Fehér György szerk.: A Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeum Közleményei 1992-1994 (Budapest, 1994)

TAKÁCS ISTVÁN: Cumanian animal keeping at Szentkirály, a 15th-16th century site in Central Hungary

level did not sink. No damaging microorganisms could survive in the sulphurous environment. This well contained bones from a number of small vertebrates which lived in the area including birds. In addition, remains of domesticates were also discovered. The partial reconstruction of Medieval fauna was greatly enhanced by the hundreds of insect remains found in this feature. The majority of these belonged to weevils (Curculionidae), while hard wing covers of a rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes nasicornis L.) are indicative of the Medieval existence of oak (Quercus sp.) forests in the area. 6. Conclusions In summary, following its settlement, the previously nomadic people of Szentkirály utilized a multitude of farming methods. They developed a sedentary way of life and adopted a number of customs from neighboring Hungarian villages. This is clearly illustrated by the widespread keeping and exploitation of pigs at this site. Many rites, however, related to the cultic significance of the horse were retained in this community. 7. Notes TAKÁCS, I. 1988-1989 ^ON DEN DRIESCH, A. 1976 3

BÖKÖNYI, S. 1974. p. 13. 4

MATOLCSI, J. 1970. p. 93.; BARTOSIEWICZ, L. 1985. p. 76. 5

VTTT, V. O. 1952. p. 172. Although published without scales, the massive skull of such a large dog from Túrkeve — Móricz may be seen in Figure 148, BÖKÖNYI 1974. p. 332, and from Szentkirály itself in Photo 69, PÁLÓCZI HORVÁTH, A. 1989. 7

PALÓCZI HORVÁTH, A. 1989. p. 114. 8

BÖKÖNYI, S. 1970. p. 292. 9

TAKÁCS, I. 1990. 10

KASSAI, M. K. — TAKÁCS I. 1985. p. 853. A runner made from a right horse radius is depicted in PÁLÓCZI HORVÁTH, A. 1989. p. 114, Figure 69. 11 PÁLÓCZI HORVÁTH, A. — TAKÁCS, I. 1983. p. 2. Such an incised phalanx was published as an "astragalus" by PÁLÓCZI HORVÁTH 1991. p. 255, Figure 21. Indeed, in addition to cattle astragali, horse phalanges are also shown as some sort of a bowling toy in "Children's games", a painting by Pieter Bruegel the older from around 1560. BROWN 1980. p. 6. 12

Minor fractures on the oral end of nasalia were identified on one of these skulls in PÁLÓCZI HORVÁTH, A. 1989. Photo 70. More drastic damage is shown on another skull published by TAKÁCS 1988-1989. p. 106, Figure 18. 13

MÉRI, I. 1964. p. 111. 14

PACALA, V. 1909. p. 112.