Gyöngyössy Márton (szerk.): Perspectives on the Past. Major Excavations in County Pest (Szentendre, 2008)
(6100-4500 ВС) (4500-2700 ВС) (2700/2500-800 ВС) In Spring 1999, the Budapest Municipal Public Services Co. began the construction of a communal rubbish dump and its access road. Several Migration period sites were earlier identified along the banks of the nearby Zámori Stream, and it was therefore to be expected that the cemetery of the communities living in the area would also be found in the area. Altogether 1223 Avar graves were uncovered over a 21,384 m2 large area in 1999-2000, accounting for about 95 per cent of the cemetery’s entire territory. There were 351 child burials, many of which were disturbed and looted; the grave robbers generally went for the head and the chest, probably to acquire the jewellery articles. Most burials were north-west to south-east oriented. The deceased were laid to rest in an extended position on their back, although occasionally they were laid prone or in a crouched position. Some graves contained two or three burials. Many grave pits had a ledge along one side. Most of the deceased were interred in a wooden coffin. Iron or bronze belt buckles, iron knives, iron rings and tinder sets were recovered from both male and female burials. Men’s graves often contained weapons, such as an iron dagger, arrowheads, the bone stiffening plaques of a bow, an iron battle-axe or a horse bit. The pressed or cast mounts adorning their belt were decorated with geometric or floral designs, occasionally with an animal or human depiction. One of the large strap ends bears human portraits and lion figures, probably symbolising the high rank of its owner. Large strap ends with an animal combat scene depicting two griffins swooping down on a hoofed creature were recovered from four burials. Women were interred with various implements (spindle whorls and needle cases carved from bone) and various jewellery articles, such as bronze earrings, bracelets, finger-rings, clasps and beads, while child burials sometimes contained a bronze rattle or bell. 4. 2. 3. Many graves contained mammal and bird bones, as well as vessels, most of which were hand-thrown wares, and only a smaller portion was made on a slow or a fast wheel. The most common types were cups, pots and pear shaped, onehandled jugs. Some graves yielded Roman pottery and glass vessels, a few coins and a finger-ring set with a stone, which had probably been found on a nearby Roman site. The belt mounts and the jewellery indicate that the cemetery was used between the late 7th century and the late 8th century. The importance of the site lies in that few extensive wholly or nearly wholly excavated cemeteries are known from this period, and that up till now, only a few graves of the Avar period were known from the broader region (Kajászó, Martonvásár, Sóskút, Tárnok). The cemetery was used by an agrarian population since the burials did not reflect the presence of an armed warrior layer. No horse burials or men buried with their horse were found. • Éva Maróti 5. An Avar cemetery at Pusztazámor
