Janus Pannonius Múzeum Évkönyve 30-31 (1985-1986) (Pécs, 1987)

Régészet - Burger, Sz. Alice: The Roman Villa and Mausoleum at Kővágószőlős, near Pécs (Sopianae), Excavations 1977–1982

ROMAN VILLA AND MAUSOLEUM AT KŐVÁGÓSZŐLŐS 165 Fig. 154. Wiew of the villa (1982), from the E ings or the slaves' quarters

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. Also, we could not establish the trace of the water-pipes, and we know nothing of the early- and late-period burials. Trusting that one day these objects would also come to light, let us now recoup ourselves with the examination of the mausoleum discovered S of the villa. II. THE MAUSOLEUM Before entering into the details of the excavation of the burial place S of the villa, Figs. 155,156, let us give a longer-thanusual review of the earlier papers making mention of this site. The site of the mausoleum was first mentioned in 1868: "A Roman underground vault was discovered just after harvest time SE of Kövágó-Szöllős (Baranya County), in the fields of the village. Its inner walls weer decorated with human and animal forms painted in variegated colours, and in the vault there stood an unornamented sarcophagus 1" long and 3'10" wide. — Still, the ignorant folks smashed the sarcophagus, and having demolished most of the vault, its bricks and stones they sold by cords. When will the time come for our people to learn to value these objects, priceless for the world of science?"

31 The following passage also dates from the year 1868: "During last year's harvest in Baranya County, in the fields of the village of Kövágó-Szöllős not far from Pécs a Roman catacomb with coloured mosaic flooring depicting human and animal forms and with a sarcophagus in the middle was found (it was uncovered only recently). Having discovered the catacomb, the dull and greedy crowd soon ruined and smashed it, removing even the bricks from the cave."

32 The next passage, published in 1869, bears the title "From the pen of Antal Horváth, 2nd-year lawstudent, Pécs, Nov 28, 1868. Archaeological Letters": "In the spring of this year a Roman find was reported in our neighbourhood. It comprised a number of Roman graves fashioned from tiles. I myself have not seen the graves at Kővágószőlős but a man coming from there said the field where the find had been made was put under wheat again."

33 An account from the year 1872 says: "On April 21, I (Imre Henszlmann) made an excursion to K.szöllős, where a few years ago a Roman grave was found. Antal A few examples: JOHNSTON, PI.

6. Ditchley, Oxfordshire; Rapsley-Ewhurst, P1.9.; DRACK, SMITH in: TODD, 155. Fig. 49. ; Winkel-Seeb. 31 F. ROMER, AK VII 1868. 189. 32 Századok (Centuries), 1868. 69. 33 AÉ 1869, 115,