Szekessy Vilmos (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 59. (Budapest 1967)

Bottyán, O.: Data to the anthropology of the Hun Period population in Hungary

ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALES HUNGARICI Tomus 59. PARS ANTHROPOLOGIC 1967. Data to the Anthropology of the Hun Period Population in Hungary By OLGA BOTTYÁN, Budapest The study of the anthropological material of the Hun Period in Hungary is a very difficult task from three points of view. First, the Huns had not inhabited for any length of time the territory of Hungary; secondly, owing to the cremation of the dead, as customary with the Huns, only a meagre amount of osteological material had come down to us; thirdly, the artificially deformed skulls of that period rather narrowly delimit the possibilities of comparison (FETTICH, 1940). The examination of merely one or two anthropological finds is generally not too valuable from an anthropological point of view, except for periods from which there are but few data available. With regard to Hungary, it is the Hun Period from which we have really few data, and in such cases the evaluation of even these sparse findings has its importance. As far as the circumstances of finding and the areheological date of the two skeletons under discussion are concerned, both originate from the area of Budapest, and from the fifth century, A. D. One of the graves was found dug into the kitchenmidden of a Copper Age settlement on the grounds of a factory (Budafoki út, No 78, XI district), and it was retrieved by the Areheological Museum in 1958. At the head and the feet of the skeleton, there lay a vessel each, further a bronze fibula, a bone comb, and a bronze brooch (ALEOLE-Y, 1959). The other find derives from the excavation, led by T. NAGY, at the corner of the Vezér and Egressy streets (XIV district), in 1960. This is the skull and the skeleton of a more wealthy individual. (Oral communication by dr. T. NAGY.) On the basis of the areheological finds, Dr. T. NAGY, archeologist, dated the skulls as originating from the Hun Period. A number of questions might naturally arise with regard to our material. Are the findings actually the remains of Hun individuals Ï Or could they have been individuals of some tribal confederation, and buried according to the Hun burial customs? The concept Hun does not include merely the dominant Huns; their reign incorporated also the conquered or surrendered peoples (Sarmatians, Eastern Goths, other Germans, etc.) who had also adopted the customs of the Huns. Nor is the possibility precluded that they are the remnants of Hun (Sadagar) individuals, surviving in the area of Lower Pannónia. In describing the skulls, I have followed MARTIN'S (1928) method. In the general anthropological evaluation, I used ALEXEYEV'S and DEBETS'S (1964) data for the interpretation of the measurements and indices. The facial profile was evaluated according also to DEBETS'S categories. The height of the mandibular branch was measured by MOLLISON'S (1938) method. Morphological description No. 12.673, Vezér st., XIV district (grave without serial number). A well preserved cranium (Plate 1), though left processus mastoideus slightly injured. Male. Adult. Sutures still open, only inner surface of sutura coronalis ossified. Dentition whole, not worn, abrasion: 0.