Budapest Régiségei 30. (1993)

TÖRTÉNET, TOPOGRÁFIA = GESCHICHTE, TOPOGRAPHIE - Márity Erzsébet: Kronológiai problémák és városszerkezeti sajátosságok Aquincum polgárvárosában 137-147

Although this process commenced as early as the end of the 2nd century, the heyday of villa farms followed in the 3rd century (notes 21-26). A lamp manufacturing workshop is known from that time in the eastern outskirts of the town. Kilns, however, had also operated within the town in the area where later the macellum stood. Most of the burials took place in the town's eastern side as well, although stone sarcophagi and brick graves have been found in the town's southern end as well (notes 28-29). No structural changes took place within the city walls during the first half of the 4th century. Due to disturbances along the frontier and deteriorating public security, however, urban life withdrew into the confines of the town's former western section in the second half of that century (note 31). In the case of the villa buildings, only smaller reconstructions are known from this late period. There are as yet, no newly built 4th century villas discovered in this area. Burials continued on the eastern edge of the town while a separate group of mid-4th century graves has been observed around an ancient Christian chapel (note 32). In the chapter on architectural history an attempt was made to review all relevant data concerning 2nd, 3rd and 4th century constructions, rebuilding and destructions (notes 34-70). This is followed by a cross-examination of chronological data and historical events: artifactual material in the civil town dates to the last decades of the 1st century, approximately simultaneously with the construction of the Óbuda ala camp (notes-78). Several factors must have stimulated a switch into stone architecture. Aquincum became a provincial seat in A. D. 107. The town was granted the rank of municipium in A. D. 124 and the construction of the aquaeductus may also have had a stimulating influence. The destruction of several public buildings as well as the potters' settlement at the Gas Factory site may be related to the devastation of the Marcomannic wars. The damaged buildings were rebuilt during the subsequent wave of reconstruction by which the town also tried to live up to the rank of colonia granted in A. D. 194. The destruction of several buildings as well as a number of carefully hidden coin hoards may connected with Germanic incursions that took place in the middle of the 3rd century (notes 83-85). The town was again laid to waste in the 370's as is indicated by another hoard of coins. Finally, an attempt was made to estimate the number of inhabitants in the town by comparing the areas of the/oram axidprincipia and considering the number of seats in the amphitheatrum as well as the capacity of the town's public baths (notes 87-94). These estimates make it probable that one may reckon with a population of 5000-6000 souls in the 3rd century civil town. Erzsébet MÁRTTY t Historical Museum, Budapest Museum Aquincum 145