Somogyi Múzeumok Közleményei 7. (1985)

Bárdos Edith: IX. Századi temető Kaposvár határában

IX. SZÁZADI TEMETŐ KAPOSVÁR HATÁRÁBAN 43 EDITH BÁRDOS: CEMETERY OF THE 9TH The author gives a detailed description of the graves and archealogical material of a 9th century cemetery explored near Kaposvár in 1979-1980. She compares the finds with on the one hand, similar Transdanubian cemeteries and, on the other hand, grave-goods from 9th century cemeteries excavated in the Carpatian basin and the neighbouring territories (Chechslovakia, Austria and Yugoslavia). Eighty-seven graves were explored during the excavation. Some remains of a nearby Medievail settlement (remains of ovens and spoil pits) have also been unearthed from among the graves. In the 9th century, there was a cemetery on the eastern side of the hill, hardly fifty meters away from the younger, Medieval cemetery which surrounds the church. The graves were placed in regular rows with children's graves near the limits of the cemetery. The graves were oriented N-E, showing only a few degress of difference. Working from the grave-goods (millefiori beads, bronze plate finger rings with rhombical bezels, hairrings with looped terminals, etc.), one can be date the cemetery to the 9th century. The importance of this cemetery is determined by two facts; firstly, it is the first 9th century cemetery excavated in Somogy county; and, secondly, the site is in an area where two cemeteries have already been explored from the Late Avar Period, that is the late 8th and early 9th centuryes. One of them is the Avar cemetery at Fészerlakpuszta and the either is the Avar cemetery excavated at the site „Kaposvár, signal box No. 40.". We would mention here that the existence of another Avar cemetery is known about halfway between tha Avar cemetery excavated at the site „Kaposvár, signal box No. 40.". (SM

К 3.) and the 9th century cemetery in question. Unearthing the graves, few traces of coffins were found. This has largely been caused by the quality of the soil, but it also seems probable that most of the buriails were uncoffined, Remains of a coffin were found in two graves and it was possible to establish their meaurements (No. 29. and 50.); no iron fittings have been found, so the boards of the coffins must have been joyned by tenon and mortise. 44% of the graves contained archeoilogical finds but the graves were rather poorly furnished. The grave-goods coming from the female graves are finger-rings (graves 10., 22. and 23.), hair-rings (grave 4) earrings (graves 4, 10, 16, 48, 20, 21, and 59) and spindle-whorls (graves 20, 22, 51 and 83). A feww of the jewel-types appear at the end of the Late Aver Period as well, but they are mostly characteristic of cemeteries in use from the middle of the 9th century, A nice earring has been found in female grave No. 10. made of bronze and decorated with realed, bronze wire. Its nearest parallels are found in Slav territories. CENTURY IN THE VICINITY OF KAPOSVÁR Only three graves contained strigs of beads (grave 8, 48 and 59). There is no evidence of the characteristic type of melonseed-shaped glass beads from the Later Avar Period. The string of beads from grave 48. is a beautiful example of bead fashions in the 9th century: segmented (bi- and tripartite) glass beads and millefiori beads in yellow, red, blue and green. These two characteristic types of beads have been found in graves of 9th century cemeteries in Transdanubia; Zalavár sites „Vár", „Récéskút", „Rezes", „Kövecses"; (the latest two sites are unpublished, excavation in 1976-77 and 1981-82 by Agnes Cs. Sós, my thanks go to her informations), KeszthelyFenékpuszta, Letenye, Sopronkőhida. Other pieces of jewellery from female graves are plate finger rings with rhombical bezels decorated with embossed design richly decorated specimens have came to light in our cemetery (Fig. 7.). Such finds in 9th century sites is Transdanubia can be compared to those sites where millefiori beads, have been found, while some variants make, only very occasional appearances in Late Avar Period cemeteries (e. g. Keszthely). Glass buttons with bronze loops, which can also be classified, as pieces of jewellery, were recovered in two female graves (10. and. 56.). The egg in also found in female and children's graves (grave 35) and Roman coins and fragments of Roman glass, both objects belonging to the purse, have been found in the same grave. Romain coins often appear in Avar cemeteries^they were worn around the htroat, perorated and stringed, although it was also found in the purse. 5 In grave 44 of the Avar cemetery at Zamárdi, one ŭf the coins was stringed among beads and another has been placed in the mouth as a funeral obulus. Fragments of Roman glass vessels often appear as grave-goods in cemeteries, either stringed rim-or in a purse. They may have been used as charms. There were spindle-whorls in four graves (20, 51 and 83)they had been made on the potter's wheel. They are bi conical and, with the exception of the one in grave No. 20., they are undecorated. The spindle-whorl from grave No. 83 is in shape an oblate spheroid. Another characteristic find, a needlecase of turned bone was yielded only by one grave (No. 68.), ornamentation can be compared with the best pieces from Late Avar Period cemeteries. (Fig. 8.) The grave-goods of male, graves do not contain outstanding, „noble" pieces (for example spurs). Large, wide-bladed iron knives are typical finds. According to a written source quoted by Jan Eisner, the escort of a Czech prince in around 900 consisted of fighters with iknives. The large iron knives found in the Kaposvár cemetery can be classified as belonging, at least partly, to this type of battle knives.