Horváth Attila – H. Tóth Elvira szerk.: Cumania 4. Archeologia (Bács-Kiskun Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei, Kecskemét, 1976)

H. Tóth E.: Az Izsák-balázspusztai honfoglaláskori lovassír

Only dating the sabretache plate could they at all be of any help. Namely the no. 14 grave of Kenézló

49 with its dirhams which were dated within wide limits makes us date to the first part, but rather to the first third of the 10th century. The no. 11 grave of the cemetery, which would enable us to date the parallels to the middle of the 10th century, has only few links with our find. The Lothar II coin from the no. 3 grave, from the neighbourhood of the bone plates of Mindszent with its dating to the second quarter or the middle of the 10th century similarly represents only an indirect relationship.

50 No long range conclusion can be drawn from the uncertainty of the listed parallels, taking into account though the data of the coin finds in their area, we may date the Izsák—Balázspuszta grave finds to the first third or the second quarter of the 10th century. Beyond this uncertain dating it is much more important for us that we must calculate with many more saddle variations with highly different constructions and ornamentation. These must have depended on the horseman, and the way of usage and custom. This fact is proven by the saddle finds where each represents a different saddle type showing that these do not represent any chronology, but a variation demanded by the different functions of use. The Izsák—Balázspuszta find has also shown that bone plated saddles occur both in men's and women's graves as well, furthermore it strengthens the presumption of the local use of the saddles with widening sweat-flaps, which in our case completed with a low, highly slanted rear pommel, too. Finally it also gives proof to the function of the hole-pairs on the front pommels of the bone plated saddles which instead of representing fittings for the bone plates, were to increase the elasticity of the saddle by straps laced through them.

51 Finally the find assemblage may raise a useful discussion on the questions mentioned above as well as on the stylized human representations and the religion of the Period of the Magyar Conquest, 49 L. HUSZÁR: op. cit. Acta Arch. 1954. 82-83. СП. 50 G. CSALLÁNY: Újabb honfoglalás kori leletek Szentes környékéről. New Conquest Period finds from the area of Szentes. Folia Arch. III-IV. 189. 1—2. 51 Gy. LÁSZLÓ: op. cit. Arch. Hung. XXVII. Bp. 1943.15. 173