Kora vaskori lelőhelyegyüttes tájrégészeti kutatása az érd–százhalombattai löszplatón
Ősrégészeti Tanulmányok / Prehistoric Studies
The loess plateau near the Danube at Érd–Százhalombatta was inhabitated throughout many periods o... more The loess plateau near the Danube at Érd–Százhalombatta was inhabitated throughout many periods of the prehistory: The Bronze Age tell settlement, the Early Iron Age tumulus cemetery and the Celtic fortification are emblematic elements of the landscape. The history of research at these sites covers more than 170 years. This paper focuses on the Early Iron Age (EIA) remains and presents the latest results of different investigation techniques applied. The tumulus cemetery, eponym of the today settlement Százhalombatta, was recorded in various cartographic sources. Maps of military surveys from the 18–19th century, as well as cartographic data of archaeological surveys in the 19–20th century yielded the first information about the structure of the cemetery. During the past two centuries some excavations revealed burials inside the mounds as well. The scientific investigation of the fortified hilltop settlement started in the 20th century, when the nearby brick factory destroyed a significant part of it. Based on historic maps the original extent of the prehistoric settlements can be partly reconstructed. For the complex reconstruction of the EIA land use various methods were combined. The mosaic-like surface cover of the area and the similarly divided system of closed private territories do not favour homogenous, large-scale investigations, or even small-scale intensive field surveys, therefore aerial archaeological research is fundamental. It provided new data on the extent and structure of the tumulus field, during the last decades remains of several new burial mounds were detected (altogether 365 mounds are recorded), further new linear features (of unknown function and period) were discovered in the northern area of the Celtic fortification. Some of these features might have occurred as natural phenomena and were connected to the gully system surrounding the settlement area from the W–SW, others seem to be artificial. Magnetometer surveys confirmed and supplemented the new discoveries. Systematic grid walkings were implemented in order to gain chronological information and accurate data about the extent and density of the various settlements and cemeteries. These investigations have led to a better understanding of the EIA occupation of the territory. The N, W, S border of the tumulus field can be defined and possibly new features can be added to its eastern edge. Furthermore, the inner structure (alignment of bigger burial mounds, prehistoric paths) can be mapped, too. The extent of the EIA settlement can be outlined more precisely. Probably an area of 30 ha was occupied by the settlement and another 80 ha by the cemetery. For subsistence strategy the settler of the plateau must have used the adjacent areas to the west and the land across the Danube (i.e. the Csepel Island), however little contemporary evidence were discovered to support this idea.
According to recent research, the Early Iron Age settlement and cemetery complex situated on a lo... more According to recent research, the Early Iron Age settlement and cemetery complex situated on a loess plateau above the Danube river in the western vicinity of Süttő, in northeastern Transdanubia, can be interpreted as a complex landscape used in various ways during several prehistoric eras. Excavations on the fi rst half of the 20 th century concentrated more on the research of the tumulus fi eld. In the 1970s and 1980s, thanks to the efforts of Éva Vadász and Gábor Vékony a further tumulus, the fortifi ed settlement of the Nagysánctető as well as most part of the Early Iron Age fl at cemetery came to light. This study summarizes the results of the research conducted in the framework of the Iron-Age-Danube programme, which started in 2017. Beside aerial archeology, geophysical surveys, fi eld walkings and sediment drillings, trial excavation also added precious new data on the diverse uses of the landscape by the communities inhabiting different parts of the plateau in several prehistoric eras (Early, Middle and Late Bronze Age, Early and Late Iron Age). On-site procedures were complemented by laboratory research (examination of ceramics, metal objects, bone and stone material, botanical remains), which contributed to our knowledge on the prehistoric use of natural resources in the area.
Located on the fringes of the Eastern Hallstatt culture, the tumulus cemetery at Érd/ Százhalomba... more Located on the fringes of the Eastern Hallstatt culture, the tumulus cemetery at Érd/ Százhalombatta is one of the earliest identifi ed archaeological sites in Hungary. The fi rst map of the site was drawn in 1847; the number of mounds registered at the time (122) did not change substantially until the end of the 20 th century. The aerial archaeological investigations from 2001 and the magnetometer geophysical survey from 2012 led to the identifi cation of another 103 ring ditches. In the framework of the Iron-Age-Danube project aerial archaeological and geophysical research were continued and complemented with systematical fi eld walkings. Not only the Early Iron Age tumulus fi eld but also the Iron Age settlement area was investigated. The results presented in this paper aim at giving an overview on the land use in the periods of the Bronze, Iron and Roman Ages.
Located on the fringes of the Eastern Hallstatt culture, the tumulus cemetery at Érd/ Százhalomba... more Located on the fringes of the Eastern Hallstatt culture, the tumulus cemetery at Érd/ Százhalombatta is one of the earliest identifi ed archaeological sites in Hungary. The fi rst map of the site was drawn in 1847; the number of mounds registered at the time (122) did not change substantially until the end of the 20th century. The aerial archaeological investigations from 2001 and the magnetometer geophysical survey from 2012 led to the identifi cation of another 103 ring ditches. In the framework of the Iron-Age-Danube project aerial archaeological and geophysical research were continued and complemented with systematical fi eld walkings. Not only the Early Iron Age tumulus fi eld but also the Iron Age settlement area was investigated. The results presented in this paper aim at giving an overview on the land use in the periods of the Bronze, Iron and Roman Ages.
It is only possible in rare cases to compare aerial photographs, fieldwork data, surveys of two t... more It is only possible in rare cases to compare aerial photographs, fieldwork data, surveys of two types of magnetometer measurements, and metal detector surveys of a site with the results of a previous rescue excavation. The cooperation of the Castle Headquaters Integrated Developement Centre, the Szent István Király Museum of Székesfehérvár, and the Institute of Archaeological Sciences at the Eötvös Loránd University made the discovery of the multi-period site on the outskirts of Pusztaszabolcs possible.
In the foreground of Mátra Mountains-a few kilometres to the west from the recently published Cel... more In the foreground of Mátra Mountains-a few kilometres to the west from the recently published Celtic necropolis of Ludas-Varjú-dűlő 1-several graves of a Late Iron Age cemetery were discovered by the cooperation of István Dobó Castle Museum (Eger) and Eötvös Loránd University (Budapest) during the winter of 2015-16. At the site of Gyöngyös-Külső-Mérges-patak 1, a biritual cemetery of the La Tène period was unearthed. The necropolis contained both cremation and inhumation graves and also two symbolic graves-a proportion which corresponds to other La Tène cemeteries in Northeastern Hungary. The unearthing of 154 burials from the La Tène period is an unexpected result, and the cemetery of Gyöngyös should be considered among the important Celtic necropolises of Hungary according to the richness and high quality of nds.
The present article introduces a recently started project which aims at studying the topography o... more The present article introduces a recently started project which aims at studying the topography of the canabae and legionary fortress of Brigetio using non-destructive methods such as aerial photography and different geophysical surveys. After a brief summary of earlier research, the methods and results of the topographical work carried out in 2014 will be discussed below.
The paper presents the most important results of the Romanian–Hungarian aerial archaeological pro... more The paper presents the most important results of the Romanian–Hungarian aerial archaeological project, i.e.the intensive topographic research of the Middle Mureş Valley. Situated between the mountains, in the widen-ing valley section various aged/high terraces were formed, providing proper conditions for human habitats.Beside the already documented stone buildings from the Roman period, observed due to the negative cropmarks – especially in 2013 – positive crop marks of settlements datable before and after the Roman periodwere observed in large variety. The simultaneous examination of the geomorphological conditions underlinedsignificant differences between the prehistoric and Roman strategies of settlement establishment.
The Early Iron Age site complex of Süttő is located on a loess plateau on the right bank of the D... more The Early Iron Age site complex of Süttő is located on a loess plateau on the right bank of the Danube. After a long history of research of the Early Iron Age fortified settlement, tumulus groups and flat cemetery, between 2013–2017, some pioneer investigations were carried out using non-invasive methods. In 2018, members of the Institute of Archaeological Sciences of the Eötvös Loránd University and the Archaeological Heritage Protection Directorate of the Hungarian National Museum conducted an interdisciplinary research project (archaeological excavation, geophysical measurements, metal detecting survey, systematic field walking, geological drilling) on the plateau in the framework of the Interreg DTP Iron Age Danube project. As a result of intensive research, it became clear that aside from the Early Iron Age necropolis, the eastern part of the plateau was used as a burial site in the Early Bronze Age, as a settlement in the Late Bronze Age, and we must consider the existence of ...
The staff of the Institute of Archaeological Sciences at the Eötvös Loránd University carried out... more The staff of the Institute of Archaeological Sciences at the Eötvös Loránd University carried out rescue excavationsprior to the construction of the M4 motorway in Hajdú-Bihar County in 2015. Within the frames of this project theopportunity was given to unearth approximately 5 hectares of a multi-period site east of the city of Berettyóújfalu.Before this excavation systematic field surveys had been carried out on the same site in a 24 hectares large area inthe frames of an OTKA (Hungarian Scientific Researh Fund) project in 2013. Thus there is a possibility to compare thedata of the fieldwalking with the results of the excavation.
The non-invasive archaeological research in the territory of the Roman settlement of Brigetio has... more The non-invasive archaeological research in the territory of the Roman settlement of Brigetio has been continued in 2016. Our previously applied methods have been supplemented with RPAS aerial prospection and documentation. The aim of the present paper is to provide a presentation of the results and experiences of conventional and RPAS aerial photography, eld walking and complex GIS-analysis, as well as the relationship of aerial photography and eld data.
Cropmarks are a major factor in the effectiveness of traditional aerial archaeology. Identified a... more Cropmarks are a major factor in the effectiveness of traditional aerial archaeology. Identified almost 100 years ago, the positive and negative features shown by cropmarks are now well understood, as are the role of the different cultivated plants and the importance of precipitation and other elements of the physical environment. Generations of aerial archaeologists are in possession of empirical knowledge, allowing them to find as many cropmarks as possible every year. However, the essential analyses belong mostly to the predigital period, while the significant growth of datasets in the last 30 years could open a new chapter. This is especially true in the case of Hungary, as scholars believe it to be one of the most promising cropmark areas in Europe. The characteristics of soil formed of Late Quaternary alluvial sediments are intimately connected to the young geological/geomorphological background. The predictive soil maps elaborated within the framework of renewed data on Hungar...
of PhD thesis submitted in 2015 to the Archaeology Doctoral Programme, Doctoral School of History... more of PhD thesis submitted in 2015 to the Archaeology Doctoral Programme, Doctoral School of History, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest under the supervision of László Borhy.
Kora vaskori lelőhelyegyüttes tájrégészeti kutatása az érd–százhalombattai löszplatón
Ősrégészeti Tanulmányok / Prehistoric Studies
The loess plateau near the Danube at Érd–Százhalombatta was inhabitated throughout many periods o... more The loess plateau near the Danube at Érd–Százhalombatta was inhabitated throughout many periods of the prehistory: The Bronze Age tell settlement, the Early Iron Age tumulus cemetery and the Celtic fortification are emblematic elements of the landscape. The history of research at these sites covers more than 170 years. This paper focuses on the Early Iron Age (EIA) remains and presents the latest results of different investigation techniques applied. The tumulus cemetery, eponym of the today settlement Százhalombatta, was recorded in various cartographic sources. Maps of military surveys from the 18–19th century, as well as cartographic data of archaeological surveys in the 19–20th century yielded the first information about the structure of the cemetery. During the past two centuries some excavations revealed burials inside the mounds as well. The scientific investigation of the fortified hilltop settlement started in the 20th century, when the nearby brick factory destroyed a significant part of it. Based on historic maps the original extent of the prehistoric settlements can be partly reconstructed. For the complex reconstruction of the EIA land use various methods were combined. The mosaic-like surface cover of the area and the similarly divided system of closed private territories do not favour homogenous, large-scale investigations, or even small-scale intensive field surveys, therefore aerial archaeological research is fundamental. It provided new data on the extent and structure of the tumulus field, during the last decades remains of several new burial mounds were detected (altogether 365 mounds are recorded), further new linear features (of unknown function and period) were discovered in the northern area of the Celtic fortification. Some of these features might have occurred as natural phenomena and were connected to the gully system surrounding the settlement area from the W–SW, others seem to be artificial. Magnetometer surveys confirmed and supplemented the new discoveries. Systematic grid walkings were implemented in order to gain chronological information and accurate data about the extent and density of the various settlements and cemeteries. These investigations have led to a better understanding of the EIA occupation of the territory. The N, W, S border of the tumulus field can be defined and possibly new features can be added to its eastern edge. Furthermore, the inner structure (alignment of bigger burial mounds, prehistoric paths) can be mapped, too. The extent of the EIA settlement can be outlined more precisely. Probably an area of 30 ha was occupied by the settlement and another 80 ha by the cemetery. For subsistence strategy the settler of the plateau must have used the adjacent areas to the west and the land across the Danube (i.e. the Csepel Island), however little contemporary evidence were discovered to support this idea.
According to recent research, the Early Iron Age settlement and cemetery complex situated on a lo... more According to recent research, the Early Iron Age settlement and cemetery complex situated on a loess plateau above the Danube river in the western vicinity of Süttő, in northeastern Transdanubia, can be interpreted as a complex landscape used in various ways during several prehistoric eras. Excavations on the fi rst half of the 20 th century concentrated more on the research of the tumulus fi eld. In the 1970s and 1980s, thanks to the efforts of Éva Vadász and Gábor Vékony a further tumulus, the fortifi ed settlement of the Nagysánctető as well as most part of the Early Iron Age fl at cemetery came to light. This study summarizes the results of the research conducted in the framework of the Iron-Age-Danube programme, which started in 2017. Beside aerial archeology, geophysical surveys, fi eld walkings and sediment drillings, trial excavation also added precious new data on the diverse uses of the landscape by the communities inhabiting different parts of the plateau in several prehistoric eras (Early, Middle and Late Bronze Age, Early and Late Iron Age). On-site procedures were complemented by laboratory research (examination of ceramics, metal objects, bone and stone material, botanical remains), which contributed to our knowledge on the prehistoric use of natural resources in the area.
Located on the fringes of the Eastern Hallstatt culture, the tumulus cemetery at Érd/ Százhalomba... more Located on the fringes of the Eastern Hallstatt culture, the tumulus cemetery at Érd/ Százhalombatta is one of the earliest identifi ed archaeological sites in Hungary. The fi rst map of the site was drawn in 1847; the number of mounds registered at the time (122) did not change substantially until the end of the 20 th century. The aerial archaeological investigations from 2001 and the magnetometer geophysical survey from 2012 led to the identifi cation of another 103 ring ditches. In the framework of the Iron-Age-Danube project aerial archaeological and geophysical research were continued and complemented with systematical fi eld walkings. Not only the Early Iron Age tumulus fi eld but also the Iron Age settlement area was investigated. The results presented in this paper aim at giving an overview on the land use in the periods of the Bronze, Iron and Roman Ages.
Located on the fringes of the Eastern Hallstatt culture, the tumulus cemetery at Érd/ Százhalomba... more Located on the fringes of the Eastern Hallstatt culture, the tumulus cemetery at Érd/ Százhalombatta is one of the earliest identifi ed archaeological sites in Hungary. The fi rst map of the site was drawn in 1847; the number of mounds registered at the time (122) did not change substantially until the end of the 20th century. The aerial archaeological investigations from 2001 and the magnetometer geophysical survey from 2012 led to the identifi cation of another 103 ring ditches. In the framework of the Iron-Age-Danube project aerial archaeological and geophysical research were continued and complemented with systematical fi eld walkings. Not only the Early Iron Age tumulus fi eld but also the Iron Age settlement area was investigated. The results presented in this paper aim at giving an overview on the land use in the periods of the Bronze, Iron and Roman Ages.
It is only possible in rare cases to compare aerial photographs, fieldwork data, surveys of two t... more It is only possible in rare cases to compare aerial photographs, fieldwork data, surveys of two types of magnetometer measurements, and metal detector surveys of a site with the results of a previous rescue excavation. The cooperation of the Castle Headquaters Integrated Developement Centre, the Szent István Király Museum of Székesfehérvár, and the Institute of Archaeological Sciences at the Eötvös Loránd University made the discovery of the multi-period site on the outskirts of Pusztaszabolcs possible.
In the foreground of Mátra Mountains-a few kilometres to the west from the recently published Cel... more In the foreground of Mátra Mountains-a few kilometres to the west from the recently published Celtic necropolis of Ludas-Varjú-dűlő 1-several graves of a Late Iron Age cemetery were discovered by the cooperation of István Dobó Castle Museum (Eger) and Eötvös Loránd University (Budapest) during the winter of 2015-16. At the site of Gyöngyös-Külső-Mérges-patak 1, a biritual cemetery of the La Tène period was unearthed. The necropolis contained both cremation and inhumation graves and also two symbolic graves-a proportion which corresponds to other La Tène cemeteries in Northeastern Hungary. The unearthing of 154 burials from the La Tène period is an unexpected result, and the cemetery of Gyöngyös should be considered among the important Celtic necropolises of Hungary according to the richness and high quality of nds.
The present article introduces a recently started project which aims at studying the topography o... more The present article introduces a recently started project which aims at studying the topography of the canabae and legionary fortress of Brigetio using non-destructive methods such as aerial photography and different geophysical surveys. After a brief summary of earlier research, the methods and results of the topographical work carried out in 2014 will be discussed below.
The paper presents the most important results of the Romanian–Hungarian aerial archaeological pro... more The paper presents the most important results of the Romanian–Hungarian aerial archaeological project, i.e.the intensive topographic research of the Middle Mureş Valley. Situated between the mountains, in the widen-ing valley section various aged/high terraces were formed, providing proper conditions for human habitats.Beside the already documented stone buildings from the Roman period, observed due to the negative cropmarks – especially in 2013 – positive crop marks of settlements datable before and after the Roman periodwere observed in large variety. The simultaneous examination of the geomorphological conditions underlinedsignificant differences between the prehistoric and Roman strategies of settlement establishment.
The Early Iron Age site complex of Süttő is located on a loess plateau on the right bank of the D... more The Early Iron Age site complex of Süttő is located on a loess plateau on the right bank of the Danube. After a long history of research of the Early Iron Age fortified settlement, tumulus groups and flat cemetery, between 2013–2017, some pioneer investigations were carried out using non-invasive methods. In 2018, members of the Institute of Archaeological Sciences of the Eötvös Loránd University and the Archaeological Heritage Protection Directorate of the Hungarian National Museum conducted an interdisciplinary research project (archaeological excavation, geophysical measurements, metal detecting survey, systematic field walking, geological drilling) on the plateau in the framework of the Interreg DTP Iron Age Danube project. As a result of intensive research, it became clear that aside from the Early Iron Age necropolis, the eastern part of the plateau was used as a burial site in the Early Bronze Age, as a settlement in the Late Bronze Age, and we must consider the existence of ...
The staff of the Institute of Archaeological Sciences at the Eötvös Loránd University carried out... more The staff of the Institute of Archaeological Sciences at the Eötvös Loránd University carried out rescue excavationsprior to the construction of the M4 motorway in Hajdú-Bihar County in 2015. Within the frames of this project theopportunity was given to unearth approximately 5 hectares of a multi-period site east of the city of Berettyóújfalu.Before this excavation systematic field surveys had been carried out on the same site in a 24 hectares large area inthe frames of an OTKA (Hungarian Scientific Researh Fund) project in 2013. Thus there is a possibility to compare thedata of the fieldwalking with the results of the excavation.
The non-invasive archaeological research in the territory of the Roman settlement of Brigetio has... more The non-invasive archaeological research in the territory of the Roman settlement of Brigetio has been continued in 2016. Our previously applied methods have been supplemented with RPAS aerial prospection and documentation. The aim of the present paper is to provide a presentation of the results and experiences of conventional and RPAS aerial photography, eld walking and complex GIS-analysis, as well as the relationship of aerial photography and eld data.
Cropmarks are a major factor in the effectiveness of traditional aerial archaeology. Identified a... more Cropmarks are a major factor in the effectiveness of traditional aerial archaeology. Identified almost 100 years ago, the positive and negative features shown by cropmarks are now well understood, as are the role of the different cultivated plants and the importance of precipitation and other elements of the physical environment. Generations of aerial archaeologists are in possession of empirical knowledge, allowing them to find as many cropmarks as possible every year. However, the essential analyses belong mostly to the predigital period, while the significant growth of datasets in the last 30 years could open a new chapter. This is especially true in the case of Hungary, as scholars believe it to be one of the most promising cropmark areas in Europe. The characteristics of soil formed of Late Quaternary alluvial sediments are intimately connected to the young geological/geomorphological background. The predictive soil maps elaborated within the framework of renewed data on Hungar...
of PhD thesis submitted in 2015 to the Archaeology Doctoral Programme, Doctoral School of History... more of PhD thesis submitted in 2015 to the Archaeology Doctoral Programme, Doctoral School of History, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest under the supervision of László Borhy.
Early Iron Age Landscapes of the Danube region, 2019
The present publication is one of the main outcomes of the Iron-Age-Danube project (Interreg DTP)... more The present publication is one of the main outcomes of the Iron-Age-Danube project (Interreg DTP). In the focus of the project, as well as of the presented papers are archaeological landscapes and their visible as well as hidden monuments of the Early Iron Age. The published research took place in four countries (Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia) and focused on some of the most iconic sites of the Eastern Hallstatt circle, namely Großklein and Strettweg near Judenburg in Austria, on Jalžabet and Kaptol in Croatia, on Százhalombatta, Süttő and Sopron in Hungary and on Poštela and Dolenjske Toplice in Slovenia. The studies have a broad span in their interpretative approaches; however, they all bring important new results on the Early Iron Age landscapes of the Danube region and present a fundament for further research of archaeological landscapes in the region and beyond.
The Iron-Age-Danube project — its full title is “Monumental Landscapes of the Early Iron Age in the Danube Basin” — was initiated in 2017 by 20 partners and associated partners from five countries in the Danube region. The project was co-financed within the framework of the Interreg Danube Transnational Programme with EFRE funds in the amount of € 2,169,200. One of the major focuses of the project was the exploration of the rich archaeological heritage of the Early Iron Age (i.e. Hallstatt Period) in the Danube region using modern archaeological methods. For that purpose, a new format, the Archaeological Camps, was introduced to the region. This format for the first time combined various types of activities and comprised, in addition to research campaigns, a wide variety of heritage protection activities as well as actions to promote the inclusion of Iron-Age landscapes into the touristic offers of these regions. The camps were organized in four countries at selected locations within the nine preselected micro-regions and lasted one or two months. In this period, the institutions involved had the opportunity to combine their technologies, methodologies and expertise as well as to exchange their experiences and views. These chosen sites and their surrounding landscapes are embedded in a variety of environments of the Danube region, which in fact had a strong impact on the populations settling in these areas in the Early Iron Age, as well as on the archaeological research approaches. Combining their knowledge and specific skills, the experts have in this intensive cooperation established new strategies, which are tailored to each of the micro-regions. One of the results of this cooperation is also the monograph Researching Archaeological Landscapes across Borders (Budapest: Archaeolingua, 2019), which should help other researchers and heritage experts with planning their projects on archaeological landscapes.
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Papers by László Rupnik
The studies have a broad span in their interpretative approaches; however, they all bring important new results on the Early Iron Age landscapes of the Danube region and present a fundament for further research of archaeological landscapes in the region and beyond.
The Iron-Age-Danube project — its full title is “Monumental Landscapes of the Early Iron Age in the Danube Basin” — was initiated in 2017 by 20 partners and associated partners from five countries in the Danube region. The project was co-financed within the framework of the Interreg Danube Transnational Programme with EFRE funds in the amount of € 2,169,200. One of the major focuses of the project was the exploration of the rich archaeological heritage of the Early Iron Age (i.e. Hallstatt Period) in the Danube region using modern archaeological methods. For that purpose, a new format, the Archaeological Camps, was introduced to the region. This format for the first time combined various types of activities and comprised, in addition to research campaigns, a wide variety of heritage protection activities as well as actions to promote the inclusion of Iron-Age landscapes into the touristic offers of these regions. The camps were organized in four countries at selected locations within the nine preselected micro-regions and lasted one or two months. In this period, the institutions involved had the opportunity to combine their technologies, methodologies and expertise as well as to exchange their experiences and views. These chosen sites and their surrounding landscapes are embedded in a variety of environments of the Danube region, which in fact had a strong impact on the populations settling in these areas in the Early Iron Age, as well as on the archaeological research approaches. Combining their knowledge and specific skills, the experts have in this intensive cooperation established new strategies, which are tailored to each of the micro-regions. One of the results of this cooperation is also the monograph Researching Archaeological Landscapes across Borders (Budapest: Archaeolingua, 2019), which should help other researchers and heritage experts with planning their projects on archaeological landscapes.