Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 34-35. (2014-2015)
Articles
MEDIEVAL WEAPONS FROM BISTRA MURE$ULUI ZALÁN GYŐRFI Keywords: arms, coat of plates, horse equipment, fortress, Middle Ages Cuvinte cheie: arme, piaci de armurä, accesorii de cälärie, cetate, Evul Mediu Kulcsszavak: fegyver, lemezpáncél, lovasfelszerelés, vár, középkor The finds from Bistra Mure$ului represent the richest weapon assemblage in the Upper Mures region, so far. The weapons and harnesses were discovered in the surroundings of an unknown medieval fortification in specialized literature. Besides the dating and evaluation of the finds, we will also talk about the identification of the fortification, its owners, and the possible functions of the building. A few years ago several dozens of iron objects came into the Mure§ County Museum’s possession partly by donation, partly by takeover. Usually the circumstances of similar discoveries are either unknown or questionable, but this was not the case. The exact location of this find was marked and the circle of objects assuredly stemming from the same site was also ascertained.1 At a first glance it could be established that the collection consisted mainly of weapons, weapon accessories and few objects of horse equipment. Hereinafter, we will undertake their presentation and analysis, highlighting the fact that this is so far the richest find of medieval metal objects and the most abounding weapon assemblage of the Upper Mure§ region. Due to the lack of archaeological excavations, the mentioned finds can only be dated by means of their morphological characteristics, analogies and other datable objects of the same collection. Beside presenting the newly identified site and assessing the assemblage of artefacts, we will shortly discuss the possible functions of the site. The site Bistra Mure§ului (Dédabisztratelep) lies between the Cälimani (Kelemen) and Gurghiu (Görgényi) mountains at the Mure§ (Maros) gorges gate. The finds turned up at the foot of a precipitous boulder 11 would like to thank Mr. Pop Iuliu Cristinel for the information regarding the places of discovery. rising above the high terrace of Bistra (Bisztra) creek’s valley, northeast from the settlement. A narrow path, scooped into the rock during the ages, leads to the rock’s dissected 30 meters long and only 10-12 meters wide plateau. At the plateau’s north-western end a circle shaped cistern with a diameter of 2.8-3.0 m was dug and is probably well filled up by now. No traces of construction can be seen on the rock’s surface, but to the east from the narrow path, in its close vicinity, the foundation of a ruined wall has been preserved in a small spot. According to the locals, the cistern was cleaned and searched’ in the third part of the 20th century by the village’s history teacher and his pupils, interested in local history. However, the local school holds no archaeological material, the collected items might be in private possession or may even have been lost. On the terrace lying at the rock’s foot, on the road leading to the fortress one can notice heaps of stone that allude to the remains of walls. One can also not exclude the possibility that these may be related to Roman finds excavated in the surrounding area. Further research is required in order to clarify the relationship between the Roman finds and the Roman road mentioned by Neigebaur. Few sources are known in relation to the site, known by locals under the name Cetate. Citing a teacher from Reghin (Szászrégen), J. F. Neigebaur mentions remains of walls and the discovery of bones on the territory of the village Deda (Déda), without determining its exact location. A few paragraphs later he talks about the Deda castle that MARISIA XXXIV-XXXV, 2014-2015, p. 117-138.
