Petercsák Tivadar – Váradi Adél szerk.: A népvándorláskor kutatóinak kilencedik konferenciája : Eger, 1998. szeptember 18-20. / Heves megyei régészeti közlemények 2. (Eger, 2000)

Finger-Print of the Fisherman's Hut

A HALÁSZKUNYHÓ UJJLENYOMATA 417 demonstrated in group A (step 3). In the rest of the groups, the logically totally identical method can lead to different outcomes, which will be discussed in step 4 and in the appendix. In step 3/A we introduce the mathematical equations that are used for the determination of the measurements of the one-time roof (formulas 1-7). Similarly to the measurement methods applied in science, we have to discuss the conditions of applicability of the method for the determination of the measurements of the entirely perished roof raised over the „peduncled dwelling pits". The exact description of the nature and extent of the possible errors must be attached to the description of a measurement method, since the applicability cannot be defined without them. First, we had to recognise what errors we can commit (step 3/B). Errors and mistakes must be taken into consideration during the archaeological excavation and mathematical elaboration of the „peduncled dwelling pits". Due to the possible errors, the formulas set up for the measurements of the roof (1-7) are somewhat „wrong": the outcomes deviate to some degree from the contemporary reality. Accordingly, the results are somewhat different from the one-time real (exact) values (in a mathematical sense, they are so-called approximate values). A significant characteristic of the mathematical model is that it takes into consideration the possible errors. The distorting effects of the arising errors can be followed with analytical geometry (step 3/C). In most cases it can be determined in what direction the approximate values effected by the errors deviate from the exact values of the one-time reality, if they are smaller or larger. The greatest possible deviation of the resulting approximate values from the relevant exact values can be determined with differential calculus (step 3/D). It calculates the largest possible (absolute) error we can make in the case of the „peduncled dwelling pits" unearthed by excavations with regard to the possible errors (formulas 11-18). Knowing of the resulting approximate values and the largest possible errors we arrive to zones where we can safely state that they include the exact values of the one-time reality. With probability theory it can be decided where the exact values in question can be expected within these zones (step 3/E). Furthermore, the study contains the detailed mathematical analysis of the rafter replacement carried out by us in the „sunken dwelling house" (step 5). We wanted to know what a roof could be reconstructed with the mathematical model if we found our own traces in an excavation. As the building still stands we can control the results. In the knowledge of the results we can state that the demonstrated mathematical model is really suitable for the proportional reconstruction of the entirely perished one-time roofs. Step 7 of the study describes the mathematical elaboration of „peduncled dwelling pit" no. 1 from the Árpádian period unearthed at the site Esztergom-Zsidód by Erzsébet Molnár. The formulas to calculate the approximate values and the absolute errors of the measurements of the roof are given for each group (appendix). The „peduncles" of the Árpádian-period (?) houses (?) were observed not only in the Árpádian period and not only in dwelling houses. In the view of the above it will not seem surprising that the characteristic pull canal is not a Hungarian „speciality". It is a widespread phenomenon: the contemporary inhabitants were certainly motivated by the same practical logic as us, independent of the time when they lived or to what people they belonged. And this is of essential importance since the mathematical model can equally effectively be used for a hut from the Imperial period or an economic building from the Avar period as for the analyses of the houses in the earliest Hungarian villages. Szentgyörgyi Viktor Translated by Katalin Simán 6721 Szeged Lengyel u. 14. E-mail: szviktor@ludens. elte. hu Mezei István ELTE Alkalmazott Analízis Tanszék 1053 Budapest Kecskeméti u. 10-12. E-mail: mezei@ cs.elte.hu Búzás Miklós Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeum 2001 Szentendre Pf- 63. E-mail: buzas@ sznm.hu