Fülöp Éva Mária – László János szerk.: Komárom-Esztergom Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei 15. (Tata, 2009)
Körösi Andrea: Visegrád 10-17. századi állatcsontleletei - Animal bone finds from the 10-17th centuries, discovered in Visegrád
VISEGRÁD 10-17. SZÁZADI ÁLLATCSONTLELETEI ANIMAL BONE FINDS FROM THE 10-17™ CENTURIES, DISCOVERED IN VISEGRÁD ANDREA KÖRÖSI Visegrád is of great importance as far as the researches of the Middle Ages are concerned since it has been an inhabited area since the early Arpadian age (in Hungarian history: 897-1301) and the royal palace was one of the most important residences for the Hungarian kings of the 14-15"' centuries. In this study our knowledge acquired in connection with the nourishment of people having lived here and the animals consumed most frequently is being presented on the basis of io-i7 t h century animal-bone material. The places of discovery are to be classed among three large topographic units: Lower Castle, Royal palace and Palace Garden. The 22,730 pieces of bone fractions have been have been identified so far, 94% of which are remains of domestic animals and 5.7% are remains of wild animals. Among the domestic animals the useful farm animals are dominating. On the basis of the finds 9 domestic mammals and 6 domestic fowls could be distinguished. The percentage distribution of the domestic animal species is different in the three fields mentioned above but it was the cattle which occurred in the largest quantities among the domestic mammals. In the case of the Royal palace and the palace garden, the pig was the second most frequent animal and the sheep was the third one. In the Lower Castle numerous sheep bones were discovered. The eating habits of people living in the Lower Castle and the Palace widely differed. In medieval Hungary the cattle was the most important farm animal. It served not only as significant food source but also as draught animal besides the horse. From the 1300's on its role in trade had been growing gradually, by the time of the Turkish era the Hungarian cattle export assumed considerable proportions. In the cattle populations of Visegrád several types can be distinguished which differed both in body and horn measurement, as well as in form. Besides the small-horned, shorter cattle of the Arpadian age a new kind of cattle appeared which had a larger body and a considerable live weight. The height at withers in the case of cattle is growing gradually during the Middle Ages. The height at withers in the Arpadian age grows from 98-127 centimetres to 110-144 centimetres up to the time of Turkish rule. In the Arpadian Age the cattle skull (type brachiceros) was small, curved, of short pedicle and of high, peaked linear dimension. The skull form of the cattle imported from East-southeast is different from the Hungarian population; the pedicles are both longer and larger. During the Turkish rule and the modern times the representatives of both the long-horned and short-horned cattle in parallel with each other are to be found. Sheep were middle-sized or tall animals. There are several bones of young sheep among the sheep bone remains which relate to the primary utilization of sheep as food. In the case of the pig a great amount of bone remains were discovered, which proves that the pork and the meat of pigs slaughtered at the age of 1-1.5 years were preferred and frequently consumed. The rabbit was also a popular dish which is proved by the large quantity of rabbit bones excavated on site No. 7 in the Lower Castle. The predominant kind of poultry was the domestic fowl but also the domestic goose, the pigeon and duck appeared, just like the peacock and guinea-fowl which, however, could be found seldom. The turkey is missing from the finds, although it was a popular kind of fowl in the 17 t h century. The fauna list of wild animals is extremely long, and it shows considerable differences between the sites. As far as the Royal Palace is concerned, eight wild mammal species (red deer, roe deer, wild boar, wolf, wild cat, brown bear, brown hare and red squirrel) and nine wildfowl species (thrush, woodpigeon, rook, partridge, coot, garganey, pheasant, owl and black kite) were to be distinguished there. In the Palace Garden the bones of four wild mammal species (red deer, wild boar, brown bear and brown hare) were discovered, while not a single wildfowl could be identified. In the Lower Castle the remains of six wild mammal species (red deer, roe deer, wild boar, fox, wildcat and brown hare) as well as two wild fowl spices (wood-pigeon, partridge) were collected. In the Middle Ages, hunting did not belong to the food-providing activities any more. The aim of hunting was partly obtaining meat, partly gaining trophies, leather and fur. The red deer, roe deer and wild boar were important wild animals hunted for their meat. The partridge, pheasant and garganey belonging to the group of wildfowl were hunted on a regular basis. The colourful and diversified range of meals was extended by consuming fish. Translated by Gabriella Juhász 45
