The third series of Dissertationes Archaeologicae (DissArch) will be published as an open-access, annual, peer-reviewed online archaeological journal in PDF format with continuous page numbering. It is published in the first quarter following the current year. The journal covers the archaeology of Central and East Europe from prehistory to the early modern period. The journal will publish original research articles, field reports, doctoral theses review articles, and book reviews.
Institute of Archaeological Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University
Excavations in the legionary fortress of Brigetio in 2025
Research of the legionary camp at Brigetio began in 2015. Over the past 10 years, excavations have extended to the principia, a Late Roman apsidal basilica-type building, and the military bathhouse. During the 2025 season, a surface area of 7,100 m2 was excavated. The surfaces were situated relatively far from one another, functioning as test trenches across the praetentura. Ground-penetrating radar surveys had revealed the locations of several buildings, and on this basis we were abel to open trenches specifically aimed at examinig the valetudinarium, the horreum, the barracks and the scamnum tribunorum. Additional trenches were also opened in areas that could not be clearly identified through the radar imagery. In these areas, a large surviving section of opus spiactum flooring, several channels, and a 17th–18th century cemetery came to light.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dissertationes Archaeologicae
A team of the Institute of Archaeological Sciences of the Eötvös Loránd University have opened new areas for excavation at the Pilisszentiván-Hárs-erdő Roman village site. The investigation uncovered the entire area of Building D, which was a rectangle structure with stone foundations and an oven in the southwestern corner. East of this, Building E proved to be more extensive than previously anticipated. Another two buildings were identified in the excavation trenches. Besides the regular residential pottery, fragments of terra sigillata bowls were found which indirectly date the building of Building D before the Marcomannic War, and the abandonment of Building E to the beginning of the 3rd century.
2000 years of settlement horizons in the area of the second inner courtyard of the Neue Residenz in Salzburg
Archaeological excavations have been underway since September 2023 in the southern inner courtyard (Innenhof) and within the Neue Residenz in downtown Salzburg. These investigations have uncovered remains from a wide range of periods—from modern times back to the 1st century AD—offering valuable insights into Salzburg’s ancient, medieval, and post-medieval history. The complete excavation of the nearly 2,000 m² has significantly improved our understanding of the urban settlement structure of Roman, medieval, and Baroque Salzburg, contributing to the reconstruction of the topography of the municipium of Iuvavum and, subsequently, of medieval and early modern Salzburg.
Aequora Danubii cunctis transnare sub armis
The verse epitaph CIL III 3676, also published by Franz Bücheler in the Carmina Latina Epigraphica (CLE 427), which celebrates the deeds of a Batavian soldier, who first of his unit swam across the river Danube under the eyes of Hadrian, is very famous. The episode mentioned in the text, known also from Cassius Dio, as well as the possible unit in which the soldier had served have placed the text at the centre of a such lively academic discussion that reached also popular media. Nevertheless, it has not been suggested until now that the text might in fact have never been engraved on a funerary monument, but it might just be a poem, written in the Late Antiquity, which uses as a main topic some astonishing historical episode (mirabilia). The elements which support this hypothesis are multiple: (i) the text is known only from manuscripts containing literary texts, (ii) there is no reference to the find place or the place of preservation of the inscription, (iii) the type of text itself would be for its style and content an unicum in the epigraphic panorama, especially if we look at the verse inscriptions dedicated to soldiers. In this paper the text is analysed in a new light as an artistic product, probably composed in Late Antiquity, and compared with its possible historical sources and literary models. Moreover, its historical value is also tackled.
The Roman and Late Antique fortress of Trimammium lies roughly 3 km west–north-west of the village of Mechka, Ruse Region. Built on the right (south) bank of the Danube, the stronghold formed part of the Lower Danubian limes for some six centuries. The Egyptian geographer Claudius Ptolemy first recorded the name of the Roman military camp in the 2nd century AD; however, the ruins near Mechka were not associated with Trimammium until the early 20th century (by K. Shkorpil and M. Vankov). Systematic excavations began in 2006–2009 and resumed after a long pause in 2017, 2019, and 2022. Across seven seasons, parts of the fortified area, the defensive system and the necropolis were investigated.
The Danube riverbed near the Roman Fort in Iža-Leányvár
This paper presents the results of investigations carried out in the Danube riverbed between Brigetio and the northern shore at today’s Iža‑Leányvár. It begins with a concise overview of previous research—undertaken mainly on the north bank—which prompted the Slovak team to examine the river itself and ultimately led to the discovery of the piers of a Roman bridge. It then reports the aim, methods, and results of the most recent underwater work conducted in December 2022. The survey confirms that the structure was erected between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. The paper concludes by outlining future avenues of inquiry to improve our understanding of the hitherto unknown Roman bridge across the Danube, its construction, and the reasons for its erection.
Evidence of fishing from the excavations of the Roman fortress of Sexaginta Prista (Ruse, Bulgaria)
The excavations of the Roman fortress of Sexaginta Prista (Ruse, Bulgaria) were carried out in 1976–1978, 2005–2010, and 2015–2022, respectively, revealing strata associated with the Late Hellenistic, Roman, Late Roman, Medieval and Modern periods. The subject of this paper is the 38 lead fishing net weights (sinkers) from the recovered find material, almost all of which were found in 4th–6th-century AD structures and layers.
Medieval life along the Roman limes at the Danube, Ruse Region
This article presents data on forts investigated archaeologically in the Ruse region, with a particular focus on the medieval period. None of the forts in the region has been fully excavated, but campaigns conducted in recent years by archaeologists from the Ruse Regional History Museum have considerably expanded the body of available information.
First Open-Air Mousterian Site in the Mátra Mountains (North Hungary)
The recently documented open-air site of Szurdokpüspöki-Lapos-tanya in the Western Mátra Mountains represents an occurrence of the Middle Palaeolithic Mousterian industry in the North Hungarian Range. The site was identified in the 1980s by László Tóth, an agronomist from Pásztó, and visited again by the authors in November 2024. The total assemblage comprises 679 lithic artefacts made almost exclusively of limnic silicites, most likely of local origin. Technological analysis indicates a predominantly non-Levallois core reduction strategy, with debitage dominated by direct percussion with a hard hammer and only limited evidence of bifacial reduction. The toolkit accounts for 30% of the assemblage, an exceptionally high proportion for open-air sites. It is rich in side-scrapers and retouched flakes; typologically, it closely resembles the Mousterian industries of Subalyuk Cave in the Bükk Mountains. However, the frequency of Quina-type side-scrapers is lower than in the assemblage of Layer 11 of said cave. Overall, patination patterns suggest multiple phases of occupation, while the presence of a single radiolarite side-scraper of probable Carpathian origin indicates rare long-distance raw-material exchange. The high proportion of ad hoc tools, together with the proximity of raw material sources, may suggest a repeatedly used lithic workshop site or a short-term camp. This discovery extends the known distribution of Mousterian sites in Hungary and highlights the importance of open-air sites for reconstructing Neanderthal settlement and land-use strategies in northern Hungary.
Szekszárd-Palánk and the postglacial recolonization of the Pannonian Basin
Szekszárd-Palánk, located in South Transdanubia (Hungary), was discovered in the late 1950s and has yielded several hundred archaeological finds, including lithics and faunal remains. Initially, the site was regarded as ‘the latest Palaeolithic’ site in Hungary; later, it was reclassified as an Early Mesolithic industry bridging the Palaeolithic–Mesolithic transition. More recently, the site was proposed to be evidence for the continuity of Epigravettian hunter-gatherers from the Late Glacial to the Early Holocene. However, recent findings regarding the Late Epigravettian in the Pannonian Basin suggest that these populations vanished with the onset of Greenland Interstadial 1. To address this discrepancy, the authors reassessed the lithic assemblage and archaeozoological remains, obtained new radiocarbon dates, and conducted a new excavation to re-evaluate the stratigraphy and geomorphological processes of the site. Our new absolute dates place the site firmly between 11.6–10.4 ka cal BP, and techno-typological analysis attributes it to the Early Holocene Final Epigravettian. These results indicate that hunter-gatherers largely abandoned the Pannonian Basin during Greenland Interstadial 1 and Greenland Stadial 1. This population vacuum ended at the onset of the Preboreal with the arrival of hunter-gatherers from the Balkans or Adriatic coastlines. The repopulation process appears to have been influenced by palaeoecological factors, with the establishment of the pioneering Early Holocene Final Epigravettian settlement in South Transdanubia coinciding with global sea-level rise Meltwater Pulse Event 1B.
Pottery technological analysis of the Copper Age Transdanubia (Western Hungary)
This article focuses on the technological analysis of the Early and Middle Copper Age (4500–3650 cal BCE) pottery vessels from Transdanubia (Western Hungary), which can reveal the previously unknown social connections based on strong personal interactions in this region. The pottery material of four settlements was studied: Zalavár-Basasziget, Magyar- egres-Varga-Bonyi-ároktól keletre, Tikos-Nyárfás-dűlő, and Győr-Szabadrétdomb. As a result, several forming methods, coiling processes, and surface treatment techniques were identified. Their techno-stylistic and spatial analysis revealed a principal technical tradition in the region, which was observed on every site, regardless of the period or location. This tradition constitutes a relatively restricted technological repertoire; most of the vessel forms were created with the same forming method. Thus, most potters belonged to the same community of practice. However, other forms of technical knowledge also appear in the region besides the common technical tradition, albeit in low numbers and only at a few sites. Thus, a few potters were probably part of other communities of practice. The certain settlement communities probably responded differently to the appearance of these new technical knowledges. The potters in some settlements strictly followed the same technical tradition; they did not adopt any other methods or techniques. In contrast, the potters in other settlements were presumably more open to other technical knowledges.
Ceramic Depositions, Ritual Features, and Irregular Burials of the Tumulus Culture in Hungary
This study provides an overview of vessel depositions and non-normative burials of the Tumulus Culture in Hungary, dated between the phases of Br B1 and Br D across the culture’s distribution area. In contrast to other periods of the Bronze Age, the Tumulus period has received relatively little scholarly attention, despite the substantial amount of data and published material. Statistical analyses of the depositions, based on defined criteria, allow the identification of several categories reflecting both the number of vessels and the estimated size of the associated communities, as well as the character of the ritual sequences/operational chains involved. Beyond the well-documented remains of communal feasting, a noteworthy aspect of recent research is the recognition of sacrificial rituals marked by complex sequences of actions. Find assemblages involved in these rituals are sometimes linked to animal or even human sacrifices. These phenomena are confined to the earliest phase of the Tumulus period, the so-called Koszider horizon.
At the beginning of the Late Bronze Age (c. 1500 BC), the so‑called Tumulus culture/ phenomenon emerged across large parts of Central Europe, including the Great Hungarian Plain. In this region, profound changes occurred, including the abandonment of tell settlements, the emergence of new pottery styles and settlement organisation, and transformations in burial practices. Two contemporaneous cremation cemeteries dating to this period are known from the northern Great Hungarian Plain: Maklár‑Nagyrét II and Maklár‑Koszpérium. These sites are dated to c. 1500–1300/1200 BC (Br B2–C/D) and comprise both urn burials and scattered cremation graves containing diverse sets of vessels. Among the most distinctive vessel forms is a group of small amphorae, represented by a range of shapes and decorative schemes at both sites. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of these vessels, all of which exhibit traces of secondary burning. In addition to traditional archaeological and anthropological approaches, thin‑section petrography and X‑ray powder diffraction were employed to investigate their raw materials and firing history. The results indicate that small amphorae were used throughout the entire Tumulus period and were deposited in the graves of both adults and children. Macroscopic observations suggest secondary burning, most probably on the funerary pyre during cremation, while raw material analyses indicate exposure to temperatures of approximately 850–900°C. All vessels were manufactured from broadly similar sandy clays, although minor compositional variations point to the involvement of multiple producers.
A peculiar Late Bronze Age find from Sopron-Warischberg
The scarcity of Late Bronze Age finds in the mountains surrounding Sopron is a widely held topos among archaeologists. The Sopron Museum initiated a scientific programme to investigate settlement patterns during this period, concentrating on upland and mountainous sites while also including lowland contexts. Initial results from Sopron-Burgstall indicate that occupation began earlier than previously assumed. The programme was subsequently extended to the adjacent hillfort of Sopron-Warischberg to improve our understanding of the history of the the microregion. Metal detector surveys at Warischberg revealed an unusual bronze object. This article presents that find, examines its morphological characteristics and context, and situates it within a broader comparative framework to enhance understanding of the period.
Late Bronze Age Arrowheads from Transdanubia and Beyond
The study provides a synthesis of Late Bronze Age arrowheads discovered in Transdanubia, western Hungary, supplemented by a selection of arrowheads and a harpoon head from the collection of the Hungarian National Museum, Budapest. This analysis was enabled by the reassessment of curated artefacts preserved in Hungarian museum collections within the framework of the research project The Technology, Use and Manipulation of Weapons from Late Bronze Age Transdanubia. During the Late Bronze Age, a diverse array of bronze arrowheads emerged in the region. These can be assigned to supra-regional types, such as Eckhardt’s variants 1A, 1C, 3A, 4A, 4E, and 5A, along with local subvariants found in the studied region. The analyses, including microscopic examination of use-wear traces, have yielded insights into manufacturing technologies and functional aspects of these objects. The results indicate that most Transdanubian arrowheads were fully finished projectiles at the time of deposition in hoards, graves and settlement features. Some arrowheads exhibit traces of use, suggesting their application in both hunting and warfare. While the latter remains a plausible interpretation, further corroboration is required through comprehensive investigation of local settlements. Typologically, the finds reflect a clear supra-regional character with pronounced Central European affiliations. Based on currently available well-dated archaeological contexts, Transdanubia appears to have played a role predominantly in the later stages of the bronze arrowhead technological development. Apart from sporadic specimens, bronze arrowheads consistently occur from the Ha A1 through the Ha B phases, likely as a result of technological innovation, adaptation, and/or increased militarisation. The discovery of casting moulds for types 4A, 4E (subvariants A and B) and as-cast arrowheads (1A, subvariant A) further supports the idea that production was undertaken locally.
New data on base marks of Late La Tène situlae
Graphite-tempered vessels are important diagnostic finds of the Late Iron Age La Tène culture of Central Europe, yet they are still enigmatic. One of the most interesting phenomena connected to them is a group of more-or-less sophisticated symbols, the so-called ‘base marks’ (Bodenzeichen in German), added before the firing to the exterior of the base of a small proportion of these vessels. The paper presents five new examples from two Late Iron Age sites, Perkáta-Nyúli-dűlő and Báta-Öreghegy (Hungary), supplementing the current assemblage of such finds from the Carpathian Basin. The description of new finds is completed by a discussion of the possible functions of these symbols and some economic-cultural and chronological conclusions based on their occurrence.
The vegetation of the Roman province of Pannonia based on wood charcoal, pollen, anthracological and carpological studies (1st–5th century AD)
The Roman Empire ruled Pannonia—largely corresponding to today’s Transdanubia in Hungary—for nearly 500 years. This study reconstructs Roman-era vegetation and land use around Lake Balaton using pollen analysis, carpology, and anthracology. Pollen-based reconstruction from the sediment of Lake Balaton, with a >100 km source radius, reveals intensive agriculture during the Roman period (1st–5th century AD), supported by high LUP index values (60–100). Oak (Quercus sp.) forests declined significantly from the Celtic period (5th century BC–1st century AD) onward, with further loss under Roman rule. Pollen of cereals and anthropogenic indicators (Secale cereale, Artemisia sp., Chenopodiaceae) increased markedly. Comparative data from five Roman sites (farmsteads, towns, villa granary) align with these trends. Anthracological results reveal oak as the dominant wood (55–100%), though urban sites like Gorsium/Tác used more diverse species, including imported spruce (Picea abies) and fir (Abies alba), while rural vicus sites relied solely on local species. Charcoal from shrubs (e.g., Frangula alnus, Sorbus sp.) suggests nearby open forests. Carpological finds at Szabadbattyán and Tác were dominated by wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rye (Secale cereale), while vicus sites showed more emmer (Triticum dicoccum), spelt (Triticum spelta), and millet (Panicum miliaceum), indicating indigenous traditions. Evidence of hemp cultivation (Cannabis sativa) is strong in both pollen and macro-remains. Weed types suggest autumn and spring sowing, reflecting advanced Roman farming. Modern vegetation and soil maps corroborate these reconstructions.
Roman Bronze Figurines Depicting Iuppiter from Brigetio
This study examines eight bronze figurines depicting Iuppiter found in Brigetio. The examples presented in this paper clearly demonstrate the pivotal role Brigetio played as a centre of Roman bronze sculpture in the region. Although Iuppiter appears most frequently in Pannonian epigraphic record, his representation in bronze sculpture is relatively rare. This contrast reflects the distinction between the public and private aspects of his cult. Both standing and seated figurines are represented among the finds from Brigetio, several of which display local adaptations of iconographic types attested elsewhere in the Roman Empire. Particularly noteworthy is one composition mounted on a U-shaped base, which includes a candelabrum and a child figure as additional elements. The seated figurine of Iuppiter, now kept in the British Museum, is likewise especially remarkable: owing to its iconographic and formal characteristics, it stands as one of the most significant examples of the early Imperial period. This study compares the types and styles of the figurines from Brigetio with earlier Greek models, evaluates the contributions of local workshops, and seeks to interpret the cultic context of Iuppiter representations, with particular emphasis on the finds recovered from the Dolichenus sanctuary.
A bronze statuette of the Héros Horseman (Thracian Rider) discovered near Tomis (Palazu Mare), Moesia Inferior
This paper presents and analyses a bronze statuette of the Thracian Rider (‘Ήρως) discovered in 2019 at Palazu Mare, near ancient Tomis (Moesia Inferior). The artifact, dated to the 3rd century AD, was found in a Roman vicus and provides valuable insights into the persistence of Thracian religious traditions within the Roman provincial environment. Compositional XRF analysis identified its material as tin bronze, an alloy typical of small ritual objects. Stylistically, the statuette exemplifies the syncretic fusion between local Thracian beliefs and Greco–Roman artistic conventions. Comparative evidence from the Balkans situates the find within a broader iconographic corpus associated with the cult of the Thracian Horseman—a chthonic, protective, and mediatory deity symbolizing fertility, renewal, and the afterlife. The study underscores the statuette’s significance as both a votive artifact and a marker of cultural continuity, illustrating the adaptation of indigenous hero worship within the Roman Empire’s socio-religious framework.
This study re-evaluates the functionality and production context of Roman cage cups (vasa diatreta) through recently analysed fragments from Gorsium (Tác, Hungary), found in the apsidal audience hall of a Late Roman palace. The architectural setting, with clear administrative-imperial connotations, confirms the ceremonial use of these luxury vessels by high-ranking officials. The presence of multiple cage cup fragments in a single representative room is particularly notable, indicating that such elite objects were not isolated rarities but could also be used in official receptions, thus redefining their social function. Archaeometric analysis has confirmed that their composition reveals unusually low levels of iron, magnesium, and potassium, suggesting the use of exceptionally pure, low-impurity sand—a possible indicator of deliberate material selection in elite production contexts. Evidence from Gorsium provides rare insights into the interplay of luxury, recycling, and imperial display in the Late Roman provinces. It challenges traditional distinctions between high craftsmanship and reused materials, and affirms the adaptive sophistication of Roman glass economy.
Pieces of gaming equipment from Roman Pannonia
Archaeological finds connected to gaming and play are seldom published in detail from Roman Pannonia, although these are frequently found during excavations. Therefore, the area of Pannonia along the Danube limes represents a blank spot in the research of the ludic culture of the Roman Empire. The paper presents a comprehensive study of the pieces of Roman gaming equipment in the collection of the Kuny Domokos Museum in Tata (Hungary) and discusses sixty hitherto unpublished gaming paraphernalia including six-sided cubic bone dice, bone, glass and ceramic counters, as well as ceramic marbles. As almost all objects were found in the settlement complex of Brigetio (Komárom/Szőny, Hungary), the close examination of the artefacts lets us gain insight into the gaming practices of Roman Brigetio.
A stirrup type with Byzantine provenience in Central and Eastern Europe
In this paper, we analyse a certain stirrup type that is rare in Central and Eastern Europe. It is characterized by a flat, narrow platform, strongly curved arms, and a rectangular eye. Based on the examination of the assemblages, these stirrups most likely developed in the Balkans in the first decades of the 7th century and were in use in the first half of the century.
Absolute dating of the Early/Pre-state Medieval date burial features in Muntenia (the 7th–14th century AD)
Our aim here is to firstly address the burial dynamics preceding the establishment of the medieval state south of the Carpathians from the view of absolute dating. In order to achieve this undertaking, we have taken samples from burial features spanning a period of more than seven centuries (the 7th–14th century) and delivered these for investigation with several laboratories. From the ‘Avars’ to ‘proto-Bulgarians’, ‘Pechenegs’ to the ‘Late Cumans’, the ‘Mongols’, absolute dates confirm the development of the burial ritual overlapping and interconnecting with information known from historical and/or archaeological sources. Concurrently, deep into nomad/steppe culture, the emergence of the presumed Christian ritual burials inserting into a well-delimited chronological niche, evidences the presence of this burial conduct during the last third of the 1st millennium in the north area of the Wallachian Plain. We note that in discussed area, this ritual is missing during both the period prior to the 8th century but also after the 10th century, circumstances that may be interpreted and correlated to a series of historical events reported by the written sources of the period. The article wishes to plead for the use of radiocarbon dating in the early medieval period archaeology in Romania as well, which should become in fact not only a necessity but also the rule in the scientific process.
A 13th-century headwear fragment with metal threads from southeastern Hungary nd the Bulgarian connections of Árpád Age headdresses
The study presents a 13th-century textile fragment interwoven with metal threads, found in 2000 in Grave 33 of Szentes-Kaján-Temetőhalom, a churchyard site in the South Great Plain. The site is situated in the northern part of Csongrád County, on the outskirts of Szentes, 13 km north of the town centre, in the area known as Kaján. It was discovered in a fairly rich churchyard that started in the early 11th century; the respective grave dates to the second half of the 13th century. Besides reporting on the technical analysis of the object, the authors are the first to argue for a Balkan origin of Árpád Age metal-threaded women’s headwear, while emphasising that such textiles—which were presumably imports in the early Kingdom of Hungary—reached the country from several directions and sources. Some pieces of gilded-silver-threaded headwear may have Western European origins, but the example from Szentes-Kaján attests to a connection with the Balkans and Bulgaria.
Egyptian influence on Late Bronze Age (1600–1200 BC) ivory artefacts from the kingdoms of Ugarit and Qatna
This paper aims to provide insights into the Egyptian influence on ivory art in Late Bronze Age Syria. Numerous ivory artefacts from this period were found in Ugarit and Qatna. The decorations of these objects cover a large variety of themes. Two styles can be distinguished based on how they use foreign Egyptian elements; this article discusses the differences between them. Egyptian influence seems stronger in the ivory art of Ugarit, where the local tradition appears combined with foreign elements. In contrast, in Qatna, fewer Egyptianising objects were made, but these feature exclusively Egyptian motifs.
Some thoughts on five Mycenaean terracotta figurines from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest
The Collection of Classical Antiquities of the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, (hereafter MFAB) holds five terracotta figurines attributed to the Mycenaean culture: a Psi (T.737), a Kourotrophos (T.15), a female figurine sitting on a throne (T.5), a Linear Type 2 bovine figure of (93.15.A), and a figure of a couple lying on a bed (T.13). This paper presents these figurines and discusses some questions regarding their typology, function, context, and origin.
The collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, holds an unpublished kylix fragment (Inv.no. 51.100) with an unusual depiction of the head of a Gorgon in its tondo. According to the museum’s records, the kylix was originally part of the painter Antal Haan’s collection. However, a thorough study of the published and unpublished revision records of the collection showed that the kylix cannot be identified with any of the described objects; thus, it may not have originally been part of said collection. Through careful examination of the fragment, it was possible to identify the traces of post-antique alteration on its surface, revealing that the uncommon Gorgoneion was most probably added to the original Attic black glazed vase in the 19th century. The lack of information does not allow for drawing a definitive conclusion regarding the precise place and time of alteration, but the necessary skills and the possibilities of the Békés County Museum in the decades preceding WW II, as well as the similarities with another altered piece in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, suggest that the Gorgoneion was added in Italy.
The sarcophagus of Titus Aelius was found in 1989 during an excavation conducted by Sándor Petényi at Alsógalla. It stands out amongst sarcophagi depicting married couples for its refined execution and good state of preservation. However, what makes it particularly interesting is the depiction of the woman, who is shown holding a small, round object in her hand. This object was originally described as a jewellery box, but its form more closely resembles that of a perfume box. Building on an assessment of this find, the study evaluates the possibilities for comparing representations with extant objects and presents the results.
New data on the settlement history of the so-called villa, a Roman period building, at Testvérhegy
Testvérhegy and its surroundings have been densely inhabited since prehistoric times; therefore, the history of the area is interesting for research for several aspects. A settlement structure unique in Pannonia emerged there, consisting of rural settlements and villa estates which mutually supported each other. The centre of the area, and the site inhabited probably for the longest time, is the villa at Testvérhegy. Although first excavated in 1934, further research did not take place there until the mid-2000s, when housing development projects gave a second wind to the study of the area. This paper aims to examine the relations between the two larger, seemingly separate units of the site: Complex A and Complex B. Understanding this relationship further nuances the periodisation and extent of the settlement and its relationship with the surrounding buildings, thereby enriching our knowledge of the north-western ‘suburb’ of Aquincum.
The cemeteries of Brigetio have been excavated since the 1920s, but a significant portion of the material has never been published. The best-researched part of the site is the western cemetery of the military town. Half of the known graves, more than 750, are from this cemetery. Unfortunately, a huge part of the documentation of the various excavations is missing, which makes the evaluation of these graves problematic. The focus of my PhD dissertation has been a comprehensive study of the burials at Brigetio. The current paper presents a special group within examined burials: child burials. All 85 phenomena defined as children’s graves are inhumations, and most are quite simple in terms of burial type and grave goods, albeit the collection also includes unique infant burials amongst imbrex tiles. Examples of special child graves illustrate the characteristics of child burials in this cemetery and highlight the objects traditionally associated with them. Some graves stand out for their interesting or, at times, quite numerous grave goods; for example, some burials contain toys and gaming sets for children.
Imported ceramics from the Roman camp at Almásfüzitő
The resurgence of interest in the study of the limes in Hungary from the 1950s resulted in excavations in the vicinity of an unidentified fort at Almásfüzitő (Azaum/Odiavum) in the second half of the 20th century. The excavation of the auxiliary fortress of Azaum became imperative in 1959 due to external factors: the construction of a hydroelectric power station posed a threat, as the rising water level of the Danube endangered the then-presumed site of the camp. Ferenc Fülep from the Hungarian National Museum conducted an excavation in 1959 and 1960, identifying and investigating of the western gateway to the camp (porta principalis sinistra) and its semicircular extension from the 4th century AD. Additionally, distinct phases of the southwestern corner tower, characterised by rectangular and fan-shaped structures, were identified. The unearthed artefacts were conveyed to the Kuny Domokos Museum in Tata. Consisting mainly of pottery fragments, the typological diversity, differences, and similarities of this find material may yield invaluable insights for accurately dating the various building periods of the camp. Additionally, a substantial number of terra sigillata fragments, representing diverse types and boasting numerous datable attributes, were discovered.
Gestempelte Ziegel aus den Ausgrabungen von Komárom/Szőny-MOL-Kiskertek (Brigetio) im Jahr 2015
In the summer of 2015, a two-month archaeological excavation was conducted in Komárom, at the Komárom/Szőny-MOL-Kiskertek site. The excavation, carried out by the Klapka György Museum in Komárom and the Institute of Archeological Sciences at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), uncovered a section of the central area of the legionary fortress of Brigetio, yielding a plethora of finds. Among the discoveries were nearly seventy stamped bricks, a group of finds that forms the focus of the present study.
One of the customs observed in Avar burials is that the Avars provided their dead with food and drink, as a kind of ‘passage’ to the afterlife. However, these bone and ceramic finds may have another interpretation, as it is also possible that they were placed with the deceased during the funerary feast. The bones could be traces of a last supper, or even donations placed in the grave to win the favour of the spirits.
Possible ways of use of medieval and early modern bone tools based on results of use-wear analysis, experimental archaeology, and ethnographic parallels
A demand has emerged in both Hungarian and international literature for research on the function of a group of rather diverse, yet broadly similar-looking objects made from the long bones of large ungulates, usually referred to as bone skates. These objects were made mainly from metacarpals, metatarsals, or the radius of horses and cattle. Many are perforated in various ways, but there are also some without any perforations. A flat surface can be observed on one side of most pieces—a trait usually considered a prerequisite for identification as skates. The ends of the bones are usually cut to remove the overhanging parts. This paper aims to determine what these bones were actually used for in the Middle Ages and early modern times, relying on use-wear analysis and experimental archaeological methods.
Change and transformation during the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age along the capital region of the Danube
Review article of the PhD dissertation submitted in 2024 to the Archaeology Doctoral Programme, Doctoral School of History, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, and written under the supervision of Gábor V. Szabó. This study examines the transformation of settlement structures and material culture during the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age in the Carpathian Basin, focusing on two large, single-layered sites along the Danube: a Middle Bronze Age settlement at Budapest-Királyok útja 291–295 and the Late Bronze Age site of Rákoscsaba-Majorhegy. Based on spatial data and ceramic analyses, the research reconstructs internal functional zones, explores inter-settlement connections, and identifies broader regional interaction networks during the Koszider period. The results show both continuity and change: while typological and decorative traditions demonstrate strong Middle Bronze Age roots, transformations in vessel function, storage capacity, and craft specialization reflect shifts in social and economic organisation. Least-cost path and viewshed analyses reveal that Middle Bronze Age settlements formed dense, interlinked networks, whereas Late Bronze Age communities were more dispersed and loosely connected. The emerging patterns indicate reorganisation of landscape use, household structure, and production strategies, with growing differentiation in metalwork. The study highlights the Koszider period as a key transitional phase marked by both cultural persistence and innovation, bridging the Vatya and Tumulus cultural spheres within an evolving, regionally varied system of social and spatial organisation.