Gaál Attila (szerk.): A Wosinszky Mór Múzeum Évkönyve 31. (Szekszárd, 2009)
Czövek Attila: Sárkánypárral díszített vaskori kardhüvelyek Fadd, Jeges-hegy lelőhelyről
Attila Czövek Scabbards decorated with a dragon-pair unearthed on Jegeshegy, Fadd (Tolna County) The archeological site was discovered in 1994 by the author during a field survey necessitated by his archeo-topographical research. On the site, several graves were observed unearthed during the surveys carried out in the following years. Between the years 1998 and 2005, the site was excavated annually by Odor János Gábor, which was required by the endangered location of the area. So far, 5000 m 2 have been excavated and we have discovered a few late Roman graves, most of which date back to the 10 l h and 11 th centuries, as well as a ditch running from the north-west to the south-east and 43 burial sites arranged in several groups, with both the ditch and the burial sites representing the Celtic era. My study aims to discuss two scabbards decorated with a dragon-pair, both unearthed on the site. For describing the finds, I have followed the descriptive system introduced by De Navarro, Duval's schema with necessary modifications by the authors Szabó and Petres to make it more suitable, as well as the typological system based on the chape types of the Kosd cemetery. The front plate of the scabbard fragment found in 1995 as a stray find has got a midrib and its edges overlap the back plate, although when unearthed, the plates were separated. Considering its measurements, the mouth of the fragment corresponds to Type A2, the subcampanulate variety of De Navarro's system. The position of the De Navarro Typel dragon-pair decorating the scabbard corresponds to Duval/Szabó-Petres lai- Its background is infilled with post-Waldalgesheim motifs. Considering its decoration, the scabbard fragment in question is closest in similarity to the sword and its scabbard dated La Tène B2 found in the 60 th grave of Kosd cemetery . During the excavations in the summer of 2001, among the grave goods in grave 107, a sword was discovered folded in two. In the south-eastern corner of the square-shaped cremation burial, this sword was placed together with the other metal findings (e.g. shield fittings, a knob-handled iron knife and spear, and an iron fibula). The mouth of the scabbard of this sword corresponds to De Navarro's Type A 2, the normal campanulate form. Its front plate, which overlaps the back plate is higher than its back plate and has got a salient midrib. The upper loop plate of the De Navarro Type Ic suspension loop is oval, while the lower one is of elongated shield shape. The suspension loop is arched and has got a deeper engraving in the middle, as well as a shallow one on each side. The chape-clamps are round-shaped, the chape-bridge on the back plate is slightly arched. The chape-end corresponds to De Navarro Type 18, with its oval part thickened and slightly opened, decorated in a similar style. The chape corresponds to Kosd Type C. The decoration of the scabbard corresponds to Duval/Szabó-Petres Iaj, which means the De Navarro Typel dragon-pair is situated under the mouth. Considering its decoration, the sword parallels findings dated La Tène B2 and CI and is closest in similarity to a stray find from Kosd dated La Tène B2. To sum up, we can claim by the similar finds discovered in the Carpathian basin that the two scabbards decorated with a dragon-pair and unearthed in Fadd are dated La Tène B2 and although far in distance, can be related to the swords in the Kosd cemetery. The findings are of great significance for two reasons: firstly, because in Tolna County they are the first representatives of the type; and secondly, because they confirm the observation that the Celtic burials in the iron age cemetery on Jeges-hegy are dated mid La Tène. 14
