Kisné Cseh Julianna (szerk.): Tatabányai Múzeum 2013 - Tatabányai Múzeum Évkönyve 3. (Tatabánya, 2013)
Csikó Anna: A vértesszőlősi római villagazdaság
A vértesszőlősi római kori villagazdaság 65 Roman villa rustica in Vértesszőlős Anna Csikó During the preliminary excavation of the archaeological site, the remains of five Roman buildings were discovered, which were all parts of the villa’s pars rustica. However, according to the aerial photos of the area, at least another 3-5 buildings (including the corridor-type pars urbana with five rooms) belonged to this former Roman estate. These are located under the plowed field north of the researched area. Building Nr. I, which is located in the northern part of the area, is divided into two rooms. Its floor area is 139 m2. The building’s foundation and walls are mainly made of Jurassic limestone, to a lesser extent of travertine from Vértesszőlős, and its roof was covered with roof tiles. A part of the building’s floor level and the remains of the furnace were also discovered. The house was built in the early 2nd or 3rd century, and it was probably destroyed in a fire. Building Nr. II has a rectangular floor area with 3 rooms, it is located south of building Nr. I. The floor area of the rooms is 26,4 m2, 4,8 m2 and 6,72 m2. There was a fence, a well, a garbage pit and some postholes south of the house. Also, south of the building ran a wall made of Jurassic limestone in east-west direction, which was separating different parts of the pars rustica from each other. Both the building and the stone wall were built in the time of Commodus-Severus, the house was used until the second half of the 4th century. It is possible that the building’s history had two chapters. The remains of a doorstep were discovered between the 1st and 2nd rooms. Based on the finds unearthed, this building served either as a pottery workshop or as a warehouse. This is supported by the fact that from the 3rd century the recommenced production of terra sigil- lata and stamped Pannonian wares, and somewhat later the production of late glazed pots took place in smaller workshops, e.g. in villas—similar to the ones in Vértesszőlős, Gorsium, Tokod and Nagydém). Building Nr. V is adjacent to building Nr. II but with different orientation. Only three walls of the house are known, therefore its real floor area cannot be determined. It was in use from the age of Hadrian to the 3rd century. Based on the unearthed fragments of a dish decorated with snakes, this building functioned probably as a sanctuary, but judging from its layout, it cannot be ruled out that it was a barn. Building Nr. Ill is located far from the others, in the southern part of the archaeological site, and it had at least four rooms with floor area 40,6 m2, 21 m2, 15,4 m2 and 15,2 m2. This was a residential building since its first room had an underfloor heating system, and probably the walls were heated as well. The floor of the first room was covered with foor tiles, the walls were painted claret red. Two parts of the floor level were discovered in the 2nd room: a ter- razzo and a rammed floor. There was a furnace in the corner of the fourth room. The building was in use from the age of Commodus to the second half of the 4th century. There is evidence that metalwork activity was conducted around the house, therefore it could be the residence of a metalworking craftsman, or perhaps the house of the vilicus. Building Nr. IV is located northeast of building Nr. Ill, and it had at least two rooms. The floor area of the first room is 49 m2. There were five postholes inserted in a wall, and there was one posthole next to the opposite wall—based on this information, the house was built on a stone foundation and had a lightweight construction. A furnace was discovered southeast of this room, wherein a grindstone, an iron sickle and another grindstone were found. The first room may be from the second half of the 4th century, the second room may be from the early Migration Period. The exact function of this building cannot be determined. Based on the results of the excavation and the aerial photos, the Roman villa rustica in Vértesszőlős was one of the medium-sized or large villas. According to the position and orientation of the buildings, the villa is one of the so-called „group layout” villas. Usually, a mix of Jurassic limestone and travertine from Vértesszőlős was used to build these houses. Buildings Nr. I and V were built in the earliest period of the villa (2nd century-beginning of 3rd century). Buildings Nr. II and III belong to the second period of the villa rustica (end of 2nd century/be- ginning of 3rd century-second half of 4th century), building Nr. IV belongs to the third period (second half of 4th century-beginning of the Migration Period). A metalworking workshop was part of the villa, and it’s possible that—in addition to the agricultural activity—there was a pottery workshop, as well.
