Sófalvi András - Visy Zsolt (szerk.): Tanulmányok a székelység középkori és fejedelemség kori történelméből - Énlaka konferenciák 3. (Énlaka - Székelyudvarhely, 2012)
Demjén Andrea: Előzetes beszámoló a Both váránál végzett régészeti kutatásokról
Demjén Andrea ELŐZETES BESZÁMOLÓ A BOTH VÁRÁNÁL VÉGZETT RÉGÉSZETI KUTATÁSOKRÓL Preliminary Archaeological Researches at Both-Castle (Abstract) Both-Castle is situated in the eastern area of Gheorgheni city (Harghita County), on a rocky plateau located in the vicinity of the national road (12 C) leading towards Lacu Roşu. In 1960, Székely Zoltán and Tarisznyás Márton performed a trial archaeological excavation inside the castle. The archaeological report mentions that the citadel probably had an ellipsoidal shape (its dimensions being 33 x 18 m). On its eastern and western sides this structure was surrounded by some defence ditches. The walls of the fortress (1,50 m thick) were built using large pebbles and mortar as binding material. The construction of the fortress was dated at the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century. The results of the researches undertaken at this site in 2009-2010 confirmed the presence of a tower and its surrounding defensive wall made of stone, both of them being built directly on the natural stones. The dimensions of the tower are 11 x 18 m. The tower’s entrance was probably situated on its eastern side. The defence wall — unearthed on the eastern side of the fortress - had a circular shape. If we have a look at the applied masonry technique, there is no doubt that the construction of this tower and that of the fortress were not contemporaneous. A relative dating link between these two structures can’t be established yet. Based on the discovered archaeological material we can state that before the end of the 13th century the tower was already erected. Both-Castle can be included among the private castles as regards both its shape and its disposition in the surrounding landscape. The scarce amount of discovered artefacts shows that this structure was rarely or only occasionally inhabited, the permanent residence of its owner being probably situated somewhere on the area of the present-day town of Gheorgheni. The future excavations will focus on establishing the actual shape, dating and the exact moment of the fortress’s destruction. The importance of this castle in the history of the Giurgeu District is reflected by the fact that it is the first structure dated in the Arpadian age which has been documented until now. 160
