Somogyvári Ágnes et al. (szerk.): Településtörténeti kutatások - Archaelogia Cumanica 3. (Kecskemét, 2014)
Árpád-kori falu Kiskunfélegyháza határában - Gallina Zsolt–Gulyás Gyöngyi–Molnár István: Késő Árpád-kori településrészlet Kiskunfélegyháza, Amler-bányából
GALLINA - GULYÁS - MOLNÁR: KÉSŐ ÁRPÁD-KORI TELEPÜLÉSRÉSZLET KISKUNFÉLEGYHÁZA, AMLER-BÁNYÁBÓL Zsolt Gallina - Gyöngyi Gulyás - István Molnár A late Árpádian Age settlement at Kiskunfélegyháza, Amler-bánya In the spring of 1997, the remains of an Árpádian Age settlement (Site M5/229) were brought to light during an earth mining operation 1.5 kilometres south-south-west of Kiskunfélegyháza, south of the bridge between the M5 Motorway and Road E5. The majority of the archaeological features that lay in the northern and central parts of the mine had been destroyed. After the suspension of the mining operation, we conducted a salvage excavation in several phases during the summer and fall of 1997. The settlement remains could only be partially salvaged because the central part of the site (approximately 40%) had been completely destroyed. The investigated territory totalled 20,000 m2 and was made up of interconnected smaller and larger areas, on which 14 complete and incomplete sunken buildings, 34 ditches, and 165 pits and post-holes of various function were uncovered. Approximately 80% of the features could be associated with the Árpádian Age settlement. Several ditches of uncertain age and a row of pits devoid of any artefacts extended along a north-east to south-west axis in the site’s south-eastern part. Most of the sunken buildings had an oblong ground plan; only a few had a square ground plan. They were generally oriented in a north-west to south-east or south-east to north-west direction. The size of the buildings ranged between 8.2 and 22.6 m2, and each had a hard-packed floor that had been fully or partially preserved. These constructions had different structural characteristics. Based on the position, the number, or, conversely, the complete lack of post-holes, the buildings were classified into seven groups. We had the opportunity to observe various structural elements in several cases. The entrance ramp or stair-like entrance was usually found in the shorter walls and/or in the walls where the ovens were located. In some buildings, post-holes associated with a porch were also excavated. Earthen platforms built by the ovens were uncovered in two buildings, while intrusive pits were revealed in five features. The various types of fire installations at the site were usually located in the eastern corner of the structures. In addition to ovens built of clay, horseshoe-shaped ovens recessed into the wall, kettle-shaped ovens with an open top, stone ovens and firing pits were also documented. Our observations indicate that the different oven types were used simultaneously or nearly concurrently at the settlement. The bulk of the buildings, i.e. the features with ovens, definitely served as residential structures; however, other sunken structures lacking fire installations were also found at the site. The latter could be interpreted as auxiliary buildings utilised for economic purposes or as sunken animal pens. Lying at a distance of 4-12 meters from the domestic structures, we uncovered ditches enclosing circular and rectangular areas. As numerous ethnographic analogies demonstrate, these features were most likely related to animal keeping. In one case, circular and rectangular ditches were associated with structures interpreted as sunken pens (Features 5 and 12). This phenomenon may be interpreted as an economic unit within the settlement. Post- holes showing a regular arrangement were also observed near the larger rectangular animal pens. These structures may have been smaller pens or other types of above-ground features. Apart from the large, open enclosures, other irregular ditches that did not fit into the observed system were also uncovered. Their function remains unclear for the time being. Oval, circular, oblong, rectangular, trapezoidal and irregular pits were the most common features uncovered at the site. They may have been used for grain storage, clay extraction and/or garbage deposition. In the eastern part of the site, a group of east-north-east to west-south-west oriented pits measuring 40 cm by 114 cm to 90 cm by 164 cm with a depth of 12-50 cm were uncovered. Their longitudinal axes were oriented east-north- east to west-south-west, while their shape was regular, irregular or rectangular with rounded corners and they had sloped or straight walls and a slightly dished floor. The 26 pits were aligned along a more or less straight, 77 m long axis. Since they did not contain any artefacts, their dating to the Árpádian Age is tentative at best. The identical, blackish-brown, organic, sandy and peaty fill of these features suggests that they might have had the same function (parts of a fence or a defensive structure); however, this remains uncertain. Similar rows of pits, 337
