Savaria - A Vas Megyei Múzeumok értesítője 23/3. (1996-1998) (Szombathely, 1998)

Őskor - Marton Erzsébet: A Velem Szent Vid-i magyar-francia ásatás eredményei (1989–1991)

MARTON ERZSÉBET: A VELEM SZENT VID-I MAGYAR-FRANCIA ÁSATÁS EREDMÉNYEI (1989-1991) RESULTS OF THE FRENCH-HUNGARIAN JOINT EXCAVATION BETWEEN 1988-1991 Velemszentvid is a fortified site located at the western border of Hungary, not far from Irottkő (882 m), on the south-eastern foothills of the Alps. Szent Vid hill (508 m) is looking upon the small village of Velem. The hillfort was an ideal strategic point overseeing the Amber route, but it is open behind - toward the mines of the Alps. Thus the occupation of Velem Szent Vid bears closely upon the history of settlers in the Alpine region: in the Copper age, in the late Bronze age, in the early and late Iron ages. In 1989-91 we cut a trench across the lower end of the main rampart. At the light of our new investigations the main rampart was built by the Celts. But under the Celtic rampart we found some disturbed graves, a part of the palisade and two ovens. The northern side of the hill was however inhabited in the Late Bronze Age (partly by the people of tumulus culture). Material of this date was found both in the soil of the rampart and sealed underneath it. This will be discussed in more detail below. 1. Layer characterised by a number of disturbed graves. (Fig. 1.); T. 1-4. This layer is quite widespread and partly covers the pit which was associated with two ovens. The graves were so disturbed that the only find in its original position was a cup covered by a bowl. (Fig. 2. : Section RQ. III. AE 2-4) The bowl was of a particular type, with an inverted fluted rim and a handle. Its surface is graphitic. Underneath the bowl a fragmentary cup was found with ashes. The cup is decorated with vertical and horizontal fluted lines. In addition to these we found a large fragmentary urn. This last pot is of a type commonly found in the western Hallstatt cultural continuous from the HaA period, and it also occurred in the assemblage from Val. The bowl with a handle is also a local type and the best parallels are found in material from the tumulus culture and related groups. This form still existed in the first half of the HaA phase. The decoration on the small cup indicates that this is a local motif in the Carpathian Basin. We are of the opinion that the grave containing this pottery dates before the period HaA2. The same can be said of the pottery which characterises the layer above that of the disturbed graves. In this layer pots occurred with inverted rims and fluted decorations and some fragmentary conical, undecorated bowls. There was also a very interesting yellow amphora with a conical neck and a rim bending out. This form represents a real fine ware - parallel forms found elsewhere within the area of the Val and Kyjatice culture appear to be poor imitations of this type. The burials were placed over the ruins of the ovens and under the palisade. ^ 2. In 1990 we found some remains of a palisade, dated between the HB-D. (Fig. 2. Section RQ. II. A-D.) Since the position of the palisade was rather complicated, it is worth-while showing the whole context of the site. ; Probably the burials were disturbed by the building of a palisade and a trampled floor in the phase HaC/HaD. After this phase we can witness the destruction of the palisade by fire. In the course of clearing across the site, we discovered a timber mortise „in situ". South of this timber we discovered part of a floor surface, burnt red, and a further fragmentary floor with a number of associated postholes. These large postholes are on the same axis as the timber with the mortise, namely west-east. (Fig. 2.) We also discovered two rows of piles, running in a west-east direction, following the line of the terraces. These piles were actually dug into the bedrock, which had been plastered over with clay. The direction in which the palisade runs is completely different from the Celtic rampart - it follows the natural line of the slope. Some pottery was found associated with these features. (T. 5-10.) This comprised black graphitic bowls with inverted, faceted rims, a small bowl with a black, graphitic exterior, fired red inside and with an inverted, fluted rim, small bowls with an „S" profile, a small bowl with a narrow base and sides sloping outwards, the faceted rim of a large pot, small cups with handles , fragments of large red pots, and a fragment of slanted, fluted pottery. The decorated types included pots with incised „X" motifs, a fragment with two applied, concentric bands, a fragment painted with black graphite bands, a red-painted fragment and a pear-shaped spindle with fluted decoration. The painted ware in this assemblage is suggestive of material from the 61