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

Horváth László: Grave of a Celtic warrior from Magyarszerdahely (Zala county)

Grave of a Celtic warrior from Magyarszerdahely (Zala County) 63 style" and, together with the suspension loop, is so similar to the ones found in grave 2 in Brezice in Slovenia that they may have been made in the same workshop. The assy metrical variation of the decoration on these objects was found in Simanovci in Serbia and all these decoration types can be dated to LTCl (SZABÓ-PETRES 1992, 50; Cat. No. 104, 138). The band-shaped shield boss belongs to pierced shield decorations. These pierced decorations exhibit a rib on the middle along their length and their edges are reminiscent of wings. Similar finds are known from north east Hungary such Bodroghalom, Farmos, Halmajugra, Piliny and Szob.

7 Similar shield adornment without pierced decoration is known from upper Bavaria (Thauerahausen) along with long bodied fibulae that can be dated to the middle of LT (KRAMER 1985, Taf. 63, 7). The shield boss from Magyarszerdahely exhibits long narrow ends which may have covered the ridge of a wooden shield. Identical finds to this shield decoration are not known in the literature but similar finds can all be dated to LTCl. Typologically similar shield decorations south from Hungary without the distinctive rib on the middle are dated to LT-B2. The dating of the bipartite shield decorations which were found in grave 30 in Magyarszerdahely can also be dated to LT-B2 (GUSTIN 1984, 319, 327; Beilage 1, 6). In terms of chronology the shield decorations with multi-profiled edges that form a triangular shape like the previously mentioned shield decorations, can be dated to LT-C1. This type is chronologically followed by shield adornments with trapezoid shaped profiles (BUJNA 1982, Abb. 5, 47).The dating of the shield boss has slightly been changed. The assessment of shield bosses from the sanctuary of Gournay also included the shield boss from Magyarszerdahely as an analogy (GOURNAY II, 70-71, Fig. 38, 1-3; Fig. 39) and similar shield bosses from Gournay were classified as belonging to Type III and dated to the end of 3

rd and beginning of 2

nd centuries ВС. The long-bodied iron fibula with decorated foot also provides a good standpoint for dating, since similar finds can all be dated to LT-C1.

8 The accompanying finds that were found in grave 63 can also be dated to the above discussed periods. The chronological importance of the accompanying finds is not discussed here in detail because they are general form types and can be dated to middle LT. The only exception is the stamped pottery. The symmetrically arranged crescent shaped and angled dotted lines forming 3-3 clusters alongside dotted circle decoration can be dated to LT-C. These types of decorations are characteristic of the geometric style of the Celts.

9 The cemetery of Magyarszerdahely was published 26 years ago. Since then both international and Hungarian researchers have contributed greately to our knowledge about the Celtic period. In Hungary the corollary studies of Miklós Szabó expanded our knowledge about the Celtic period. In one of his studies, which is especially important for the present paper, he assessed the relationship between archaeological records and antique compilations about Celtic invasions between 280-277 ВС in the Balkans. Miklós Szabó considered that the La Téne cemeteries and grave goods in the Middle Danube region, prior to the invasions and migrations into the Balkans provide important information about Celtic warriors (SZABÓ 1994, 40). In the light of this, the warrior in grave 30 from Magyarszerdahely is of great importance. Researchers generally agree that the first wave of the Celts appeared in Central and Eastern Europe and in Italy around the beginning of 4

th century ВС. At this period the cemeteries, dated to LT-B1, were located in the northern part of Transdanubia but at the beginning of LT-B2 a new population set up cemeteries in the Carpathian Basin. Miklós Szabó assessed the characteristic artefacts that are associated with warrior burials. These artefacts include early La Téne type swords and their sheaths, the sheaths having round endings with pierced decorations, suspension rings for the swords, rhomboid or leaf-shaped spearheads, twopieced shield bosses, sometimes knives or scissors. Warriors with these types of artefacts took part in the invasion of the Balkans, and one of them was buried in grave 30 in Magyarszerdahely. For the developement of relative and absolute chronology of the LT-B2-LTCl Miklós Szabó used the chronology of Rupert Gebhard (Table l).

10 SZABÓ GERBHARD LT-B2 310-260 4. horizon 300/320-280 LT-C1 260-200 5. horizon 280-260 LT-C2 200-120 6. horizon 260Table 1 : Comparative chronological table Összehasonlító kronológiai táblázat On the bases of the distribution of warrior graves Miklós Szabó came to the conclusions that: 1. The comment of Pompeius Tragus, that the Scordiscus tribe went back to their 'old land', near the Danube after defeat at Delphoi is in direct correlation with the archaeological data. 2. Prior to invasions in the Balkans the Celts were already settled in most parts of the Carpathian Basin (HORVÁTH 1997, 81-82). In the light of this, the earliest grave of the cemetery of Magyarszerdahely is grave 30, although earlier it