Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 33/4. (2013)
Articles
Churchyards in the Transylvanian Basin from the 11th to the first half of the 13th centuries 151 9. The topographical location of the churchyards (Pl. 1, PI. 6-7, PI. 20-21, PI. 40, PI. 41, PI. 51) The choice of the burial site was also - although indirectly - a part of the burial customs ot community. There is another characteristic feature of the churchyards which István Méri already drew our attention to: i. e. medieval cemeteries were usually in the centre of the settlement so they were limited to the area of the settlement.80 As none of the cemeteries and settlements has been excavated so far, we have no idea how these cemeteries fitted in the landscape from a topographical aspect in the Transylvanian Basin. We can do nothing else but sum up the available data: A. Castle cemeteries around churches 1. In a castle: Alba luha-Roman Catholic Cathedral, Cluj-Napoca-Mänä^fur, Feldioara (?), Orästie-Round Church, Sighi^oara-Biserica din Deal, §irioara. 2. In an outer castle district: Däbäca-Casf/e Area IV, Däbäca-A. Tamass Garden. Questionable: Tärgu Murey B. Churchyards excavated around castle: Alba lulia-Roman Bath, Däbäca-Boldägä, Moldovene^ti- Unitarian Church. C. Churchyards in rural settlements: Avräme§ti, Bära, Cärfa, Chidea, Drau§eni, Eremieni, Feldioara, Gärbova, Geoagiu de Jos, Jucu, More^ti, Mo§na, Mugeni, Odorheiu Secuiesc-Säntimreu, Säcädate, Sänväsii, Sfäntu Gheorghe, Sighi^oara-Dealul Viilor, Simeria Veche, Säncraiu de Mure§, Miercurea Ciuc-§umuleu, Viscri, Uliey Problematic, questionable: Giläu. E. (Perhaps) the cemetery of a monastery surrounded by walls: Moigrad-Poro/issum, Sighi§oara-fhe cemetery of the monastery, Sic (?). Without data: Cricäu, Mediae Sebe§, Tärgu Murey 10. Churches (Fig. 5; PL 6, PI. 22, PI. 35, PL 39, Pl. 40A, PL 44, PL 47.1.A-48, PL 49) The spiritual centre of the (Christian) cemetery is the church.81 However - in spite of most other sites - in Cluj-Napoca-Mandf fur or Däbäca- Castle Area IV it was not found in the middle of the cemetery, but in its E half of the cemeteries. The simple small church was excavated almost on the NE edge of the plateau. The orientation of the churches is E-W with the shrine on the E side and the nave in the W.82 The churches of the Árpádian era cemeteries found in the Transylvanian Basin are relatively small just like most of the others known in other areas of the Hungarian Kingdom.83 In this region even the largest one is shorter than 15 metres, which is in connection with the economic capacity and demographic size of the communities. Unfortunately, the churches from Cluj-Napoca-Mänä§tur Abbey are not known. Church Length Width Inner of the nave Foundation c Width of ° foundations Däbäca-Casf/e Area IV 11,50 m 6,00 m 6,00 x 4,00 m lime+sand, stone 1,25; 0,75 - 0,80 m Däbäca-Л. Tämas’s . ori . . „„ clay, stone, carved „ „„ garden Church 6’90 m ca4’80m 4,30 x4,00 m Qi^stone_____________°'80 m Church 1^°^^ 13,19 m 5,75 m 6,10 x 4,75 m lime+sand, stone 1,00 m Church 2°^^ 17,70 m ? 13,00 x 8,00 m lime+sand, stone ? Church 3° 19,70 m ? cca. 13,00 x 8,00 m lime+sand, stone 1,25 m Ulie?-Church 1 ramnjfd earth’ black earth, yellow clay, 0,90-1,00 m stones Geoagiu de Jos 9,00 5,5 m; 2,00 m 7,00 m; 5,5 m roman brick 0,70 m Orä§tie-Round Church 10,66 m 9,33 m 6,87 x 6,56 m earth, sand, mortar 1,06 m Streisängeorgiu 10,00 m 5,75 m 8,5 m; 5,75 m stones 1,00 m Fig. 5. The measurements data of churches. 81 Rush 1941. 82 Szatmári 2005, 28. 83 For example, see: Szathmári 2005; Valter 2005. 80 Méri 1944, 5.
