Alba Regia. Annales Musei Stephani Regis. – Alba Regia. Az István Király Múzeum Évkönyve. 23. 1984-1985 – Szent István Király Múzeum közleményei: C sorozat (1987)

Tanulmányok – Abhandlungen - Biró Mária, T.: Gorsium bone carvings. p. 25–63.

Type II. Different variants of the double circles and of the small single circles engraved between parallel lines on wide bracelets (Graves 91, 182, 183, 205, 214, 232, 342 and 411). The different placing of small circles lends variety to the motives. At least four variants can be distinguished: 1. The small circles range along the edge of the bracelet (Graves 91 and 411, Figs. 353 and 354). 2. The circles on the bracelet are in the diagonally engraved parallel lines (Graves 205, 214; Figs. 351, 352, 349, 350). 3. The small circles are placed around a large circle (Grave 182; Figs. 345, 346, two pieces). 4. Around the edges of the bracelet there is a broad frame made up of 4—5 lines, the circles being ranged in the centre of the bracelet, in a straight line (Graves 183, 214, 342; Figs. 347,348). The bracelets of type II are hardly worn, the motives are in each case clearly discernible. They appear together with almost each variant of Gorsium, expecting that there is no common presence with type I. Type III. Entwined circles of identical measurement (Graves 317, 411, 182; Figs. 355, 356, 357). Like type I, they are extremely worn. On the bracelet from grave 317, the circles are not even seen any more, only the range of centres which were carved deeper, remained (Fig. 357). I assume that they were made at the same time as type I. This motive where the centre of successive circles lies at some point of the preceding circle is popular at framing combs as well. Especially so for the triangle shaped and hump-backed ornamental combs. At Gorsium it is only known to be used on bracelets, it does not occur on combs either at the settlement or in the cemetery. This fact also points to the nonlocal origin of the motive and the bracelets. Type IV. There are small sized single circles all round the bracelet in a straight line in an unbroken row or in groups of three or four or in picotedge form. Usually a sharply lined border characterizes them (Graves 51, 57, 91, 161, 162, 182, 210, 214, 232, 280, 313, 342; Figs. 359, 360, 361, 262, 363, 364, 368,367,369,370). Type V. Single circles of medium size decorate the bracelet in an unbroken row (Graves 51, 245, 133, 120, Figs. 372, 373, 374,365). Type VI. It is made up of variants of double circles groupped in different numbers. That is the most recurrent ornament (Graves 37, 42, 43, 51, 52, 133, 153, 183, 207, 210, 232, 309, 313, 317, 321, 341 and 344; Figs. 375—402). In the graves where there were the most numerous and most beautiful bracelets this motive is not present. It is not to be found in graves 91, 214, 411 and as I mentioned before it does not occur together with type I either. The points of assembly, the expected place for bronze or iron rivets, were marked by an engraved X (Graves 52, 56, 341; Figs. 342, 385, 400). The place for the centres of the circles was also often marked beforehand (Grave 232, Fig. 364). Even so, the centres of the circles had frequently slipped, the motive is uneven, wavy there are also two centres to be seen in some double circles (Graves 214, 133; Fig. 387) which counts as a serious mistake). If the motive takes a diagonal course on the mantle for instance in picot-edged shape, the expected place for the circles will be marked as well but the framework is not properly observed in most cases. The lines of the frame itself and the circles are often intersecting (Figs. 349, 351, 352). I have marked out two groups of bracelets. One includes the bracelets of type 1, 3 and 4, the other those of type 2,5 and 6. Projected on the map of the cemetery I could not discern any regularity in their prevalence. Though, assuming only a difference of one or two decades, there is no need to try to find grater change in their spread. According to the bone carvings I have the following conception in connection with the cemetery. The use of the cemetery is contemporaneous with the rebuilding at the time of the tetrarchia; a relatively great numper of inhabitants are buried here for a short time, at the most three generations. The close connection of finds in the cemetery and the settlement and the scarcity of bone combs, precisely the humpbacked combs from both areas are notable; considering the large area of the cemetery only a small fraction of hump-backed combs was found. At late Roman cemeteries László Barkóczi noticed that, while in earlier cemetery types bone bracelets and hairpins are still frequent, they disappeat in the other type but bone combs put in the grave will become frequent (1978, 199). Based on bone carvings, — if it is permissible to draw such conclusions from a single type of find, — the cemetery at Margittelep was the burial place of the first settlers of the late Roman town and it is conceivable that a later one existed either in the next area of independently. Sporadic finds (Fig. 411—437) Summary I was able to distinguish between two periods of bone carvings at Gorsium. The first one lasts from the Flauii to the years around 260. The second period could last from the consolidation in the fourth century to about 380. Between the two periods there is a considerable interuption, there must have been great changes which are mirrorred in their objects as well. While there are no great differences noticeable during the first two centuries, that is, similar habits in attire characterized their everyday life; towards the end of the 300s fashion and chiefly financial opportunity were different. Period I Most of the bone objects were articles of fashion, part or complement of clothing or hairdress. Dress pins are 54