Pásztor Emília (szerk.): Sámánizmus és természethit régen és ma - Bajai dolgozatok 23. (Baja, 2019)
Cs. Andrási Réka: A Madaras-Árvai-dűlői honfoglalás kori temető az új kutatások tükrében
The cemetery of Madaras-Arvai dűlő revisited in the light of modern research pear-shaped type was found in the graves. In the male burials (grave 2) there was a whole and a fragment of stirrup, a bent foot-plate. One of the female burials contained a pair (grave 4) while the other one (grave 6) contained just one single pear-shaped stirrup. Stirrups of these types were of the most regular shape at that time, they are characteristic of graveyards from the Conquest period. The ear of stirrups had shapes reminiscent of a quadrant, a rectangle and trapeze - which is typical for the pear-shaped stirrups - that connects to the side pieces with a separate "neck". Their side pieces were flat, while the thread rounded. These stirrups were present from the beginning of the 10th century all the way to the middle of the 11th century, thus the date of the burial cannot be determined closer than this form the presence of these object types (Révész 1996, 55). Bits were extremely important for the horseman of the Conquest period as well. This was how they were able to steer their horses thus these objects are present in poor and rich graves as well (Révész 1996, 41.). In the cemetery we discuss here these objects were found in grave 2, 4 and 6, thus in the same graves that contained bits. Grave 2 contained bridle bit of a foul, but this object was just partial (Dienes 1966, 209). The ring of a bit is minimal - 4.7 cm and 5.5 cm - thus it cannot be found out weather these were of a symmetrical or an asymmetrical type. Bridle bit of a foul were in use from the beginning of the 10th century to the end of the 11th century (Révész 2008, 306). Grave 4 did not contain this generic type, instead it had a bit with cheek-pieces which is more rare than the previous ones. This type was used in female burials or in case of the burial of a prestigious male (Dienes 1966, 210). In this case the bit with cheek-pieces was found in a female grave. This type of harness was used in a more narrow time period, it is characteristic of the 10th century graves (Révész 2008, 307). The bit found in grave 6 is a special one, as they placed one half of a bridle bit of a foul and one half of a bit with cheek-pieces with the deceased woman. This was brought to the attention of the researchers by Kőhegyi. He proposed two logical answers: one being that this placement was symbolical and the other one that the cause of this was purely economy, as two bits were already broken during their life (Kőhegyi 1980,234). In my opinion these two are not mutually exclusive, it is possible that both approaches are correct solution to the observation. Girth buckle were found in the female graves, which were mentioned before when we discussed stirrups and bits. Grave 4 and 6 contained girth buckles made of iron and of a rectangular shape, these objects cannot be used to estimate the time of the burial.
