The area of today's Slovenia was inhabited already in the Palaeolithic Age. From the large and attractive karst cave in Loza near Orehek well preserved stone tools were found from this period. Not far from there, the oldest flute in the world (about 45,000-60,000 years old) was found in the cave "Divje babe".
A large number of amber grave goods found prove that this prosperous region had many trade contacts with other regions already during the Early Bronze Age (see map below).
New research has shown that the area of Novo Mesto (south-eastern Slovenia) was characterized by intensive settlement during several millennia. In the 1st millennium BC Novo Mesto was even the seat of the Hallstatt princes. Grave goods made of gold, bronze, glass and amber were found in the generously stocked women's graves. More than 120 tombs contained astonishing amounts of amber jewellery. Thousands of amber beads from the early to late Iron Age were found in some of them. All chemical analyses so far confirm that the amber is from the Baltic or North Sea.
The great wealth from this area and at that time can be attributed to various factors; the fertile soil, the abundance of water, the convenient location, as well as the rich iron and brown iron ore deposits. The basis of the economy included iron smelting, agriculture, as well as glass melting and the creation of brightly coloured glass beads.
Since red coloured glass beads were not produced in this region, amber beads were used instead.
Necklace made of amber beads and a white glass bead
Novo Mesto, Kapiteljska njiva, Mound A Grave 2/99. 7-6th century B.C. (Amber and glass jewellery from Novo Mesto Slovenia, page 75.)
Literature:
Bernstein- und Glasschmuck aus Novo Mesto Slowenien, Sonderausstellung vom 8.5.-2.11.2003 Keltenmuseum Hochdorf / Enz, Schriftenreihe des Keltenmuseums Hochdorf/Enz
https://duhoc.cn/wiki/de/Divje_babe
https://ome-lexikon.uni-oldenburg.de/laender/slowenien
Christa Stahl Mitteleuropäische Bernsteinfunde von der Frühbronze-bis zur Frühlatènezeit, Verlag J.H. Röll, 2006, Seiten 113 – 122
https://www.visitdolenjska.eu/de/markenzeichen.html