological analysis of Emona graveyard pottery).{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}} In 1976, she organized the opening of the Early Christian Centre as an archaeological park,{{sfn|Sivec|2009|p=337}} and in the City Museum designed a comprehensive timeline to show the changing life in Emona.{{sfn|Jakopič|2016}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}

Plesničar published numerous articles in domestic and foreign archaeological journals and actively participated in international events and symposiums. She served as president of the Slovenian Archaeological Society in the 1970s and as president of the Museum Society of Slovenia. She prepared, with the assistance of colleagues numerous exhibitions, such as the 1973 Frescoes of Emonia and the Archaeological Heritage of Ljubljana of 1996 and created international networks cooperating with museums in Aquileia, Belgrade, Krakow, Pula and Warsaw, among other cities.{{sfn|Sivec|2009|p=338}} Plesničar was recognized with the Slovenian Museum Association's highest award, the {{ill|Valvasor Prize|sl|Valvasorjeva nagrada}}, in 1985 for her work in curating and preserving the artifacts found at the Emona.{{sfn|Jakopič|2016}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}} In 1997, she was awarded the Golden Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia by President Milan Kučan for her service in preserving the archaeological heritage of the country.{{sfn|Office of the President|2007}} She was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Archaeological Society of Slovenia in 2000.{{sfn|Ministry of Culture|2010}}

Death and legacy

Plesničar died on 10 July 2008, in Ljubljana.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} In 2010, a symposium was held in her honor at the City Museum of Ljubljana, with lectures detailing the archaeological history of Emona and her contributions. The lectures were compiled into a monograph and published in 2012 in a bi-lingual volume, Emona: med Akvilejo in Panonijo'Emona between Aquileia and Pannonia.{{sfn|Museum and Galleries of the City of Ljubljana|2013}}

Selected works

{{cite journal|title=Zaščitno izkopavanje rimske stavbe ob Tržaški cesti v Ljubljani|journal=Arheološki vestnik|date=1966|issue=1|pages=453–467|publisher=Inštitut za arheologijo SAZU|location=Ljubljana, Yugoslavia|language=sl}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}
{{cite book|title=La nécropole romaine à Emona|date=1967|publisher=Société archéologique de Yougoslavie|location=Belgrade, Yugoslavia|oclc=715919264|series=Inventaria archaeologica, 10. Jugoslavija|language=fr}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}
{{cite journal|title=Obeležje in kronologija antičnih grobov na Prešernovi in Celovški cesti v Ljubljani|journal=Arheološki vestnik|date=1967|issue=18|pages=137–151|publisher=Inštitut za arheologijo SAZU|location=Ljubljana, Yugoslavia|language=sl}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}
{{cite journal|title=Rimski vodnjak ob Ljubljanskih opekarnah v Ljubljani|journal=Arheološki vestnik|date=1968|issue=19|pages=403–414|publisher=Inštitut za arheologijo SAZU|location=Ljubljana, Yugoslavia|language=sl}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}
{{cite journal|title=Emona v pozni antiki|journal=Arheološki vestnik|date=1971|issue=21–22|pages=117–122|publisher=Inštitut za arheologijo SAZU|location=Ljubljana, Yugoslavia|language=sl}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}
{{cite book|title=Severno emonsko grobisce: The northern necropolis of Emona|date=1972|publisher=Narodni muzej|location=Ljubljana, Yugoslavia|oclc=878218188|series=Emona 3: Katalogi in monografije, 8|language=sl, en}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}
{{cite book|title=Emonske freske|date=1973|publisher=Mestni muzej|location=Ljubljana, Yugoslavia|oclc=878218220|language=sl}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}
{{cite journal|title=La citta di Emona nel tardoantico e suoi ruderi paleocri-stiani|journal=Arheološki vestnik|date=1972|issue=23|pages=367–375|publisher=Inštitut za arheologijo SAZU|location=Ljubljana, Yugoslavia|language=it}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}
{{cite journal|title=Steklene zajemalke iz severnega emonskega grobišča|journal=Arheološki vestnik|date=1976|issue=25|pages=35–38|publisher=Inštitut za arheologijo SAZU|location=Ljubljana, Yugoslavia|language=Slovenian}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}
{{cite book|editor1-last=Dimitrijević|editor1-first=Danica|title=Problemi seobe naroda u Karpatskoj kotlini|date=1978|publisher=Matica srpska|location=Novi Sad, Yugoslavia|pages=59–64|chapter=Emona at the beginning of great migration period|postscript=. (with Irena Sivec).}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=22}}
{{cite journal|title=Porta praetoria—severna emonska vrata|journal=Arheološki vestnik|date=1976|issue=25|pages=387–391 |publisher=Inštitut za arheologijo SAZU|location=Ljubljana, Yugoslavia|language=sl}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}
{{cite book|title=Keramika emonskih nekropol|date=1977|publisher=Mestni muzej|location=Ljubljana, Yugoslavia|oclc=878218213|series=Dissertationes et monographiae, 20|language=sl, en}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}
{{cite journal|title=Rimski grob z Dolenjske ceste|journal=Situla|date=1980|issue=20–21|pages=459–465|publisher=Narodni muzej v Ljubljani|location=Ljubljana, Yugoslavia|language=sl|issn=0583-4554}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=22}}
{{cite book|title=Antična posoda iz emone s figuralnim prizorom: The figural vessel from Emona|year=1982|publisher=Narodni muzej|location=Ljubljana, Yugoslavia|language=sl, en|oclc=774017990}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}
{{cite book|title=Starokrscanski center v Emoni: Old Christian center in Emona|year=1983|publisher=Narodni muzej|location=Ljubljana, Yugoslavia|language=sl, en|oclc=935291198}}{{sfn|Jevnikar|1986|p=21}}
{{cite book|title=Antične freske v Sloveniji: The Roman frescoes of Slovenia|date=1997|publisher=Narodni Muzej Slovenije|location=Ljubljana, Slovenia|isbn=978-9-616-16910-3|language=sl|postscript=, (with contributions by Veljko Toman).}}

References

=Citations=

=Bibliography=

{{cite web|last1=Fras|first1=Mojca|title=Ali ste vedeli?|url=https://neodkritaarheologijaljubljane.wordpress.com/2017/10/03/ali-ste-vedeli-did-you-know-3/|website=Neodkrita arheologija ljubljane|publisher=STIK Group|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406165530/https://neodkritaarheologijaljubljane.wordpress.com/2017/10/03/ali-ste-vedeli-did-you-know-3/|archive-date=6 April 2018|location=Ljubljana, Slovenia|language=Slovenian|date=3 October 2017|quote=Did you know?}}
{{cite news|last1=Jakopič|first1=Pavle|title=Na današnji dan: 12. december|url=https://radioprvi.rtvslo.si/2016/12/na-danasnji-dan-569/|access-date=5 April 2018|publisher=Radiotelevizija Slovenija-Prvi|date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405203707/https://radioprvi.rtvslo.si/2016/12/na-danasnji-dan-569/|archive-date=5 April 2018|location=Ljubljana, Slovenia|language=Slovenian|trans-title=On this day: December 12th}}
{{cite book|editor1-last=Jevnikar|editor1-first=Martin|title=Primorski Slovenski Biografski Leksikon|date=1986|publisher=Goriška Mohorjeva družba|location=Gorizia, Italy|pages=21–22|volume=12. Pirjevec- Rebula|language=sl|url=http://www.sistory.si/cdn/publikacije/1-1000/268/Primorski_slovenski_biografski_leksikon_12.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405220805/http://www.sistory.si/cdn/publikacije/1-1000/268/Primorski_slovenski_biografski_leksikon_12.pdf|archive-date=5 April 2018|chapter=Plesničar, Ljudmila}}
{{cite journal|last1=Plesničar|first1=Ljudmila|title=Svatbeni običaji v okolici Buzeta v prvi polovici XIX. stoletja|journal=Kronika|date=1957|volume=5|issue=2|pages=95–97|url=https://www.dlib.si/stream/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-F1EHI6A1/914c5b73-bdf8-4458-a14c-3cab666feee8/PDF|access-date=6 April 2018|trans-title=Wedding customs in the vicinity of Buzet in the first half of the 19th century|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406162336/https://www.dlib.si/stream/URN:NBN:SI:DOC-F1EHI6A1/914c5b73-bdf8-4458-a14c-3cab666feee8/PDF|archive-date=6 April 2018|location=Ljubljana, Slovenia|language=Slovenian}}
{{cite journal|last1=Sivec|first1=Irena|title=In memoriam Ljudmila Plesničar-Gec: (1931–2008)|journal=Arheološki vestnik|date=2009|issue=60|pages=337–344|url=http://av.zrc-sazu.si/pdf/60/AV_60_In_mem_Plesnicar.pdf|access-date=5 April 2018|publisher=Inštitut za arheologijo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405190845/http://av.zrc-sazu.si/pdf/60/AV_60_In_mem_Plesnicar.pdf|archive-date=5 April 2018|location=Ljubljana, Slovenia|language=Slovenian|issn=1581-1204}}
{{cite journal|last1=Županek|first1=Bernarda|last2=Bregar|first2=Tamara|title=Prenova Arheološkega parka Emona v letih 2011–2012: izkušnje in izzivi|journal=Studia universitatis hereditati|date=2015|volume=3|issue=1|pages=117–130|url=http://www.hippocampus.si/ISSN/2350-5443/1-2015/2350-5443.3(1)|access-date=6 April 2018|trans-title=Renovation of the Emona Archaeological Park in 2011–2012: Experience and challenges|publisher=University of Primorska|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406170516/http://www.hippocampus.si/ISSN/2350-5443/1-2015/2350-5443.3(1)|archive-date=6 April 2018|location=Koper, Slovenia|language=Slovenian|issn=2350-5443}}
{{cite book|last1=Županek|first1=Bernarda|editor1-last=Peršin|editor1-first=Blaž|title=Emona Mit In Resničnost: Emona Myth and Realitiy [sic]|date=2014|publisher=Mestni Muzej Ljubljana|location=Ljubljana, Slovenia|url=http://www.mgml.si/en/media/emona.mit.resnicnost_katalog.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406185601/http://www.mgml.si/en/media/emona.mit.resnicnost_katalog.pdf|archive-date=6 April 2018|language=Slovenian, English|chapter=Emona: rimsko mesto in njegova dediščina/Emona: A Roman city and its legacy|pages=9–26}}
{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Ministry of Culture|2010}}|author=|title=Archaeological Society of Slovenia|url=https://www.culture.si/en/Archaeological_Society_of_Slovenia|website=Culture.si|publisher=Ministry of Culture, Republic of Slovenia|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120122858/http://www.culture.si/en/Archaeological_Society_of_Slovenia|archive-date=20 November 2015|location=Ljubljana, Slovenia|date=9 December 2010}}
{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Museum and Galleries of the City of Ljubljana|2009}}|author=|title=Emonan House|url=http://www.mgml.si/en/city-museum-of-ljubljana-377/archaeological-park-emona/emonan-house/|publisher=Muzej in Galerije Mesta Ljubljane|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417235042/http://www.mgml.si/en/city-museum-of-ljubljana-377/archaeological-park-emona/emonan-house/|archive-date=17 April 2014|location=Ljubljana, Slovenia|date=2009}}
{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Museum and Galleries of the City of Ljubljana|2013}}|author=|title=Monografija v spomin dr. Ljudmila Plesničar Gec|url=http://www.mgml.si/medijsko-sredisce/sporocila-za-medije/monografija-v-spomin-dr-ljudmile-plesnicar-gec-8109/|website=mgml.si|publisher=Muzej in Galerije Mesta Ljubljane|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405202300/http://www.mgml.si/medijsko-sredisce/sporocila-za-medije/monografija-v-spomin-dr-ljudmile-plesnicar-gec-8109/|archive-date=5 April 2018|location=Ljubljana, Slovenia|language=Slovenian|date=18 January 2013|trans-title=Monograph in Memory of Dr. Ljudmila Plesničar Gec}}
{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Office of the President|2007}}|author=|title=Seznam vseh odlikovancev od leta 1992 do decembra 2007: Zlati častni znak svobode Republike Slovenije|url=http://www.up-rs.si:80/up-rs/uprs.nsf/dokumentiweb/53ACF6D8ACD7179FC12573CC004AF359?OpenDocument|website=Urad predsednika Republike Slovenije|publisher=Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118174625/http://www.up-rs.si/up-rs/uprs.nsf/dokumentiweb/53ACF6D8ACD7179FC12573CC004AF359?OpenDocument|archive-date=18 January 2008|location=Ljubljana, Slovenia|language=sl|date=2007|quote=Leto 1997: Dr. Ljudmila Plesničar, za odlične dosežke na podorčju varovanja kulturne dediščine, še posebej arheologije (Year 1997: Dr. Ljudmila Plesničar, for excellent achievements in the protection of cultural heritage, especially archaeology)|trans-title=List of all decorations from 1992 to December 2007: Golden Order of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia|url-status=dead}}