Arrabona - Múzeumi közlemények 44/1. Ünnepi köte a 65 éves Tomka Péter tiszteletére (Győr, 2006)

Lívia Bende: Bestattungssitten in der zweiten Hälfte der Awarenzeit in der durch die Flüsse. Körős, Tisza und Maros umgebenen Landschaft

ARRABONA 2006. 44/1. TANULMÁNYOK BURIAL CUSTOMS IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE AVAR AGE IN THE AREA BORDERED BY THE KÖRÖS, TISZA AND MAROS RIVERS Although there is a characteristic change concerning the orientation compared to the early Avar age, there might be a relationship with the late Avar period. However, the early Avar migration in the region behind the Tisza River should yet be proved — graves with niche, sheep tail-part and vessel grave goods at the head. These characteristics appear in the later cemeteries with many variations — mutilation of a host of sacrificial animals, a change of the composition of the sacrificial animals, the appearance of the burial of cattle and sheep in the whole, a change of the methods of the skinning at the partial animal burials, the discontinuation of the partial horse burial and the appearance of the substitution of the horse with horse-furniture. The offspring of the early Avar population of this area can be identified with those people who started to occupy the cemeteries of Szarvas-Grexa-Téglagyár, Székkutas-Képolnadűlő, Pitvaros, Csárdaszállás, Gerla, Szentes-Berekhát, Farkastanya I., SzékkutasÚj-Élet Mgtsz., Szarvas-Horváthpuszta and Nagykamarás. On the other hand, they buried in considerable numbers in the cemeteries of Endrőd-Kecskészug, Orosháza Béke Mgtsz., Orosháza-Bónum Téglagyár, Örménykút, Szarvas-Rózsás. While in the early Avar age the central population area was by the Tisza River, these sites did not comprise closed units: they were situated relatively far from each other along small streams in the region bordered by the Körös, Tisza and Maros Rivers. It is not surprising that they quickly abandoned a cemetery by the Tisza at Szentes-Berekhát. The burial grounds of the early Avar age population were occupied by the newcomers along the Tisza, Kurca and Kórógy Rivers from the environs of Mártély to the Körös-corner. The members of this population used the cemeteries of Szentes-kaján, Szentes-Kistőke, Szentes-Nagyhegy, Sznetes-Felsőcsordajárás and Mártély-Csanyi-part. Compared them to other groups the number of the horse burials and weapons at least at the beginning of the period is prominent and shows a determining role. The further characteristics of the man graves containing horse and belt-set grave goods are the jewels (earrings and hair clips often made of precious metal), dogs, and log-boat shaped coffins supported by S-shaped fasteners. From among the cemeteries situated in the area of the contemporary Szentes only those of Kaján, Nagyhegy and Gógány were used until the end of the period. The bigger differences in the burial customs which had been marked at the beginning of the period became less prominent and on the other hand considerable differences appeared even within the same cemeteries. In the cemeteries of the population having early Avar prototypes — we have sound record of them — the graves with niches would be replaced by graves with side benches and pole structures, while the log-boat shaped coffins would be replaced by wooden cases and coffins standing on legs and the food grave goods of sheep would be replaced by poultry. Beside the differences the common feature is that cattle buried in the whole as well as cattle and sheep skulls would appear at both populations. A further similarity is the existence of the food grave goods — even if in different quantity — and they also stick to the typical form of the burial with horse. Beside the dominant population of twofold origin the cemetery of Szegvár-Szőlőkalja indicates the presence of a population of considerable number in the final thirds of the 7

th century. This cemetery is characterised by cattle food grave goods, vessels and graves with recessed bottom. The food grave goods of this cemetery are similar to those of the cemeteries of Szentes-Berekhát, Buzi Farkas Imre földje, and Szentes-Belsőecser-Vekeri-mezsgyecsatoma. But this cemetery is sharply different from both of the other groups in that respect that neither animal sacrifice nor horse burial has been found here. Deviating from other communities which began to use the cemeteries and similarly to the burials of the local communities indicating continuity with the earlier Avar population no spun bracelet has been found in the cemetery of Szegvár-Szőlőkalja. However, the tools (whip-knobs, spade plates, awls, pipes) are commons. Due to the presence of the pots with square mouth which are a characteristic of the area between the Danube and Tisza Rivers this latter can be considered as their native land. The opening of new cemeteries by the local population and the shift of their settlement areas can be dated to the 2

nd half of the 7

th century. The material culture of the newly settled communities of considerable number along the Tisza River can be characterised as middle Avar. It is difficult to discern whether the settling was preceded by an over-settling to the earlier population or this change occurred right because of the effect of the latter. Due to the lack of sufficient similar regional researches it is also difficult to answer where this population of possibly twofold origin came from. The fact that the material culture of this group is typical to the middle Avar age within the Carpathian Basin supports the possibility of a migration within the Avar Empire. It can be concluded, however, that the earlier Avar population became impoverished, moved away, their material culture lost its former richness and the animal stock reduced. For a long time they could not afford horse burials. However, they stick to the custom by burying the horse-furniture. In contrast to the former abundance of animal sacrifices the partial cattle and sheep burials almost completely lost. Later this population recovered in economic terms: the partial animal burials reappeared (sheep, cattle — but only one animal in a grave) and the animals buried in the whole appeared as a new development. Although only one in a generation the burial with horse survived and at the end of the epoch there was a high ranking burial with horse in a grave with niche (Pitvaros, grave 51). 110