Arrabona - Múzeumi közlemények 8. (Győr, 1966)

Pusztai R.: The grave of a Germanic prince at Lébény

Wir sind der Ansicht, daß wir in Léfoény das Grab eines germanischen Stammesfürsten aufgefunden haben, der mit seinem Volk in den letzten Jahrzehnten des 4. Jahrhunderts, vermutlich vor den vordringenden Hunnen geflüchtet war, und sich im nördlichen Teil Pannoniens niedergelassen hatte, und wahrscheinlich an diesem Abschnitt des Donaulimes — als Verbündeter Roms — militärische Dienste leistete. Unseres Erachtens gehört der Lébényer Fund dem gleichen Kreis an, dem auch die Funde der Fürstengräber von Csorna, Fertőmedgyes, Laa a. d. Thaya und Untersiebenbrunn angehören, die gleichzeitig a,uch das Siedlungsgebiet des germanischen Stammes umgrenzen. R. Pusztai THE GRAVE OF A GERMANIC PRINCE AT LÉBÉNY The grave has been found by people digging a sand-pit, at the highest spot of the hill called Magasmart, situated south of the village (Fig. 1). As I arrived at the site, a large part of the grave and also the grave-goods have been disturbed already. The excavation has brought the skeleton of a man of high stature, about forty years old, laid on his back with his head to North-Wtest, orientated NW — SE, to light (Fig, 2). The skeleton lay at a relatively small depth of 110 cm in pure sand. We defined the height of the individual in 181 to 183 cm. The description of the grave-furniture is the following: 1. Glass (Fig. 6 nos 1 a-b-c). It lay at the right side of the cranium. 2. Comb (Fig. 7). It was found in its sheath below the cranium. 3. A round plate with four holes, carved out of a thin copper lamella, was found between the skull and the left collar-bone (Fig. 6 no. 2). 4. Pommel made of succin, with a silver loop. It lay in disturbed sand beside the cervical vertebrae of the skeleton (Fig, 6 no. 7). 5. Golden clasp, found near the pelvis (Fig. 3 nos 1 a-b). It was a (belt fastener probably. 6. Golden clasp (Fig. 3 nos 3 a-b). It was found at the marked spot, in the unearthed sand, not in its original situation. 7. Golden clasp without a drift (Fig. 3 no 4). It lay in the sand of the disturbed part of the grave, on the place marked in the sketch. 8. Sword (Fig 4. no. 2). It lay on the right side of the skeleton. The people who have disturbed the graive have broken it into pieces. Excavating the grave, wo have found the end of the scabbard and a piece of the point of the sword in the original situation yet. It may have been 95 cm long originally. 9. The end of the scabbard (Fig. 4 no 1). It is made of silver plate, the bottom of a copper lamella. It was fastened to the wooden sheath of the sword together with the thin silver bands by silver nails (See the reconstruction of the scabbard: Fig. 5). 10. Golden clasp (Fig. 3 nos !2 a-b). Found in its original situation below the heel bone of the right foot. It was a loaf-shaped buckle probably. It is striking that no such object was found near the other leg. Searching through the sand, gained from the disturbed part of the grave, we have found the following objects. 11. Golden ornament of attire in W-shape (Fig, 3 no. 5). 12. A silver loop for a strap (Fig. 6 no. 3). In all probability it belonged to the strapping of the sword. 13. Lozenge-headed rivets, two pieces (Fig, 6 nos 5 and 6). 14. One-handled pitcher (Fig. 8). Light grey, (made on a wheel. Its shoulder is covered by an ornament of indented palmettes and flattened trellis. It is 34 cm high. This was the first object found in the course of unearthing the grave, its original situation may have been westwards of the cranium. In order to define the age of the grave of an undoubtedly rich furniture, it is necessary to compare it to other finds Of a similar type. Identical types of the glass are known from the la.te Roman cemeteries of Pannónia, dated from the middle of the fourth century to the beginning of the fifth. The parallels of the comb in a sheath may be recognized in the combs found in the camp of Dinogetia near the town of Galati (Roumania) and in the Roman-barbarian cemetery of Furfooz (Belgium), dated to the fourth century. According to the 8* 115