A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve 2015., Új folyam 2. (Szeged, 2015)

A SOKOLDALÚ MÓRA... EMLÉKÜLÉS MÓRA FERENC TISZTELETÉRE - Somogyvári Ágnes: Móra Ferenc régészeti feltárása 1931-ben Szabadszálláson

Ágnes Somogyvári

Ferenc Mora's Archaeological Excavation in Szabadszállás in 1931

Ferenc Mora's Archaeological Excavation in Szabadszállás in 1931

Ágnes Somogyvári

At the end of August, 1930 Ferenc Móra was informed that in the vicinity of Szabadszállás ancient tombs had been found. It was Iván Trungel, parish priest of Szabadszállás, who informed Ferenc Móra about the presumed findings. Since he was appointed as parish priest of Szabadszállás in 1928, he did not have any preliminary knowledge about the previous excavations in 1906 and 1910. In both cases Elek Kada, then mayor of Kecskemét, led the excavation work.

In the period 9-11 September 1931, altogether 17 graves were excavated. Finds in better or worse states were collected in 13 graves out of the 17 excavated. Ferenc Móra documented the excavation in a way that he recorded his observations in a notebook and made a schematic drawing of each grave, also providing the exact finds excavated in each.

The excavated cemetery shows the burying

rites of the Middle Bronze Age Vatya-culture. On the drawings depicting the graves, the trio of the urn-bowl-small mug is clearly visible. The finds also show a unified picture, based on which we may claim that the finds originate from the first period of the Vatya-culture.

There are some photos which are supposed to have been taken in Szabadszállás. One depicts Ferenc Móra writing on a pot, another shows him holding a tape measure. According to Béla Kürti, both photos were taken between 9 and 11 September at this excavation. The pictures are dedicated to his nieces, Lencike and Margitka.

The excavation site at Ürgehalom was considered unidentified for a long time. Last year the GIS expert of the museum in Kecskemét made attempts to identify the site with the help of old cadastral maps. After checking the supposed site on field, we will know for sure where exactly Ferenc Móra directed the excavation in the vicinity of Szabadszállás.

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