Horváth László szerk.: Zalai Múzeum 17. (Közlemények Zala megye múzeumaiból, Zalaegerszeg, 2008)

BASTICZ ZOLTÁN: Római kori vaseszközök Eszteregnye-Ojtó-dülő lelőhelyről

Roman Age iron tools from Eszteregnye-Ojtó-dűlő Rich and diversified metal material was excavated at the site Eszteregnye-Ojtó-dülő. In this paper these tools will be reviewed and analysed. The site was discovered during the construction works of M7 motorway, in September 2005. The site is situated between Eszteregnye and Rigyác, on the eastern side of Ibrikó-brook (Fig 2). Zita Tokai carried out the preventive excavation, between 27 September and 28 November 2005. 83 features were unearthed on a surface of 1600 m

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. A part of the findings belong to the Middle Copper Age, the greater part can be dated to the Late Roman Period. A feature group including 6 pits, dated to the Balaton-Lasinja culture, were excavated near the hilltop. 77 features - mainly pits and post-holes - were found by the brook. 14 pits contained metal tools. Among the artefacts there are handicraft tools like wedge-axe (Fig 3.1), iron cold chisel (Fig 3.3), big, solid iron anvil (Fig 3.4); agricultural tools like weeding hoe (Fig 3.2), mouldboard (Fig 4.1). The iron cowbell was probably used in stock raising (Fig 5.1). Besides, numerous smaller iron tools used during everyday life were found. For example D-formed iron buckle (Fig 4.3), L-shaped tab (Fig 4.5), cramp iron (Fig 4.8), drawn headed iron nail (Fig 4.9), used split spin (Fig 4.10), iron awl used for leather work (Fig 4.11), five tangled knives with single cutting edges (Fig 4.2-6). One of them is almost undamaged, only the blade was curved. The identification of 4 tools is unsure. One of them (Fig 4.2) was maybe a plough pulling chains based on analogies. This definition is not sure because some special form loops are missing (eight-formed, spongeformed) (PALÁGYI 2000, 26). Functions of the other 3 tools are unknown (Fig 4.4, 6-7). On the basis of analogies of the finding as well as the Constantinian bronze coin and ceramics from feature 62, the settlement at Eszteregnye-Ojtó-dülő can be dated to the Roman Late Imperial Age (3-4. century). The great number of tools found in the features, indicate the fast destruction of the village, the inhabitants couldn't collect the expensive metal objects (SZABÓ 2004, 70). The position of feature 32 may be the proof that it was in connection with a smithy. The greatest part of the settlement lay west of the Ibrikó-brook. Csilla Száraz excavated that site - called Rigyác-Csikény-dülő East in 2000-2001 and 2005 (SZÁRAZ 2004, 262). The flammable smithy was well isolated, on the eastern side of the water. This settlement structure is common in the later centuries, too (SZABÓ G Y 1954, 126). The anvil and the other tools can be connected to the smith; there were some pieces of iron slag in pits (Feature 31, 37, 48, 62-69), too. On the basis of the examinations the raw metal was mined neither in the vicinity nor in Pannónia. This is another proof, that the smiths in Pannónia used raw metal mined in the iron mines of Noricum and Illyricum (FITZ-MÓCSY 1990, 129). Around feature 32 and the anvil no more features were found, which could be identified as smelter or forge. This is strange because the anvil was always around the fire, and there were lots of slag. Probably, the furnace was built on the surface, and was destroyed without a clue. I think all of the data prove that the smithy was here, on the eastern part of the roman settlement. Translated by Zoltán Fullár