Budapest Régiségei 41. (2007)
TANULMÁNYOK - TERERI György - HORVÁTH Antónia: Az Árpád-kori Kána falu vasleletei II
THE IRON FINDS FROM PERIOD II AT THE ARPÁDIAN VILLAGE AT KANA In this article we would like to present the iron finds from Árpád period villages excavated in the XI district of Budapest between 2003 and 2005. The first half of this study has already been published the Communicationes Archeologicae Hungáriáé from 2007. There we published objects connected to agricultural activities, animal keeping and daily life. In this article we would like to publish the other part of the article: consumer goods, tools and items of the armament, clothes. The bucket handles are common consumer goods of the time. They have a characteristic form typical of the period. In addition, two objects, probably bucket hoops as well as a large hoop came to light. The 7 keys unearthed in this area can be placed into three groups according to shape and size. The smaller ones - smaller then 10 cm were probably part of the locking mechanism of a box. In contrast, other keys are 2 or 2.5 times larger and were probably used to lock doors. Their rhombus-shaped handles are similar in both size categories of key. The middle size, iron rod decorated key forms can also be placed in different categories on the basis of their size and shape. The large numbers of keys raise other questions as well. This tendency seems to accord with results in recent literature that suggests that certain kinds of keys have an earlier dating. Two lock mechanisms were found. The fact that there are fewer locks than the numbers of keys suggests that in the 12 th -13 th century more than one key was made for each lock. Six pieces of rod-like iron objects may be parts of fetter locks. Because some of these objects were found in an extremely fragmentary condition it cannot be determined exactly whether all of them functioned in the same way. The large numbers of rivets, rings, nails and bits of iron plate are common finds from sites of this period. However, there were relatively few iron coffin fittings found at these Árpádian Period villages. The large numbers of objects connected to the military raise yet other questions. There are rare finds of sabers and mauls in addition to arrow and lance heads which suggest that there may be a Pecheneg connection. Many knife case stiffeners appear in the find material together with peasant-style knives. The existence of so many sheath stiffeners is thought-provoking. This weapon-like object would normally be uncommon in such numbers in such a village milieu in the 12 th - 13 th century. Some scabbard stiffeners also came to light although no double edged swords were discovered. However, the presence of many stiffeners suggests that more swords were used then we actually found. Altogether 18 spurs were unearthed during excavation. The majority of them (15 specimens) are of the earlier hunting type while three specimens are of the posterior rowel type. The 18 spurs which were found in the area of the village represent characteristic artifacts in the find materials from of Árpádian Period villages. The horseshoe for use on ice in connection with clothing remains unique at Árpádian Period sites. However, many characteristic forms common to the period such as braces, pins and buckles came to light. Several iron objects with unknown functions were brought to light during excavations as well. We can presume that the inhabitants of this village were well-to-do. Their prosperity is reflected in the large numbers of iron artifacts. In many cases, finds typical of this period (for example ice picks) or somewhat characteristic (for example axial scissors) were discovered in securely dated Árpádian Period environments. On the basis of previous work it could be demonstrated that these forms were used in this period as well. Dating them proved difficult because their shapes remained unchanged over centuries.
