Gyöngyössy Márton (szerk.): Perspectives on the Past. Major Excavations in County Pest (Szentendre, 2008)

An Eraviscan

settlement at Páty

(lst-4th centuries AD) (400-454AD) (454-568AD) (568-8H/829 AD)

(1301-1526/1686)

(8th/7th century BC- late 1 st century AD)

The excavations by Páty, in an area called Malom-dűlő in 1997- 1999, have shown that the Roman settlement overlay a substantial earlier settlement of the late Celtic period. Even though the earliest coin finds date from the 2nd/1st centuries BC, the settlement’s actual occupation probably began later, around 31 AD, as shown by finds of a Celtic quinar and the coins of Augustus. Deep storage pits, an oven and two round sunken houses can be dated to this occupation period (about 40 features). One outstanding find is a large vessel decorated with painted bands, which had probably been manufactured at the Celtic oppidum on Mt. Gellért. The republican 1 and early imperial Roman coins, an Italian brooch and various amber beads suggest the presence of a wealthy elite maintaining contact with the Roman world.

A typical grave of the Celtic period was also uncovered. The grave goods from the male burial included a sword folded in two, a shield and two metal hoop tyres, the latter the remains of a partial wagon burial, as well as several vessels containing food for the journey ^ to the netherworld. •

• Katalin Ottományi

1. Sword sheath

2. Storage pit from the 1st century

3. Vessel with painted design

4. Celtic sword

5. Biconical vessels with smoothed-in decoration from the settlement and from a grave 6

6. Shield grip and stiffening bands