B. Nyékhelyi Dorottya: Középkori kútlelet a budavári Szent György téren (Monumenta Historica Budapestinensia 12. kötet Budapest, 2003)

Abstract

ABSTRACT There have been archaeological excavations after the Second World War at several parts of St George Square laying on the southern part of the Castle Hill of Buda. Between 1998-2000 the investigation was conducted on the western side of the square itself. The following essay outlines the results coming from a detail of the site

7 i.e. from 4 St George Square, the former Teleki Palace, and presents an object of special interest: a well - our focus will mainly be drawn on the finds coming from its wet- muddy infilment where a piece of tapestry decorated with the Hungarian-Angevin coat of arms was also found. After the Mongolian invasion in 1241-42 King Béla IV (12351270) founded the city of Buda. In the area of the present-day St George Square there were two streets running from the north to the south even in the 13th century. There were civilian houses built in the block bordered by them, similarly to the eastern and western sides of the streets. The eastern street was called St John Street, named after the dedication of the Franciscan Friary standing here. The earliest name of the western street - i.e. of the present St George Street - was Jewish Street, as it used to be the first Jewish quarter of the city. At about 1410 the Royal chapel dedicated to the Holy Virgin Mary and St Sigismund was built here, founded by King Sigismund. It became a chapter in 1457. From this time on the street was renamed St Sigismund Street. Written documents referring to the owners of the plots are available only from the end of the 15th century. From these documents a closed building-line can be reconstructed, which is supported by the woodcut of Erhard Schön made in 1541. In the Turkish period (1541-1686) the mediaeval plot-system was changed, as it can be seen in the plan drawn by the French military engineer, Joseph de Hauy. The register of plots made in 1696 roughly matches the mediaeval size of the plots. Some 18th century maps indicate an artillery emplacement in the area. It seems that it only remained a plan.