Gyöngyössy Márton (szerk.): Perspectives on the Past. Major Excavations in County Pest (Szentendre, 2008)

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The Sarmatian cemetery used around the close of the 2nd century and the earlier 3rd century was investigated in 1995 at Sződliget, in an area known as Csörög, as part of the excavations preceding the construction of Road 2/A (М2). The mostly looted graves lay scattered on a low hill and contained the period’s typical costume accessories, including the so-called Sarmatian buckled belt with long, narrow buckles and strap ends, which were worn by the men of the new Sarmatian groups arriving after the Marcomannic wars. The graves were often enclosed within a ditch, a general practice among the Sarmatians. A previously undocumented funerary rite was also noted during the excavation: in many cases, a fire was lit either in

the grave pit or beside it, probably as part of the burial rite (and an expression of the cult of fire widespread among the Sarmatians). The remains of a funerary bier were identified in one grave from the post-holes in the floor of the grave pit, a previously undocumented burial feature of the Sarmatian period.

A few Germanic settlement features were also uncovered at the site. The Quadic settlement was probably established after the abandonment of the cemetery. This settlement was more or less co-eval with the Quadic village at Vác-Csörögirét, lying some 1.5-2 kilometres away.

Valéria Kulcsár

Л Sarmatian cemetery at Sződliget