Horváth M. Ferenc (szerk.): Vác The heart of the Danube Bend. A historical guide for residents and globetrotters (Vác, 2009)
Tartalom
40 Reconstruction of a Celtic dwelling house and North-East Hungary. They were also commercial, metallurgic and religious centres at the same time. Commoners lived in open villages near some natural water where they built small rectangular houses of 2-4 metres by 4-6 metres. Some rested on the surface with their thatched (straw or reed) roofs, others had wattle walls daubed on both sides rising above the ground, and the roof purlin was held by the props Celtic jewels placed at the middle of the two shorter sides. The former, more simple type with the tent-shaped roof is displayed at the excavation site in Acsa a village farther away from Vác. In Vác we can speak of a dense Celtic settlement system: at present we know of 23 sites. In Szentháromt ság Square a rectangular house dug in the ground with daubed floor has been found. I It is a typical building l of the time. :i; Primarily the findings in cemeteries I inform us of the Celtic attire, jewellery, f weapons, everyday objects and their religious beliefs and society. On the southern * Folded sword (PMMI-TIM 73.4.8) Bronze hanger with animal head (PMMI-TIM 71.2.139) outskirts of Vác, in the area of the pebble quarry a cemetery containing 55 graves has been excavated. There were indications both for skeletal and cremation burial types. In the latter case human ashes were placed into clay urns or scattered in the grave. Men were buried with their iron weapons so we can enlist the entire Celtic “battle arsenal": a long sword, often with a scabbard; a sword-chain for fastening the sword onto the belt; a lance, a spear and a big battle knife. The main defensive weapon was the wooden shield whose metal parts: the ironwork and the handle from the reverse side have survived. The sword was often put in the grave folded up, presumably in order to prevent the dead from harming the living. Women's graves contain jewellery mostly: bracelets, anklets, rings, beads, sometimes belt chains. They are generally made of bronze, but bracelets made of glass and rings made of silver also occur. Clasps made of both bronze and iron are very frequently found. One of the graves had a beautiful bronze belt with enamel inlay, while another one contained some very peculiar articles: glaze beads with the face of Janus the Roman God. Men also wore jewellery: bracelets and clasps, the latter being clothing Spear (PMMI-TIM 52.2.34) Fibula (PMMI-TIM 73.
