Garam Éva szerk.: Between East and West - History of the peoples living in hungarian lands (Guide to the Archaeological Exhibition of the Hungarian National Museum; Budapest, 2005)

HALL 8 AND CORRIDOR - The Avar period (567/568-804 A.D.) (Éva Garam)

112. Cast bronze strap ends with animal combat scenes from Tiszafüred, Kecel and Zilah. 8th century weapons) betray a number of western Germanic and Gepidic elements. The cemetery was again used for burial in the early 8th century, corresponding to the community's fourth generation, with the newly-dug graves often overlying the earlier ones. The 8th century saw the emergence of the homogenous "bronze culture" characterising the entire span of the late Avar period throughout the khaganate, a reflection also of the Avars' seclusion from the world. Cast, gilt or tinned bronze belt mounts, harness ornaments and female jewellery articles were covered with plant motifs and animal figures. Most popular among the latter were depictions of a mythical creature, the griffin (Fig. Ill) and animal combat scenes (Fig. 112) combined with tendril designs. The popularity of these two motifs is reflected in the label given to late Avar art ("griffin-tendril culture"), which had its roots in Eurasian and Byzantine art. Animals gradually disappeared from the artistic repertory during the 8th century, to be exclusively replaced with tendril patterns by the later half of the century. This tendency can be traced also among the finds from the Tiszafüred cemetery. The belt sets from burials dating to the late 8th century are all covered with designs composed of tendril motifs. The Tiszafüred cemetery also reflects the political changes and the historical events. The late graves are poor in finds compared to the earlier ones, and there are no new forms or ornamental designs. The earlier strict burial rite seems to have disintegrated: horses, which were formerly only buried alongside warrior