Bronze Bucket from Mušja jama Cave

Seven fragments of a bronze bucket from Mušja jama cave near Divača represent the only archaeological artefacts from this important site, which are kept in Slovenia. The rest of the exceptionally abundant material, which defines the cave as a cult depot from the Late Bronze Age, is kept in museums in Vienna and Trieste. The fragments of the bronze bucket, which had been intentionally destroyed prior to being placed in the cave, just as the remaining, over one hundred objects discovered, comprise a part of a bucket, typical of 13th century B.C. The bronze buckets and situlae, common in the territory of Slovenia in the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age, could either be used or were made merely as votive offerings or grave goods. The bucket from Mušja jama cave is made of thicker sheet metal, based on which it can be presumed that it had been used and was later destroyed and given as a votive offering.