Madaras László – Tálas László – Szabó László szerk.: Tisicum - A Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok Megyei Múzeumok Évkönyve 9. (1996)

László Madaras: The Question of the Early Avar Niche Grave Population's Continuity in the 8th Century (A korai avar fülkesíros népesség továbbélésének kérdése a VIII. században)

number of explored niche graves has been multiplied since Csallány's work was published. Let us outline the new results which compel us to take into consideration the question of niche grave burial custom. Grave 384 of the Szentes-Kaján cemetery was a niche grave, a study of it was already been published by József Korek in 1943. Szentes-Kaján Cemetery, Grave 384 The length of the skeleton was 170cm. It was niche burial of a man with a horse. The skull of the man was at a depth of 150cm and the feet were at a depth of 205cm. Hemispherical bronze button on the left side of the pelvis. Oblong, decorated, bronze belt-mount near it. Iron buckle with curved sides in the middle of the sacrum. Decorated belt-mount on the left ilium. Hemispherical button on the left iliac crest. An iron ring near it. Iron buckle, iron belt-loop, and fragment of a long iron knife, by the right hand. The horse lay aslant, with its skull pointing towards the man's skull. An iron bit in its mouth. A pair of stirrups on either side of the horse skeleton. A big surcingle buckle near the stirrup on the right. The length of the horse skeleton was 190cm.

6 The Szentes-Kaján Cemetery has been studied, analysed and examined from the chronological point of view by several archeologists. According to their results the cemetery probably came into use after 670/680 and before the 8th century. Grave 384 was probably dug during the first period of the use of the cemetery. Its belt-mounts with interlace pattern and its harness indicate that the corpse of the "outstanding" member of the community was buried in the last decades of the 7th century.

6 An Avar cemetery with graves belonging to the same period was excavated by Csalog Zsolt in Rákóczifalva (Rákóczifalva-Kastélydomb) at the beginning of the 1960s. 73 graves were opened, among which the most important was grave "B", known as the goldsmith's grave of Rákóczifalva.

7 There were four niche graves in the cemetery altogether. Rákóczifalva-Kastélydomb Grave 3/126. Niche grave. D: 115cm at the N end, 150cm at the S end of the grave. L: 5 Korek 1943. p. 44. 6 Korek 1943. pp. 79—81.; Madaras 1991. pp. 81—94. 7 Selmeczi—Madaras 1979—80. pp. 141—171. 180+60cm. W: 66—82cm. Orientation:N—S 19°. The dead was buried in an extended, supine position. The skeleton was slightly decayed. H: 174cm. Discoloration of the ground suggests coffin burial, but the size and shape of the coffin cannot be reconstructed. Only the shins of the skeleton were in the niche. Grave-goods

: Oblong iron buckle with rounded corners, incurved sides and tongue, made from iron wire of circular section (3), on the right side of the pelvis. Oval iron buckle made from iron wire of circular section, with tongue (4), on the right pelvis. Loop made from l-shaped bronze band (2) on the lumbar vertebrae. Fragments of a round, pressed, bronze button (1), near the left ankle. Fragments of silver sheets (+) on the left of the lumbar vertebrae. Horseshoe on the external side of either femur. Perhaps outside the coffin (?) Animal bones on the external side of the right femur, near the pelvis, near the left shin. Anadonda shell near the left shin, 15 cm above the bottom of the pit. Presumably it had originally been in one of the graves of the Bronze Age. Grave 7/78 D: 140cm by the skull, 214cm by the feet. Orientation: N—S 8° .Niche grave. Wellpreserved female skeleton in an extended, supine position. The grave pit did not become distinct. Part of the skeleton slipped down from its original position. Due to this the length of the skeleton cannot be measured. The shape and size of the coffin cannot be reconstructed but the discoloration of the ground gives an indication of it. Grave-goods: Oval iron buckle (1) under the pelvis. Flattened, spherical, brownish paste bead (2) by the skull. Light-grey spindle-whorl cut from clay vessel, with an eccentric hole, on the left side of the pelvis. Four hooknails for the coffin made from plain iron wire (4). Fragments of decayed wood on the inside of each hooknail. Hand-made, oval, brownish pottery vessel with everted rim. h:21cm rd: 10,6cm, bd:8,1cm (6). It was found by the skull 10cm above it. Perhaps outside the coffin.

(?) Silver ring (+) by the left foot. Grave 59/108 D: 160cm, L: 200cm with the niche, W: 90cm. Niche Grave. The South end of the niche D:215cm W: 135cm. Orientation: N--S 27°. The skeleton was very badly-preserved. The 138