Folia archeologica 36.
Lovag Zsuzsa: Egy XI. századi bronz korpusz
218 FODOR ISTVÁN be found in the mountainous areas of the Northern Highlands where otherwise Bison lived during the Middle Ages and in certain periods of Modern Times. In Rumania the distribution of 23 topographical names which refer to "Tur (= Aurochs)" is as follows: 14 are in Transsylvania, 5 lie along passes in the Carpathians, 2 are in Moldavia and 2 in Dobrogea. 8 9 The 70 topographical names formed from "Bour ( = Aurochs)" and its derivatives are found dominantly in the lowland region of Moldavia and in the Eastern side of the EasternCarpathians. The interpretation of topographical names connected with "Zimbru (= Bison)" is more difficult because the word for 'zimbru' is identical to the Rumanian word for cembra pine (Pinus cembra) = zimbru On the basis of topographical names B. A. Szalay thought that in Hungary there were 3 times more Aurochs than Bison during the 8—11th centuries. Bone remains, however, do not corroborate his proposal. In his zoological, zoo-philological work, B. A. Szalay examined the origin and interpretation of the Latin and vernacular names of Aurochs and Bison and also the semantic changes. 9 1 According to the most recent linquistic and zoological data, these interpretations are uncertain. The major part of them are based upon false etymologies. The correctness and the usefulness of topographical names of zoogeographical viewpoint can be appreciated only after revaulation in light of new linguistic and zoological research. Yet, quite naturally, certain difficulties would still remain; e. g. animal names underwent considerable changes as regards both their meaning and in the semantic sphere during the development of Medieval and later Latin. In addition, the same name may have different mean ings in the earlier histories of national languages than today. Moreover, in the same period, and in the same territory the same animal might have had other quite dissimiliar names. 5. Extinction of Aurochs The process of the extinction of Aurochs can be fairly well examined on the basis of bone remains. S. Bökönyi distinguishes three phases: 9 2 Phase 1 — Late Neolithic — Early Copper Age 3500—3000 B. C. An unconcidered mass hunting for Aurochs. Phase 2 — The end of the Migration Period, 6—10th centuries. A. D. Aurochs becomes rare. Phase 3 — Early Medieval Period, Medieval Period, when the complete extinction of Aurochs took place at different times in different areas. Bone remains are really quite useful in establishing the date(s) of the extinction of the Aurochs. On the basis of these remains the latest periods when Aurochs were still extant, were the 8 9 Filipasm, A., Salbaticiuni din vrcmea stramosilor nostri. (Bucuresti 1969) 55—62. Map. 54. 9 0 Ibid. 86. 9 1 S^alay, B. A., op. cit. 1915, 1916, 1917, 1938. 9 2 Bökönyi, S., op. cit. (1963) 362—.; Id., op. cit. (1974) 104—105.
