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

(1st-4th centuries AD)

The 225 burials of the late Roman cemetery span the entire 4th century. Most late Roman burials were oriented west to east, in exactly the opposite direction as the early inhumation burials. The graves reflected the deceased’s wealth and social status, ranging from simple inhumation to more elaborate brick graves and chests of stone slabs for the wealthy.

The deceased were interred in full costume, wearing jewellery, and the buckles and brooches fastening their clothing. The most typical articles were the early Roman wing brooches and the late Roman onion headed brooches, the latter worn solely by men. Coins were placed in the mouth or in the hand or, more rarely, in a pouch suspended from the belt. Food and drink were given in jugs and glass beakers set by the head or the feet. Late Roman green glazed jugs, grey jugs with clover shaped spouts and small cups were the most common funerary vessels. An iron knife, a spindle whorl or a whetstone was sometimes also placed in the grave.

• Katalin Ottományi 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1. Belt mount with a depiction of Bellerophon

2. Belt buckle and propeller mount from a male burial

3. Onion headed brooch

4. Burial of a couple

5. Female jewellery (earrings with green glass paste pendant and necklace strung of amphora beads)

6. Glass flask

7. Three-handled glazed bowl with stab-and-drag decoration

8. Pair of brooches and a necklace

9. Looted sarcophagus

■At.Ain nr'm'v

«сттмяяп 'нтШ ■

9.