A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve 2014., Új folyam 1. (Szeged, 2014)

NÉPRAJZ - Fodor Ferenc: A delibláti homokpuszta haszonvételei

Ferenc Fodor

The Use of Deliblato Sands

The Use of Deliblato Sands

Ferenc Fodor

Deliblato Sands is an ellipsoid shape territory in the southern part of the Banat Region in Serbia. It runs 36 km in the north-western - south-eastern direction, and is 11 km wide. The undulating dunes rise between 75 meters to 195 meters from the surface. Afforestation of the sandy puszta was urged already by Habsburg king Joseph II. Binding of the soil ended in 1907.

Afforestation and vine-stock planting provided ample employment for the inhabitants of the region. The sandy region offered also different additional occupations for the population. Andropogon Gryllus was collected in an

organized form already atthe time ofWorid War I, providing raw material for brushes for the military. Collecting common soapwort (Saponaria officinalis] and common juniper (Juniperus communis] also provided good income.

It was discovered during our fieldwork in Fejértelep (today Susara, Serbia] that these uses were known in the 20th century and some of them are still widespread. Blackthorns (Prunus spinosa] and common junipers are still collected. Snowdrops (Galanthus] are collected and sold in the markets of Belgrade and Versec (today Vrsac, Serbia]. Bee-keeping is also widespread.

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