Horváth Attila – H. Tóth Elvira szerk.: Cumania 4. Archeologia (Bács-Kiskun Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei, Kecskemét, 1976)

H. Tóth E.: Az Izsák-balázspusztai honfoglaláskori lovassír

Fig. 27. The reconstruction of the Izsák-Balázspuszta saddle on the pattern of the Soltszentimre saddle 27. kép. Az izsák-balázspusztai nyereg helyreállítása a Soltszentimrei nyereg mintájára coverings, thus we must think of them leaving room for the attachement of the seat leather in the middle of the pommel. This would explain the narrowing of the bone plate of the rear pommel also. The Izsák—Balázspuszta find thus represents an entirely new type of saddle of the Conquest Period. Although no precise definition is possible, its main characteristics can be summarized. The front pommel is extremely wide with decoration in the middle which must have been in an almost vertical position, or could have slanted back a little. The width of the pommel can be estimated to a minimum of 32 cm, and a maximum of 36 cm (Plate 28). The difference is due to some movement, after placement in the grave. The frontal reconstruction of the front pommel was attempted at 32 cm thus the height was more than 20 cm. The wide pommel must have rested on broadened sweat-flaps. The width of the rear pommel is 36 cm, it is low, and must have attached to the saddle-tree in an acute angle. Its curved edge was bordered by double bone rimming, which gave room on the inside to the fitting of the seat-leather. The small inner curve of the pommel indicateds close saddle-trees. The characteristics of this saddle type may be surprising at first look, but its constructional elements are to be found abundant on the known find material. The occurrance of the widening sweat-flapped saddle in Hungary was shown by the investigation of the Gádoros and the Kiskunfélegyháza saddle of Csanád Bálint.

30 His conclusive paper

31 on the steppe saddle finds, summerizing the earlier short reports we get a much more complex picture. The typologi30 Cs. BÁLINT: A gádorosi honfoglaláskori nyereg. (The Conquest Period saddle of Gádoros.) Arch. Ért. 1974. 38. 31 Cs. BÁLINT: Les Selles Hongroises du X

e siècle et leur raport orinteaux. (manuscript) I would like to thank here for the advice and the use of the manuscript here. 167