Zalai Múzeum 14. Müller Róbert 60 éves (Zalaegerszeg, 2005)

Petánovics Katalin: Régészet és néprajz – költészet és valóság

306 Petánovics Katalin Archaeology and Ethnography - Poetry and reality The aim of this paper is to give an account of ethnographic legends, and their relation with archaeological finds, found on the outskirts of villages. The legends that are discussed in this paper are centred around two main finds: 1: In 1926 during tree removal 14 pieces of gold treasure were found and dated to the end of the Bronze Age although the locals believe it is connected with the nearby ruins of a Barnabite monastery and the Turkish destruction. 2: A pile of stones which the locals call 'Devils' stones'. This man-made structure protected the road which led to a Late Bronze Age settlement and it's gate. In the catalogue of Hungarian myths the treasure legends comprise a separate unit with a subcategory of „legends about treasures, which were hidden from the enemy". In the outskirts of Várvölgy (previously Zsid) village in the winter of 1926, during the removal of a dead tree, 14 pieces of 22 carat gold comprising 210,46 gramm came to light in a clay pot. Near the archaeological site of Nagylázhegy in Uzsaszentlélek there are ruins of a Barnabite monastery and a church. The Barnabites fled in about 1520, and Franciscans took over but shortly after they also left because of harassments and robberies. Locals call the friars „red fraters," because it is believed that beside their clerical duties they did farming as well. This belief is maintained through the place names of Barát rét (Fráter field) and Barát tó (Fráter lake). Locals believe that the fraters who escaped from the Turks bricked up their wine cellars, and the wine was left „in it's own bed," and it is still there. Moreover, the fraters also concealed golden treasure in the stump of a tree. The myth construction around the gold treasure took different directions. Some believe that it was 1 kg gold and the finder received a pair of oxen. Others say that from the price of the pot full with gold the finder repaid his debts. It is also believed by some that a golden cup was hidden, and according to the last version, an expensive vestment was hidden under the ground and the founder received 200 pengő. A part of Nagyláztető is called Törökirtás (Turk clearing) which used to be a Turkish village. The Turks cleared the forest, hence 'Turk-clearing', and stayed there for 150 years until the Otoman occupation of Hungary came to an end. Others argue, that this was the place where Hungarians 'cleared' the Turks and the place-name celebrated the important event of military triumph. Two hoards are known from the area. One of them was most probably found in the 19

th century and the incident was retained through a place name of Pénzevermi which refers to a place where coins were made. The second was found in 1901 when a pot with 231 silver coins was revealed during restoration of a church. This treasure was hidden by a vicar who buried the treasure next to the wall of the presbytery. Intriguingly, the villagers did not ascribe these events to any epoch and they did not attach any myth to these events either. A completely different archaeological find is the Ördögkövek (Devils' stones) which is clearly a manmade structure. Two main myths describe its origin. One considers that devils were carrying the stones by cart, which broke; and the stones fell off and remained as they are today. The second explanation is more reasoning and considers that location of Vörösföldtető (Red plateau) used to be the plough-land of „red fraters." During clearing and ploughing the stones that were found were put in one place which became Devils' stones. According to the available literature on the subject, the myth has a local origin. The appearance of the devil's role in the story indicates that it belongs to historical-belief myths. According to archaeological research the whole area of the plateau was the second biggest continuously occupied Bronze Age settlement in Transdanubia. The settlement and the road that lead to it were protected by two extensive ramparts. There was an extensive pile of stones that made the approach difficult. Today the height of the Devils' stones is about 3 metres and used to protect the gate of the settlement. The excavation started in 2003 and within one year 50 kg of bronze came to light. This is unique both in terms of the amount and types of object. The gold that was found in 1926 also belonged to the inhabitants of this settlement, which was in its glory in the 9

th century ВС. Translated by Eszter Kreiter