Dobrossy István szerk.: A miskolci Avas (Miskolc, 1993)

A miskolci Avas (összegezés angolul) (Dobrossy István)

connection with the Avas. Of course there are numerous subjects which were overlooked by the researchers. This volume undertakes the task of discribing and summarizing all we know about the Avas starting from the earliest information we have until the current times. Our intention was to prepare a monography which is scientifically well-established concerning its data and substance of knowledge, but at the same time readable, clear and easy to understand. The aim of the authors was to compile a volume suitable for the younger generation to learn from, for the pedagogues to teach from and which is edificatory for the generation of middle aged and awakes the memories of the older generation. Our volume „The Avas of Miskolc" may be an important link between the monography on Miskolc editied by Béla HalmayAndor Leszih, published in 1929 and the new town-historical monography being under preparation. There has not been published such a volume on Miskolc for more than sixty years that puts the question of society, economy, politics, science and culture under investigation within one book. This was the reason why the authors decided to collect and issue a comprehensive substance of knowledge on a well confinable area which will arouse the readers' interest in the Avas, the symbol of the town. The writers of the book - in accordance with their special field of researc - attempted to answer the following question: what did the Avas, this special geographical-oecological potentiality mean for the people settled down here „utilizing" the ridge over the different historical periods. The studies convinced us that our ancestors had striven at all times for making us of the peculiar formation as widely as possible. The Avas gave place for workshops manufacturing tools, for cellars, cave-dwellings and cottages. Until the spread of phylloxera the viticulture was one of the most important source of living. The geographical names on the hill have been keeping the remembrance of fruit cultures of Avas so far. Starting from the end of the 19th century, the Avas was used as an important place for relaxation, entertainment and recreation for townspeople. The end of the 20th century led in irreversible natural and environmental intervention although it also served the daily interests an prosperity of people living there. The geologists, the researchers of the paleolithic and neolithic ages discovered here the most significant complex of findspot, which is the obvious consequence of the advantageous settlement-geographical circumstances. The botanists and the zoologists agree with the opinion of these researchers, i.e. we can speak about the former rich flora and fauna only in the past tense. The most serious destruction happened over the past twothere decades, exceeding many times the harmful effects of human intervention two centuries before. At the same time the destruction resulted in the decrease of the former extension of the Avas The first map, prepared in 1759 by Haasel, indicates only lands under crop and cellars in the area. As the map shows the hill was in direct connection with the low spurs of Bükk-mountain, ensuring continuous possibility for the reproduction and „refreshment" of the flora and fauna. The man of modern times did the same as the man of prehistoric age had probably done in order to make use of the favourable characteristics of the rocks inside the hill and the good climatic conditions: he carved cave-dwellings and cellars into the tuffs over the centuries. The cellars between the Tűzköves and Danyi valleys are situated in four raws. During the past fifty years an extremely significant change in the appearance could be observed - unfortunately to the detriment of the cellars, in the most part. The most archaical and