Budapest Régiségei 14. (1945)
ÉRTESÍTŐ - Nagy Tibor: Avarkori temető és honfoglaláskori sírok Rákosról : előzetes jelentés 491-507
around them up to the edge of the ridge of the hill, graves belonging to the Avar period were discovered. The archaeological facts are obvious. This cemetery had been used from the VIII th century en, but abandoned long before the Conquest and then its central part was used again in the X th century. Similar proceedings have been observed at other places as well. Such later burials are to be found in the territory of Budapest on the Csepel-Island too. The best known example is the great cemetery belonging to the Avar period in Győr along the Téglavető (brikwcrks)-windrow, at the northern and western edge of which graves belonging to the Period of the Conquest appear, and in one case, we could edserve an interment on top of the other. (Arch. Ért. 24. 1904. p. 16.) In the grave-field of Rákos we laid open 36 graves belonging to the Avar period. The graves were on the upper flat part of the already mentioned ridge of the hill, but did not spread across the slopes. Even the orientation of the graves (NW-SE) is different from that of the graves belonging to the Period of the Conquest. They were placed in rows, but, apart from this, the same as with the gravefields on Csepel-Island, in Üllő, Jutas, Oskü and Gátér, irregularly placed grave-groups are to be found. They lay in different depths, in the centre of the ridge of the hill, P40—P50 m, nearer to the rim, 2—250 m deep. Unfortunately, the greater part of the graves were disturbed. We can distinguish two groups. Some of the graves were plundered soon after the burial. In these completely destroyed graves we could seldom find any bronze ornaments left there. The other part of the graves were disturbed about 1920, when trenches were dug in this territory. There was no treasure-hunting at this period, the soldiers threw out bones coming in their way and did not search any longer. In our richest graves, the upper parts of the skeletons got into such trenches arid from the pelvis downwards they were preserved. The intact graves and these disturbed about 1920 afforded sufficient material to observe the burial rites. We can sum up our results as fellows : In the intact graves, the extended skeleton lay with its heed pointing towards NW, the arms close to the body. (e. g. No. 21, 25) In three cases (graves No. 13, 15, 19) we could think of a double interment. With the exception of graves No. 1, 3, 7, 11, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and . 33, weeden coffins were used. In several cases, we cotild determine the form and the dimensions of the ceffin. In grave No. 25 e. g. there was a 1 %—2 cm thick coffin made of boards, with oblique walls. Its height was 47 cm, its widith at the top 73 cm, at the bottom 53 cm. It was 1-90 cm long. The ceffin in grave No. 36 was somewhat different as regards its form and dimensions, it grew narrower towards the feet and, in the middle, it was slightly bent inwards. The wall of the coffin was slanting, it grew narrower towards the bottom and there was a cover with oblique walls. The material used for these coffins was a kind of pine (probably Pinns cembv.a) and beech (Fagus silvatica). We have also found sometimes in the graves containing weeden coffins a thick layer of ash sometimes as thick as 15—20 cm. The wooden material of the coal-remains consists of oak (Quer eus) and sometimes of black alder (Frangula alnus) . To illustrate the arrangement of the grave furniture and the culture of the cemetery, 1 describe two graves in full detail. Grave No. 25. A male skeleton buried into a coffin consisting of boards, its head pointing towards NW. The measures of the coffin as above, the hole itself was a few cm. bigger. The bottom of the grave lay in 2-60 cm. depth. Over the coffin consisting of boards, there w y as a 10-—15 cm. thick stripe resulting from burning. Upwards from the legs, the skeleton was ravaged. We found, on the outer side of the right and left thigh bone in situ a »small strap«-end and next to the right metacarpiis a coarse clay vessel turned inwards. Above the right pelvic bone, a shield-shaped beltmount was discovered and under the left pelvic bone three horse-shoe shaped pla es for
