Zalai Múzeum 13. Németh József 70 éves (Zalaegerszeg, 2004)

Szőke Béla Miklós: A határ fogalmának változásai a korai középkorban [Adatok a Kerka-vidék kora középkori településtörténetéhez]

A határ fogalmának változásai a korai középkorban 191 (376^76). Budapest, 1961. VÁRADY 1969 Várady, L.: Das letzte Jahrhundert Pannoniens (376-476). Amsterdam, 1969. VÉKONY 1983 Vékony, G.: A gyepű szerepe az etnikai és politikai átalakulásokban, in: Tőkei F. (szerk.): Nomád társadalmak és államalakulatok (Körösi Csorna kiskönyvtár 18) Budapest, 1983. 215-236. WAMERS 1994 Warners, E.: Die frahmittelalterlichen Lesefunde aus der Löhrstrasse (Baustelle Hilton II) in Mainz. Mainz, 1994. WHITTAKER 1994 Whittaker, C.R.: Frontiers of the Roman Empire. A Social and Economic Study. Baltimore and London, 1994. WIELOWIEJSKI 1999 Wielowiejski, J.: Die Bernsteinstrasse Adria-Ostsee in archáologischer und touristischer Sicht. in: Gömöri, J. (éd.): Landscapes and Monuments along the Amber Road. (A Borostyánkő út tájai és emlékei). Sopron, 1999. 135-137. WOLFRAM 1972 Wolfram, H.: Der heilige Rupert und die antikarolingische Adelsopposition. MIÖG 80 (1972) 4-34. Comprehensive fíeldwalkings and test excavations in the valley of the Kerka have revealed that the area had been uninhabited from the end of the Roman era until the Early Medieval Period (Árpádian period) (ca. from 400 AD to 1100 AD). The area was unpopulated for more than half a millennia, although in the previous Roman period market-towns and villa economies flourished. In the Medieval and Early Modern Age the area was also relatively densely populated. This suggests that the area could support the population in terms of fertile arable lands. Moreover, the Amber Route increased the signifacance of the area and attracted settlers. The Kerka region was uninhabited during the Early Medieval period and it is considered that the possible reasons for this process can be best explained in terms of a historical process. It is considered that the population was purposefully relocated from the investigated area in order to be able to use it as a border zone. In the following section this process is outlined and the changes in the meaning of the 'border' are investigated. The defence system of the Roman Empire was established along the Danube and the limes ran from Vindobona/Wien to Singidunum/Beograd on the right side of the Danube. It is well known that a Roman WOLFRAM 1975 Wolfram, H.: Grenze und Mission. Salzburg vom heiligen Rupert zum heiligen Virgil. Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft der Salzburger Landeskunde 115 (1975) 51-79. WOLFRAM 1979 Wolfram, H.: Conversio Bagoariorum et Carantanorum. Das WeiBbuch der Salzburger Kirche über die erfolgreiche Mission in Karantanien und Pannonién. Wien-Köln- Graz, 1979. WOLFRAM 1990

3 Wolfram, H.: Die Goten. Von den Anfángen bis zur Mitte des sechsten Jahrhunderts. München, 1990.

3 ZOLL - ADAMIKOWA 1979 Zoli - Adamikowa, H.: Die Verwendbarkeit der Grabfunde aus dem 6.-10. Jahrhundert für die Aussonderung der Stammesgruppen bei den Westslawen. in: Rapports du Ше Congres International d' Archéologie Slave. I. Bratislava, 1979. 941-952. ZOLL - ADAMIKOWA 1988 Zoll - Adamikowa, H.: Przyczny i formy recepcji ritualu szkieletowego u slowian nadbaltyckich we wczesnym sredniowieczu. Prçglad Archeologiczny 35 (1988) 183-229. army that defended the border could not keep back the barbarians effectively. There was no internal defence system apart form the limes and once the limes was broken through the heart of the empire was more or less undefended. Once the barbarians came across the Danube they could easily reach the shores of the Adriatic Sea or even Italy. The Danube was seen more like an administrative border than a real defence system. The limes also functioned as a reinforced supply system. The Danube was considered to be part of the limes but not the actual border of the empire. For these reasons it is considered that the notion of the border is a more complex concept and the changes in the meaning of the border need to be investigated. When the limes has broken down it has not been because of an external pressure but rather the break down has been caused by the fragility of internal politics. By the second half of 4th and beginning of 5th century it become increasingly apparent that the limes was not an effective means against the barbarian tribes. For this reason, the defence mechanism to be effective had to be more flexible. As a result, a system of fortification was built. Then, the contracts with the ally barbarian tribes commissioned them to defend the territories that they occupied. Within this defence Changes in the concept of border in Early Medieval Period (Some data to the settlement history of the Kerka region)