Liska András - Szatmári Imre: Sötét idők rejtélyei. 6-11. századi régészeti emlékek a Kárpát-medencében és környékén - Tempora Obscura 3. (Békéscsaba, 2012)
Szabó Géza: Enigmatic circular ditches. Some data on the settlement system of the Avarian Age
REJTÉLYES KÖRÁRKOK. ADATOK AZ AVAR KOR] TELEPÜLÉSSZERKEZETHEZ surrounding and bordering role of the ditches, and starting from these, we can draw conclusions on the system of land-holding and on important data referring to social history only after the exact definition of the role of the ditches. Recently, at the territory of Szedres-Apáti- puszta, during the construction works of Motorway M6 there were several excavations conducted which supplemented each others territory. A large surface cut by a lot of ditches gave us an outstanding possibility to a better observation of a settlement dealing with large animal husbandry in the Avarian Age. In this study we focus on a single type of ditches: the ones divided into several sections. We attempt to determine the function of the excavated features. Together with it we present the find material and try to reconstruct the Avarian settlement in a wide historic, economic and social historic context. Archaeological research is not unanimous in the evaluation of the function of divided ditch systems. The following functions have been suggested: water conduction, water collection, bordering of propriety, fundament of fence. In the case of ditch systems including several ditches running parallel with each other, it is generally regarded that they had been renewed many times. At the same time, it can be suggested that divided ditch systems used by the Romans, and later by the Avarians and people of the Árpád Age belonged to the cultural innovations of the former Roman Empire and spread there and on the territories under its influence. The kidney-shaped ditch system surrounded a 6-8 hectares large territory. Its ends did not meet, but were turned inside at the middle of the northern part so that a corniculate, 20 m long and 15 m wide part was formed. Here a large animal stock of a significant proprietor could be kept in extensive breeding. Divided ditch system made taking into consideration special biological features of the animals, prevented the stock from wandering at the neighbouring fields. The ground plan of the ditch system from the site of Szedres shows well that the corniculate entrance part was formed so that the driving of the animals inside would go on the simplest way. From this we can suggest that exterior pastures were used to increase the productivity of the encircled territory. Judging from pottery and bone finds, the pastoral settlement excavated in Szedres-Apáti-puszta can be dated to the second half of the 7th - 8th century. Here a stud including about 80-100 horses of an Avarian proprietor could have been guarded by men dwelling here. Szabó Géza Wosinsky Mór Múzeum Szekszárd kaladea@freemail. hu 91
