Madaras László – Tálas László – Szabó László szerk.: Tisicum - A Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok Megyei Múzeumok Évkönyve 9. (1996)

László Madaras: The Question of the Early Avar Niche Grave Population's Continuity in the 8th Century (A korai avar fülkesíros népesség továbbélésének kérdése a VIII. században)

length of it can not be measured. The distance between the top of the skull and the knees is approximately 100—105cm. Discoloration of the ground indicates coffin burial but it was impossible to reconstruct the shape and the size of the coffin. Most of the grave-goods were outside the coffin. Grave-goods found inside the coffin: Decorated, óval, bronzé buckle, loop and belt-plate cast in one piece, the sides of the buckle are incised, the plate is heart-shaped showing a humán head (1), on the right pelvic brim. Bronzé ring with open terminals (3) on the chest. Undecorated silver sheet fastened to a rectangular bronzé plate (+), by the left feet. Grave-goods found outside the coffin: A pair of irón stirrups with circular bow and with broad, ripped foot-rest and quadrangular loops, on the right side of the skull, and towards the right trochoid joint. Brídle-bit made from irón wire of circular section (10) towards the right trochoid joint. Strap-ends of plate bronzé, ending in a point, decorated with bordered interlace pattern and belonging to the harness (6) on the right side of the pit towards the pelvis and the femora. Six shield-shaped, pressed, bronzé harness-mounts with boardered stylized tendril decoration, and with an extra decoration in the form of a stone inlay in its middle (7) at the same place as the strap-ends. Twenty hemispherical, pressed harness-mounts made of bronzé plate (4) where the other harnessmounts were found. Omega-shaped loops made from bronzé bands, used for the fastening of the harness-mounts. (5) Hand-made, óval, brownishblack pottery vessél with everted rim, h: 17,7 cm rd: 9cm bd: 8cm. Buckle made from irón wire of circular section, together with the harness-mounts. Grave 26/165 The grave pit became distinct at a depth of 70cm. Niche Grave. Data and orientation of the grave pit are not mentioned in the excavation record. Ill-preserved skeleton in an extended, supine position. The length of it can not be measured. Male. Grave-goods

: Bronzé rings of circular section, with slightly open terminals (3), on the left side of the skull. Large strap-end consisting of two bronzé plates, between the front and the back plate a wood stiffening, the two plates were soldered to a bronzé bánd (2), on the inner side of the left forearm. Small strap-ends with rounded ends, consisting of two bronzé plates, cemented together 8 Selmeczi—Madaras 1979—80. pp. 141—143. 9 Garam 1987. pp. 65—125.; Trugly 1994. p. 18. with tin and attached to the beit with rivets, under the large strap-end, by the-left elbow and on the sacrum. Trapezoidal irón buckle with incurved sides, tongue and belt-plate (8), on the left side of the pelvis. Brídle-bit (12) on the right side of the grave somewhere at the trochoid joint. A pair of stirrups with circular bow and board, ripped footrest, a bulge on the upper part of either stirrup (13), on the right side of the grave somewhere near the elbow. Five small strap-ends made of bronzé plate, ending in point, decorated with incised interlace pattern (5), on the right side of the grave near the stirrups. Twenty hemispherical pressed harness-mounts (6) near the stirrups. Omega-shaped loops made from bronzé plates, used for the fastening of the harness-mounts (7). Óval, irón buckle with a tongue (11) on the ride side of the pelvis. Two trapezoid irón buckles with incurved sides and tongue (9), (10), by the right foot. Hand-made, óval pottery vessél with everted rim and narrow neck, fired pale brick-red, the handlé is attached to the rim and the shoulder (14), on the left side of the grave pit towards the elbow, 20cm high above the bottom of the pit. The following objects are not mentioned in the records of the grave but they have been enclosed in the inventory: A pair of hairplait-ornaments made from bronzé wire of angular section, with an óval hole in both terminals. Horse skull and long bones of a horse.above the grave at the depth of 40—50cm. They may belong to this grave although it cannot be proved, as they were found in the humus.

8 The cemetery has not been explored completely. Three of the niche-graves were found in the eastern and one in the western part of the cemetery. According to the description of the cemetery a man and a horse were buried in graves 19 and 26. A pair of horseshoes found in grave 3 suggests that a man with a horse was buried in this grave too. Grave 7 was a female grave, therefore the absence of the horse burial is obvious, in spite of the fact that there are somé records referring to female graves with horses.

9 Ali four were coffin burials. After making a detailed analysis of the finds and taking intő consideration all the grave-goods found in the cemetery, we arrived at the conclusion that the first graves of the cemetery had been dug around 670—680 and the cemetery had probably been used until the end of the 8th century or the 139