Horváth M. Ferenc (szerk.): Vác The heart of the Danube Bend. A historical guide for residents and globetrotters (Vác, 2009)
Tartalom
DISCOVERIES IN THE CRYPT OF THE DOMINICAN CHURCH - THE'MUMMIES OF VÁC" 133 place was too crammed. The discoverers walled up the entrance until a decision would be made about the crypt. After the parish and the Tragor Ignác Museum of Vác had examined the place together, they agreed that the museum would take part in emptying the crypt so that urn graves could be made there. The exploring and clearing work was performed in the crypt in the winter and spring of 1994/95 by museologists, restorers and anthropologists. Church records, death certificates and the dates written on the coffins indicate that the crypt was used as a burial place from 1731 to the early 1800s. At that time most churches had crypts but in the 19th century most of them were closed and emptied.Townsfolkwere usually buried into the ground; resting in a church crypt was a privilege, which could be gained by supporting a foundation of the church, by leaving some valuables to the church in one's will, or by having some relatives among the clergy. The situation was the same in Vác. Browsing through the list of the people buried here, we discover the names of Ferenc Würth, a famous builder prelate of his age, Antal Simon, a teaching monk, the first headmaster of the deaf mute institution, and also a prebend's niece, a visitor from a faraway place. The name of the family known from the documents of the church foundations appears as well as that of the poor widow who left her estate to the church. As to their jobs, among others a cantor, a physician, a soldier, a cook, an ironmonger and a rich tanner were resting here. Altogether over 300 people were buried here, but only every tenth belonged to the church. 262 people were in coffins, while 42 were lying together in a huge common case. They were moved here decades after their burial, when the room was filled up and more space was needed. In the crypt it was the equivalent of the ossuary of the ordinary cemeteries. We cannot identify the people in it, but the names and dates on the coffins reveal a lot about the majority. The human bodies lying in the coffins were unusually intact. They went through a process of natural mummification; their condition was preserved without any external interference, they simply dried out. The data of the environmental readings suggest that the climate of the crypt, which was similar to that of some caves, was caused by the accidental combination of temperature, humidity, ventilation and several other factors. It was due to this climate that the corpses did not get decomposed. However, only the NominaMorfiiorum Fratrum %i$proriim.
