Gyöngyössy Márton (szerk.): Perspectives on the Past. Major Excavations in County Pest (Szentendre, 2008)
(6100-4500 ВС) (4500-2700 ВС) (2700/2500-800 ВС) ©ransdanubia was occupied by groups of the eastern variant of the Hallstatt culture during the earlier Iron Age, while the eastern half of County Pest by a Pre-Scythian and, later, a Scythian culture. The region’s cultural traditions were eventually blended by the Celts, arriving at the turn of the 5th14th centuries BC. From the mid-7th century BC, the Great Hungarian Plain and the northern mountainous regions were part of a steppean, Scythian cultural complex of Iranian origins. For the first time, we also know the name of the population settling here: Herodotus records that this region was occupied by the Sigynnae tribe. Pastoralism again became the main source of livelihood, with horse-breeding too playing an important role in the period’s economy. Most of the finds from this period originate from burials, such as the graves uncovered at Nyáregyháza and Abony. The salvage excavations preceding motorway constructions have brought to light the remains of settlements, such as the ones at Ecser, Gy ál, Maglód and Vecsés. The Scythians can be credited with introducing the potter’s wheel in the Great Hungarian Plain. Their metalwork is characterised by art in the animal style, exemplified by the stag shaped shield ornament from Tápiószentmárton, the bronze rattles topped with deer figures from Nagytarcsa, the tquiver ornaments from Budajenő and Cegléd, and the sword with bird beaded hilt from Репс. In the early 8th century BC, the Urnfield culture in Transdanubia adopted but a few elements of the Hallstatt civilisation. At first, only ornaments were crafted from iron, while weapons, harness and wagon elements made from the new metal only began to be used at a later date. Most settlements were fortified hillforts lying along major trade routes. The growing power of the elite is reflected by the many meters high burial mounds erected over elaborately constructed burial chambers. The most magnificent burial 3. tumuli have been uncovered at Érd and Százhalombatta in the southerly regions of County Pest. Plainland settlements from this period have been investigated at Érd and Budaörs. Katalin Ottományi 1. Early Iron Age clay stamp with a swastika motif from Budaörs 2. Urn of the Hallstatt culture from Érd 3. Wheel-turned vessel from the cemetery at Nyáregyháza 4. Grave goods of a Scythian burial at Nyáregyháza , иы ** , « ’* J* • a * ; VJ 4. The Early Iron Age (8/7th-late 5th century BC)
