Arrabona - Múzeumi közlemények 45/1. (Győr, 2007)

Tanulmányok - Szőnyi Eszter: Győr-belvárosi ásatások

SZONYI ESZTER GYOR-BELVAROSI ÁSATÁSOK EXCAVATIONS IN THE DOWNTOWN OF GYŐR After briefly reviewing the archaeological excavations in the downtown of Győr during the last 100 years I would like to outline the results of the recent findings. The heritage preservation law which came into force in 1997 ordained archaeological works in case of each construction and earth moving over the depth of 30cm also in the area of the archaeologically protected downtown of Győr. Depending on the nature of the earth moving these works may include archaeological inspections, trial excavations or overall preventive excavations. The aims of this measure are the preservation of the archaeological heritage and in case of its destruction its comprehensive documentation. This paper reviews the excavations and observations carried out in the area bordered by the Rába, the Mosoni-Duna (up to the Széchenyi Bridge) and the railway line - i.e. in the downtown area of the wider sense of the term - in topographical order proceeding from the north to the south and from the west to the east. The 18 excavations include different archaeological periods. Generally speaking, multilayered settlement traces were found everywhere and in some cases graves were also uncovered. The first authentically documented Prehistoric finds of the downtown: a pit from the Late Bronze Age is considered a rarity. From the Roman Age a small section of the moat of the auxiliary camp (castellum) is a novelty. The layers of three and a half meters deep of the civilian settlement (vicus) could be best observed during the excavations in the Széchenyi Square. Several wooden structured buildings from the 1

st century and a street lined by stone buildings from the 2

nd and 3

rd centuries were found here. The great number of wells shows that there was no aqueduct in the settlement. The continuance of the settlement in the 4th century is supported by some objects and a lot of coins. Beside the Széchenyi Square remains of the vicus were also found in the Bástya Street and the Rákóczi Street. The farther settlement traces in the Szt. István Street probably cannot be considered as proofs of the continuously inhabited area. Roman graves were found in the eastern (at 34-36 Rákóczi Street) and southern (at 4 Szt. István Street) parts of the downtown. The Migration Period is represented by the recently unearthed graves of a Hun Age cemetery in the Széchenyi Square. The most significant finding of the earlier period of the Medieval Age was a dwelling house with a stone stove from the Árpádian Age in the Széchenyi Square, the existence of which preceded the development of the market place (1271). The layers under the house at 18 Rákóczi Street and some sporadic stoves or pits spared by the later constructions indicate the continuance of the inhabited settlement under the castle during the Árpádian Age. Finds from the Age of the Anjou Kings and King Sigmund were found in the Széchenyi Square. Sections of the Franciscan Church and Monastery from the 14

th century were uncovered at 36 Rákóczi Street. Further traces of buildings from the early Medieval Age and the 15-16

th centuries were discovered in the Bástya Street. A relic of the Turkish Age is a cellar ("Turkish prison") in the Széchenyi Square which had been built somewhat earlier and was used as a prison in the Turkish Age. Remains of the castle of Italian bastion type as well as sections of the moat were observed and excavated at several places on the northern and eastern sides while on the southern side some sections of the advance fortifications were observed. In conclusion it can be suggested that the archaeological understanding of the development of the downtown of Győr has been considerably enlarged during the last ten years. 147