Budapest Régiségei 35/1. (2002)

Pető Mária: A gellérthegyi oppidum déli oldalán végzett kutatások 1993-1997 között 125-133

A GELLÉRTHEGYI OPPIDUM DÉLI OLDALÁN VÉGZETT KUTATÁSOK 1993-1997 KÖZÖTT THE EXCAVATION OF THE GELLÉRTHEGY OPPIDUM'S SOUTHERN FORTRESS WALL (1993-1997) The purpose of our current excavation was to interpret the results of the excavation conducted by us between 1983-1987 on Gellérthegy's southern plateau (topographical lot number: 5392/1-2). The current excavation centered around the "great wall" uncovered during the 1983-1987 excavation (Fig. 3, worksite 1). Some of our colleagues participating in the excavation came from a background of natural science. With their help, we were able to conclude that the imposing rock wall is a natural formation and not man-made. This, however, does not rule out the possibility that it could have been part of the ancient defensive line. Since the structure and chronology of the fortifications on the hill's northern side were already known, we had material that could be used for comparisons. We realized that the structures on the southern side suffered so much damage - either already in historical times or during the modern age - that no interprétable archeological layers remained. We found and excavated a 10,5 m long and 50 cm wide cob wall heading west-east along the edge of the escarpment. Using a georadar we were able to follow this structure for another 50 m eastwards. Based on a dug-in fibula find from the 3rd century the cob wall can be dated to an earlier period. No remains indicating a settlement were found in this area of the mountain. Moreover, several Roman finds (early Roman gravestones, early Roman fibula, etc.) are known from the area. At the same time, all the finds from after the Celtic Age were recovered from this side of the mountain. We therefore concluded that the Celtic-Roman cultic center could only have been located here. We expect that the comparative pétrographie analysis of the luppiter Teutanus recovered from Rezeda street and the altar-stone from Bölcske will prove beyond doubt that we came to the the correct conclusion. 129