The 52 graves of Hortobágy-Árkus, excavated almost a long generation ago, are certainly the most ... more The 52 graves of Hortobágy-Árkus, excavated almost a long generation ago, are certainly the most legendary Avar site. Expectations concerning their analysis to solve many questions are running high among specialist.
The historical significance of the excavated cemetery is indeed immense: it is unique not only because of its outstanding finds and burial customs, but also because of the fact that it was in continuous use from the late 7th century to the 10th century, i.e., from the late Avar period to the period of the Hungarian Conquest. Little information has been available on the Late Avar elite dating from the end of the 7th to the first third of the 9th century.
The Hortobágy cemetery, however, provides data not only on their identity, but also on how an Avar elite group managed to get integrated into Árpád’s Hungarians.
The archaeological analysis in this volume is complemented by the results
of various disciplines – archaeological anthropology, archaeozoology, and
archaeometallurgy."
Extended, annotated proceedings of the international conference
organised by the Hungarian Nation... more Extended, annotated proceedings of the international conference organised by the Hungarian National Museum and the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, June 6–8, 2019.
The short-term dynamics of the decorative art of the late Avar period (cca. 8th century AD), its ... more The short-term dynamics of the decorative art of the late Avar period (cca. 8th century AD), its chronological and cultural groups can in all likelihood be considered as a regional trait, which was attuned to the trajectories of the “long eighth century” lasting from the late seventh to the early ninth century, known also as the “dark” or “transitional” period in Mediterranean archaeology. Late Avar ornament is bound by many strands to the neighbouring world and, as shown in the book’s last chapters, the deep structures of the material culture of the neighbouring world, the general qualitative and aesthetic transformation, the shift towards abstraction and the main direction of the changes in ornamental attitudes were also roughly similar. The study of the regional world of the Late Avar-period Carpathian Basin can contribute to the contextualisation and interpretation of the cultural phenomena of the neighbouring world.
Az avar kor második fele, a Kr. u. 8. század és a 9. század első harmada a Kárpát-medencében, ahogyan a környező világban is mélyreható változások, a középkori rendszerek születésének ideje. Az átalakulás megnyilvánul a régészeti módszerekkel jól kutatható díszítőművészetben, ezen belül az ornamentikában is. A 7. század végétől hallatlanul gazdag alakos, geometrikus és növényi ornamentika borítja el a tárgyakat: elemzésük a környező térség és a késő avar kultúra kapcsolataiba, valamint a Kárpát-medencei, önálló folyamatokba is betekintést enged. A késő avar kori díszítőművészetet egyszerre alakította a sztyeppei kapcsolatrendszer, valamint az ezt változatos formákkal dúsító, bizánci és az európai környezeten át érkező antik hatás. Az avar kultúra mindezeket egységgé, önálló díszítőművészeti stílussá alakította, alkotó módon formálva a rendelkezésére álló anyagot. Ekkoriban, a korai középkorban a különböző díszítőművészetek közötti hasonlóság, a vizuális megértés lehetőségei korábban ismeretlen mértékben bontakoztak ki; ebben már a középkori Európa vizuális világának, közös kulturális folyamatainak csírái azonosíthatók. A kötet ezen ornamentika avar változatának nagyobbik részét, a növényi eredetű minta- és motívumkincset vizsgálja.
The case study addresses the question of the early medieval revival of copper production in Europ... more The case study addresses the question of the early medieval revival of copper production in Europe. The focus of the research area is the Carpathian Basin, located on the eastern periphery of the zone influenced by European early medieval processes. The research of where and when early medieval metal production started in the region in our case also provides answers to the question of how the region was linked to the European continental economic network, which is until recently an unresolved problem. Ore extraction and the production of various non-ferrous metals (copper, silver, gold) had important centres in the Carpathian Mountains throughout the Middle Ages until the Modern Era. Concerning the Avar period, our study comprises lead isotope and chemical analyses of ‘Late Avar’ (c. 8th century AD) copper rivets, used for certain purposes alongside the copper alloys predominant in the period. As rivets were selected from the entire Avar cultural area, expanding virtually to all lowland and hilly areas in the Carpathian Basin, results are representative of the entire region. It shows that Avar craftsmen producing large quantities of copper alloy objects in the 8th and the early 9th century were supplied with copper from a single mining district, from the ore deposits of the Slovak Ore Mountains in the today Central Slovakia, a region which became an important metal-processing centre in the 11th century AD.
"Among other issues, there is the problem of when the Avar cemeteries were abandoned for good, wh... more "Among other issues, there is the problem of when the Avar cemeteries were abandoned for good, which cannot be resolved based only on the radiocarbon series: the calibration curve gives no unambiguous answers, although a number of features suggest that the Avar cemeteries—at least the ones—were still in use for a long time during the 9th century AD, probably well after the arrival of the ‘Conquering Hungarians’. At the same time, the two sampled Late Avar sites in the Great Hungarian Plain are out of the areas affected by the Carolingian invasion or the Bulgarian military campaigns, probably having profound effects on the population and social, economic and cultural structures of the territories impacted; synchronising the record with the timeline of Carolingian-type sites is also a task for future research. In conclusion, as large radiocarbon series as possible are needed from as many sites as possible to join the histories of the peoples residing in the Carpathian Basin in the 7th–10th centuries AD in a single narrative, outlining the cultural and social processes of the area and period in question."
The author attempts to identify the function of a rare iron implement type, which occurs in a Lat... more The author attempts to identify the function of a rare iron implement type, which occurs in a Late Avar period grave assemblage in the Carpathian Basin and several iron tool depots in the Donetsk Basin. The archaeological contexts and the geographical locations of these tools, together with their reconstructed function offer a tempting opportunity to build a historical model. I conclude that the ”Mártély” grave may have contained the remains of an individual who played a role in the exploitation and distribution of mineral resources, probably salt from Transylvania. The study uses a deductive method to investigate the social modalities of extraction and distribution during the early medieval period.
SummaryHuns, Avars and conquering Hungarians were Migration Period nomadic groups which arrived i... more SummaryHuns, Avars and conquering Hungarians were Migration Period nomadic groups which arrived in three successive waves in the Carpathian Basin between the 5th and 9th centuries. Based on historical data each of these groups are thought to have arrived from Asia, although their exact origin and relation to other ancient and modern populations has been debated. In this study we have sequenced 9 Hun, 143 Avar and 113 Hungarian conquest period samples, and identified three core populations, representing immigrants from each period, with no recent European ancestry. Our results suggest that this “immigrant core” of both Huns and Avars originated in present day Mongolia, and their origin can be traced back to Xiongnus. On the other hand, the “immigrant core” of the conquering Hungarians derived from an earlier admixture of Mansis, early Sarmatians and descendants of late Xiongnus. In addition, we detected shared Hun-related ancestry in numerous Avar and Hungarian conquest period geneti...
AbsztraktA késő avar ornamentika összképe erős antik hatás alatt alakult ki. A tanulmány a késő a... more AbsztraktA késő avar ornamentika összképe erős antik hatás alatt alakult ki. A tanulmány a késő avar kori díszítőművészetben megjelenő, antik típusú, valószínűleg bizánci eredetű alakokat és jeleneteket veszi sorra. Közülük más-más típusúakkal találkozunk a késő avar kor elején, valamint közepén és második felében, és úgy tűnik, hogy e két csoport esetében az avar környezet adaptációs mechanizmusai is különbözőek. A korábbi csoport erősebb avar adaptációs hatásnak kitett motívumaival szemben a későbbi csoportra kifejtett hatás minimálisnak tűnik, és nem világos, hogy a mediterrán kultúra irányából furcsának tűnő néhány egyedi jelleg hol került a jobbára övdíszeken ismert ikonográfiába. A két csoport közötti különbség hátterében valószínűleg azon kihívások változása áll, amelyekre az avar társadalom kulturális eszközökkel kísérelt meg választ adni.The overall picture of the Late Avar decorative art was formed under a strong antique influence. The paper discusses antique-type figures ...
Grenzüberschreitungen – Reiternomaden in Mitteleuropa, ihre östlichen Wurzeln und Verbindungen – Crossing boundaries – Mounted nomads in Central Europe, their eastern roots and connections, 2022
The Avar Khaganate is traditionally understood in terms of a
nomadic sociocultural system. For th... more The Avar Khaganate is traditionally understood in terms of a nomadic sociocultural system. For the second half of the Avar period, however, this is only partly true: Avar society appears to have retained certain elements of the nomadic model of status representation (types of horse burials, weaponry) that were no longer used in a way typical of the Early Avar period. Statistical analysis based on a database of 36 cemeteries from the second half of the Avar era (Middle Avar and Late Avar periods) shows clear changes emerging in the model of funerary representation as the Late Avar period progressed. At the beginning of the process, the cemeteries were characterised by a certain set of prestige markers that was basically nomadic, used in free variations by all participant communities. By the end of the Late Avar period, the sociocultural system had undergone a radical transformation and two major groups had emerged. The overwhelming majority of the sampled burials were of males buried with only a decorative belt in »Reihengräberfelder« (row grave cemeteries), while a separate, smaller group of burials came from cemeteries testified to the rise of a specialised military stratum, probably in the context of the emergence of social specialisation.
The aim of this study is to discuss the theoretical aspects of the problem of discontinuity and c... more The aim of this study is to discuss the theoretical aspects of the problem of discontinuity and continuity between two major periods, the Late Avar Period and the Hungarian Conquest Period in the light of the unpublished Graves 49 and 50 from Hortobágy-Árkus. For this purpose, we provide a sociological model which contributes to the understanding of the emergence of the new power structure. The graves are part of a multiperiod site (burial ground), which connects the Late Avar Period and the Conquest Period and it is a unique example of its kind in the Carpathian Basin. The archaeological observations concerning parallel finds support the dating of the two graves at the end of the 9th century and the beginning of the 10th century and probably represent the formative phase of the Hungarian power structure in the Carpathian Basin. The orientation, the characteristics of the grave-pits, and their topographical positions indicate that the two graves belonged to the Late Avar burial site, on the other hand, however, certain material finds reflect a different cultural context associated with Hungarian Conquest Period assemblages. On the base of the material culture and the burial practices we suppose, that through interpersonal relationships, the individuals in that graves could had became part of socio-political structures emerging in the Late Avar Period, and this allowed them to exchange and access material goods. It is important to underline, that their small population groups based on blood ties (clans) could preserve their customs, and instead of the often interchangeably used „acculturation”, the material evidence may rather be read as a sign of „structural integration” – as this particular case suggests. „Structural integration” is also an „overlap” phenomenon, during which the structural hierarchies of the conquering entity integrates that of the conquered community (or of its individual members) in a vertical way (from top to bottom). Primarily, this does not effect the self-image or internal structure of the group, but changes only the external status, by changing its relation to the dominant group. We believe that this model can be useful for interpreting the case of Graves 49 and 50 at Hortobágy. It seems that only certain elements of the burial representation – primarily those with a strong symbolic meaning, indicating the social status of the individuals, positioning the buried individuals within their social network – have changed (namely, the horse burial, the grave accessories, and placing them in the grave), while other elements which did not play any role from this point of view remained unchanged (the orientation and the features of the grave pit).
In the late Avar period (eighth to ninth century AD), vast quantities of utilitarian artefacts we... more In the late Avar period (eighth to ninth century AD), vast quantities of utilitarian artefacts were produced in series in the Carpathian Basin, a phenomenon not seen since the end of the Roman period. The distribution of these articles reflects not only the region’s settlement pattern, but also how these artefacts were disseminated. The communication network in the Carpathian Basin underwent a significant transformation between the early and late Avar period: its major nodes, equated with population centres, but not necessarily with elite centres, contributed to moulding a social and cultural milieu that included specialized craftspeople. An early single hub in southern Transdanubia was replaced by multiple centres by the late Avar period. Around AD 700, a bipolar settlement pattern emerges in the southern part of the Carpathian Basin. It seems that the Great Hungarian Plain began to play an equal, if not dominant, role in the communication network of the Carpathian Basin at this time.
Stable isotope (δ15N, δ13C) and 14C results from two early medieval cemeteries are presented and ... more Stable isotope (δ15N, δ13C) and 14C results from two early medieval cemeteries are presented and evaluated in this study in order to draw conclusions about diet, social differentiation and chronology in the Carpathian Basin during the Avar period (7th–9th century CE). At Tiszafüred and Hortob´agy, two contemporaneous but distinct groups buried their deceased. The results reflect basic diet deviations between the two communities, which originated in alternative subsistence strategies and-or social differences. The Tiszafüred samples fit well into the general dietary picture of the period. The members of the rustic population consumed mainly cereals and millet, while the proportion of animal protein was significant also. Because of the exceptionally high δ15N levels of the Hortob´agy-´Arkus elite community, their diet was primarily based on animal protein, most probably of fresh- water origin. Concerning the low number of our samples that were selected for radiocarbon dating, the present information is insufficient for an exhaustive reconstruction. For now, we intend to grant some new additions to the sporadic data available for dietary reconstruction from this region and period. Our dataset is thought-provoking not only for the two distinct clusters of the plot but also for the rarity of stable isotope results from Avar and post-Avar sites. The 14C measurements published in the paper provide some new information on the chronology of the early medieval Carpathian Basin as well.
ATTILA’S EUROPE? STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION AND STRATEGIES OF SUCCESS IN THE EUROPEAN HUN PERIOD, 2021
The structured or “odd deposit” uncovered on the outskirts of Telki (central Hungary) in 2016 can... more The structured or “odd deposit” uncovered on the outskirts of Telki (central Hungary) in 2016 can be dated to the final phase of the European Hun period. The assemblage, which can be identified as one of the period’s “sacrificial offerings”, was buried during a single ritual. Until recently, similar deposits were interpreted as signs of the presence of steppean populations, and more specifically, of the Huns. This paper argues that the (funerary?) sacrificial deposits of the Migration period should rather be interpreted as the signs of the shared ideology of a newly emerging “imperial” elite during the last phase of the European Hun period.
ÖSSZEFOGLALÁS Bár a hagyományos elképzelés szerint a késő avar kor nem más, mint a korai avar kor... more ÖSSZEFOGLALÁS Bár a hagyományos elképzelés szerint a késő avar kor nem más, mint a korai avar kori nomád társadalmi szervezet elhúzódó válságának időszaka, az elmúlt évek kutatásainak fényében a 7. század második felétől meginduló folyamatok gyökeresen új társadalmi és gazdasági rend-szer kialakulásához vezettek. A tárgyi kultúra, termelés és településrendszer változásai egyszer-re tanúskodnak a környező világ folyamataival párhuzamos fejlődésről és az avar társadalom kulturális hagyományainak folyamatosságáról. ABSTRACT Although the conventional view holds that the Late Avar period is little more than the prolonged crisis of the nomadic social organisation of the Early Avar period, recent research has convincingly demonstrated that the processes starting from the later 7 th century onward led to the emergence of a radically new social and economic system. The changes in material culture, in the economy, and in settlement patterns simultaneously reflect development that echoes the processes of the neighbouring world and the continuity of the cultural traditions of Avar society. Kulcsszavak: korai középkori Európa, késő avar kor, hosszú 8. század, 9. századi Alföld Keywords: early medieval Europe, Late Avar period, long eighth century, 9 th-century Hungarian Plain BEVEZETÉS A késő avar kor egy történeti-etnikai fogalomba öltöztetett régészeti korszak, amelynek, lévén csak régészetileg leírható, a kezdete és a vége csak pontatlanul állapítható meg.
In the late Avar period (eighth to ninth century AD), vast quantities of utilitarian artefacts we... more In the late Avar period (eighth to ninth century AD), vast quantities of utilitarian artefacts were produced in series in the Carpathian Basin, a phenomenon not seen since the end of the Roman period. The distribution of these articles reflects not only the region’s settlement pattern, but also how these artefacts were disseminated. The communication network in the Carpathian Basin underwent a significant transformation between the early and late Avar period: its major nodes, equated with population centres but not necessarily with elite centres, contributed to moulding a social and cultural milieu that included specialized craftsmen. An early single hub in southern Transdanubia was replaced by multiple centres by the late Avar period. Around AD 700, a bipolar settlement pattern emerges in the southern part of the Carpathian Basin. It seems that the Great Hungarian Plain began to play an equal, if not dominant, role in the communication network of the Carpathian Basin at this time.
The aim of this study is to discuss the theoretical aspects of the problem of discontinuity and c... more The aim of this study is to discuss the theoretical aspects of the problem of discontinuity and continuity between two major periods, the Late Avar Period and the Hungarian Conquest Period in the light of the unpublished graves 49 and 50 from Hortobágy-Árkus. For this purpose, we provide a sociological model which contributes to the understanding of the emergence of the new power structure. The graves are part of a multiperiod site (burial ground), which connects the Late Avar Period and the Conquest Period and it is a unique example of its kind in the Carpathian Basin. The archaeological observations concerning parallel finds support the dating of the two graves at the end of the 9 th century and the beginning of the 10 th century and the fact that they probably represent the formative phase of the Hungarian power structure in the Carpathian Basin. The orientation, the horse burial, the characteristics of the grave-pits, and their topographical positions indicate that the two graves belonged to the Late Avar burial site; on the other hand, however, certain material finds reflect a different cultural context associated with Hungarian Conquest Period assemblages. On the base of the material culture and the burial practices we suggest, that through interpersonal relationships, the individuals in that graves could have become part of the socio-political structures emerging in the Late Avar Period, and this allowed them to exchange and access material goods. It is important to underline that their small population groups based on blood ties (clans) could have preserved their customs, and instead of the often interchangeably used "acculturation" term, the material evidence may rather be read as a sign of "structural integration"-as this particular case suggests. "Structural integration" is also an "overlap" phenomenon during which the structural hierarchies of the conquering entity integrate that of the conquered community (or of its individual members) in a vertical way (from top to bottom). Primarily, this does not affect the self-image or internal structure of the group, but changes only its external status, by changing its relation to the dominant group. We believe that this model can be useful for interpreting the case of Graves 49 and 50 at Hortobágy. It seems that only certain elements of the burial representation-primarily those with a strong symbolic meaning, indicating the social status of the individuals, positioning the buried individuals within their social network-have changed (namely, the horse burial, the grave accessories, and their placement in the grave), while other elements which did not play any role from this point of view remained unchanged (the orientation and the features of the burial pit).
The 52 graves of Hortobágy-Árkus, excavated almost a long generation ago, are certainly the most ... more The 52 graves of Hortobágy-Árkus, excavated almost a long generation ago, are certainly the most legendary Avar site. Expectations concerning their analysis to solve many questions are running high among specialist.
The historical significance of the excavated cemetery is indeed immense: it is unique not only because of its outstanding finds and burial customs, but also because of the fact that it was in continuous use from the late 7th century to the 10th century, i.e., from the late Avar period to the period of the Hungarian Conquest. Little information has been available on the Late Avar elite dating from the end of the 7th to the first third of the 9th century.
The Hortobágy cemetery, however, provides data not only on their identity, but also on how an Avar elite group managed to get integrated into Árpád’s Hungarians.
The archaeological analysis in this volume is complemented by the results
of various disciplines – archaeological anthropology, archaeozoology, and
archaeometallurgy."
Extended, annotated proceedings of the international conference
organised by the Hungarian Nation... more Extended, annotated proceedings of the international conference organised by the Hungarian National Museum and the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, June 6–8, 2019.
The short-term dynamics of the decorative art of the late Avar period (cca. 8th century AD), its ... more The short-term dynamics of the decorative art of the late Avar period (cca. 8th century AD), its chronological and cultural groups can in all likelihood be considered as a regional trait, which was attuned to the trajectories of the “long eighth century” lasting from the late seventh to the early ninth century, known also as the “dark” or “transitional” period in Mediterranean archaeology. Late Avar ornament is bound by many strands to the neighbouring world and, as shown in the book’s last chapters, the deep structures of the material culture of the neighbouring world, the general qualitative and aesthetic transformation, the shift towards abstraction and the main direction of the changes in ornamental attitudes were also roughly similar. The study of the regional world of the Late Avar-period Carpathian Basin can contribute to the contextualisation and interpretation of the cultural phenomena of the neighbouring world.
Az avar kor második fele, a Kr. u. 8. század és a 9. század első harmada a Kárpát-medencében, ahogyan a környező világban is mélyreható változások, a középkori rendszerek születésének ideje. Az átalakulás megnyilvánul a régészeti módszerekkel jól kutatható díszítőművészetben, ezen belül az ornamentikában is. A 7. század végétől hallatlanul gazdag alakos, geometrikus és növényi ornamentika borítja el a tárgyakat: elemzésük a környező térség és a késő avar kultúra kapcsolataiba, valamint a Kárpát-medencei, önálló folyamatokba is betekintést enged. A késő avar kori díszítőművészetet egyszerre alakította a sztyeppei kapcsolatrendszer, valamint az ezt változatos formákkal dúsító, bizánci és az európai környezeten át érkező antik hatás. Az avar kultúra mindezeket egységgé, önálló díszítőművészeti stílussá alakította, alkotó módon formálva a rendelkezésére álló anyagot. Ekkoriban, a korai középkorban a különböző díszítőművészetek közötti hasonlóság, a vizuális megértés lehetőségei korábban ismeretlen mértékben bontakoztak ki; ebben már a középkori Európa vizuális világának, közös kulturális folyamatainak csírái azonosíthatók. A kötet ezen ornamentika avar változatának nagyobbik részét, a növényi eredetű minta- és motívumkincset vizsgálja.
The case study addresses the question of the early medieval revival of copper production in Europ... more The case study addresses the question of the early medieval revival of copper production in Europe. The focus of the research area is the Carpathian Basin, located on the eastern periphery of the zone influenced by European early medieval processes. The research of where and when early medieval metal production started in the region in our case also provides answers to the question of how the region was linked to the European continental economic network, which is until recently an unresolved problem. Ore extraction and the production of various non-ferrous metals (copper, silver, gold) had important centres in the Carpathian Mountains throughout the Middle Ages until the Modern Era. Concerning the Avar period, our study comprises lead isotope and chemical analyses of ‘Late Avar’ (c. 8th century AD) copper rivets, used for certain purposes alongside the copper alloys predominant in the period. As rivets were selected from the entire Avar cultural area, expanding virtually to all lowland and hilly areas in the Carpathian Basin, results are representative of the entire region. It shows that Avar craftsmen producing large quantities of copper alloy objects in the 8th and the early 9th century were supplied with copper from a single mining district, from the ore deposits of the Slovak Ore Mountains in the today Central Slovakia, a region which became an important metal-processing centre in the 11th century AD.
"Among other issues, there is the problem of when the Avar cemeteries were abandoned for good, wh... more "Among other issues, there is the problem of when the Avar cemeteries were abandoned for good, which cannot be resolved based only on the radiocarbon series: the calibration curve gives no unambiguous answers, although a number of features suggest that the Avar cemeteries—at least the ones—were still in use for a long time during the 9th century AD, probably well after the arrival of the ‘Conquering Hungarians’. At the same time, the two sampled Late Avar sites in the Great Hungarian Plain are out of the areas affected by the Carolingian invasion or the Bulgarian military campaigns, probably having profound effects on the population and social, economic and cultural structures of the territories impacted; synchronising the record with the timeline of Carolingian-type sites is also a task for future research. In conclusion, as large radiocarbon series as possible are needed from as many sites as possible to join the histories of the peoples residing in the Carpathian Basin in the 7th–10th centuries AD in a single narrative, outlining the cultural and social processes of the area and period in question."
The author attempts to identify the function of a rare iron implement type, which occurs in a Lat... more The author attempts to identify the function of a rare iron implement type, which occurs in a Late Avar period grave assemblage in the Carpathian Basin and several iron tool depots in the Donetsk Basin. The archaeological contexts and the geographical locations of these tools, together with their reconstructed function offer a tempting opportunity to build a historical model. I conclude that the ”Mártély” grave may have contained the remains of an individual who played a role in the exploitation and distribution of mineral resources, probably salt from Transylvania. The study uses a deductive method to investigate the social modalities of extraction and distribution during the early medieval period.
SummaryHuns, Avars and conquering Hungarians were Migration Period nomadic groups which arrived i... more SummaryHuns, Avars and conquering Hungarians were Migration Period nomadic groups which arrived in three successive waves in the Carpathian Basin between the 5th and 9th centuries. Based on historical data each of these groups are thought to have arrived from Asia, although their exact origin and relation to other ancient and modern populations has been debated. In this study we have sequenced 9 Hun, 143 Avar and 113 Hungarian conquest period samples, and identified three core populations, representing immigrants from each period, with no recent European ancestry. Our results suggest that this “immigrant core” of both Huns and Avars originated in present day Mongolia, and their origin can be traced back to Xiongnus. On the other hand, the “immigrant core” of the conquering Hungarians derived from an earlier admixture of Mansis, early Sarmatians and descendants of late Xiongnus. In addition, we detected shared Hun-related ancestry in numerous Avar and Hungarian conquest period geneti...
AbsztraktA késő avar ornamentika összképe erős antik hatás alatt alakult ki. A tanulmány a késő a... more AbsztraktA késő avar ornamentika összképe erős antik hatás alatt alakult ki. A tanulmány a késő avar kori díszítőművészetben megjelenő, antik típusú, valószínűleg bizánci eredetű alakokat és jeleneteket veszi sorra. Közülük más-más típusúakkal találkozunk a késő avar kor elején, valamint közepén és második felében, és úgy tűnik, hogy e két csoport esetében az avar környezet adaptációs mechanizmusai is különbözőek. A korábbi csoport erősebb avar adaptációs hatásnak kitett motívumaival szemben a későbbi csoportra kifejtett hatás minimálisnak tűnik, és nem világos, hogy a mediterrán kultúra irányából furcsának tűnő néhány egyedi jelleg hol került a jobbára övdíszeken ismert ikonográfiába. A két csoport közötti különbség hátterében valószínűleg azon kihívások változása áll, amelyekre az avar társadalom kulturális eszközökkel kísérelt meg választ adni.The overall picture of the Late Avar decorative art was formed under a strong antique influence. The paper discusses antique-type figures ...
Grenzüberschreitungen – Reiternomaden in Mitteleuropa, ihre östlichen Wurzeln und Verbindungen – Crossing boundaries – Mounted nomads in Central Europe, their eastern roots and connections, 2022
The Avar Khaganate is traditionally understood in terms of a
nomadic sociocultural system. For th... more The Avar Khaganate is traditionally understood in terms of a nomadic sociocultural system. For the second half of the Avar period, however, this is only partly true: Avar society appears to have retained certain elements of the nomadic model of status representation (types of horse burials, weaponry) that were no longer used in a way typical of the Early Avar period. Statistical analysis based on a database of 36 cemeteries from the second half of the Avar era (Middle Avar and Late Avar periods) shows clear changes emerging in the model of funerary representation as the Late Avar period progressed. At the beginning of the process, the cemeteries were characterised by a certain set of prestige markers that was basically nomadic, used in free variations by all participant communities. By the end of the Late Avar period, the sociocultural system had undergone a radical transformation and two major groups had emerged. The overwhelming majority of the sampled burials were of males buried with only a decorative belt in »Reihengräberfelder« (row grave cemeteries), while a separate, smaller group of burials came from cemeteries testified to the rise of a specialised military stratum, probably in the context of the emergence of social specialisation.
The aim of this study is to discuss the theoretical aspects of the problem of discontinuity and c... more The aim of this study is to discuss the theoretical aspects of the problem of discontinuity and continuity between two major periods, the Late Avar Period and the Hungarian Conquest Period in the light of the unpublished Graves 49 and 50 from Hortobágy-Árkus. For this purpose, we provide a sociological model which contributes to the understanding of the emergence of the new power structure. The graves are part of a multiperiod site (burial ground), which connects the Late Avar Period and the Conquest Period and it is a unique example of its kind in the Carpathian Basin. The archaeological observations concerning parallel finds support the dating of the two graves at the end of the 9th century and the beginning of the 10th century and probably represent the formative phase of the Hungarian power structure in the Carpathian Basin. The orientation, the characteristics of the grave-pits, and their topographical positions indicate that the two graves belonged to the Late Avar burial site, on the other hand, however, certain material finds reflect a different cultural context associated with Hungarian Conquest Period assemblages. On the base of the material culture and the burial practices we suppose, that through interpersonal relationships, the individuals in that graves could had became part of socio-political structures emerging in the Late Avar Period, and this allowed them to exchange and access material goods. It is important to underline, that their small population groups based on blood ties (clans) could preserve their customs, and instead of the often interchangeably used „acculturation”, the material evidence may rather be read as a sign of „structural integration” – as this particular case suggests. „Structural integration” is also an „overlap” phenomenon, during which the structural hierarchies of the conquering entity integrates that of the conquered community (or of its individual members) in a vertical way (from top to bottom). Primarily, this does not effect the self-image or internal structure of the group, but changes only the external status, by changing its relation to the dominant group. We believe that this model can be useful for interpreting the case of Graves 49 and 50 at Hortobágy. It seems that only certain elements of the burial representation – primarily those with a strong symbolic meaning, indicating the social status of the individuals, positioning the buried individuals within their social network – have changed (namely, the horse burial, the grave accessories, and placing them in the grave), while other elements which did not play any role from this point of view remained unchanged (the orientation and the features of the grave pit).
In the late Avar period (eighth to ninth century AD), vast quantities of utilitarian artefacts we... more In the late Avar period (eighth to ninth century AD), vast quantities of utilitarian artefacts were produced in series in the Carpathian Basin, a phenomenon not seen since the end of the Roman period. The distribution of these articles reflects not only the region’s settlement pattern, but also how these artefacts were disseminated. The communication network in the Carpathian Basin underwent a significant transformation between the early and late Avar period: its major nodes, equated with population centres, but not necessarily with elite centres, contributed to moulding a social and cultural milieu that included specialized craftspeople. An early single hub in southern Transdanubia was replaced by multiple centres by the late Avar period. Around AD 700, a bipolar settlement pattern emerges in the southern part of the Carpathian Basin. It seems that the Great Hungarian Plain began to play an equal, if not dominant, role in the communication network of the Carpathian Basin at this time.
Stable isotope (δ15N, δ13C) and 14C results from two early medieval cemeteries are presented and ... more Stable isotope (δ15N, δ13C) and 14C results from two early medieval cemeteries are presented and evaluated in this study in order to draw conclusions about diet, social differentiation and chronology in the Carpathian Basin during the Avar period (7th–9th century CE). At Tiszafüred and Hortob´agy, two contemporaneous but distinct groups buried their deceased. The results reflect basic diet deviations between the two communities, which originated in alternative subsistence strategies and-or social differences. The Tiszafüred samples fit well into the general dietary picture of the period. The members of the rustic population consumed mainly cereals and millet, while the proportion of animal protein was significant also. Because of the exceptionally high δ15N levels of the Hortob´agy-´Arkus elite community, their diet was primarily based on animal protein, most probably of fresh- water origin. Concerning the low number of our samples that were selected for radiocarbon dating, the present information is insufficient for an exhaustive reconstruction. For now, we intend to grant some new additions to the sporadic data available for dietary reconstruction from this region and period. Our dataset is thought-provoking not only for the two distinct clusters of the plot but also for the rarity of stable isotope results from Avar and post-Avar sites. The 14C measurements published in the paper provide some new information on the chronology of the early medieval Carpathian Basin as well.
ATTILA’S EUROPE? STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION AND STRATEGIES OF SUCCESS IN THE EUROPEAN HUN PERIOD, 2021
The structured or “odd deposit” uncovered on the outskirts of Telki (central Hungary) in 2016 can... more The structured or “odd deposit” uncovered on the outskirts of Telki (central Hungary) in 2016 can be dated to the final phase of the European Hun period. The assemblage, which can be identified as one of the period’s “sacrificial offerings”, was buried during a single ritual. Until recently, similar deposits were interpreted as signs of the presence of steppean populations, and more specifically, of the Huns. This paper argues that the (funerary?) sacrificial deposits of the Migration period should rather be interpreted as the signs of the shared ideology of a newly emerging “imperial” elite during the last phase of the European Hun period.
ÖSSZEFOGLALÁS Bár a hagyományos elképzelés szerint a késő avar kor nem más, mint a korai avar kor... more ÖSSZEFOGLALÁS Bár a hagyományos elképzelés szerint a késő avar kor nem más, mint a korai avar kori nomád társadalmi szervezet elhúzódó válságának időszaka, az elmúlt évek kutatásainak fényében a 7. század második felétől meginduló folyamatok gyökeresen új társadalmi és gazdasági rend-szer kialakulásához vezettek. A tárgyi kultúra, termelés és településrendszer változásai egyszer-re tanúskodnak a környező világ folyamataival párhuzamos fejlődésről és az avar társadalom kulturális hagyományainak folyamatosságáról. ABSTRACT Although the conventional view holds that the Late Avar period is little more than the prolonged crisis of the nomadic social organisation of the Early Avar period, recent research has convincingly demonstrated that the processes starting from the later 7 th century onward led to the emergence of a radically new social and economic system. The changes in material culture, in the economy, and in settlement patterns simultaneously reflect development that echoes the processes of the neighbouring world and the continuity of the cultural traditions of Avar society. Kulcsszavak: korai középkori Európa, késő avar kor, hosszú 8. század, 9. századi Alföld Keywords: early medieval Europe, Late Avar period, long eighth century, 9 th-century Hungarian Plain BEVEZETÉS A késő avar kor egy történeti-etnikai fogalomba öltöztetett régészeti korszak, amelynek, lévén csak régészetileg leírható, a kezdete és a vége csak pontatlanul állapítható meg.
In the late Avar period (eighth to ninth century AD), vast quantities of utilitarian artefacts we... more In the late Avar period (eighth to ninth century AD), vast quantities of utilitarian artefacts were produced in series in the Carpathian Basin, a phenomenon not seen since the end of the Roman period. The distribution of these articles reflects not only the region’s settlement pattern, but also how these artefacts were disseminated. The communication network in the Carpathian Basin underwent a significant transformation between the early and late Avar period: its major nodes, equated with population centres but not necessarily with elite centres, contributed to moulding a social and cultural milieu that included specialized craftsmen. An early single hub in southern Transdanubia was replaced by multiple centres by the late Avar period. Around AD 700, a bipolar settlement pattern emerges in the southern part of the Carpathian Basin. It seems that the Great Hungarian Plain began to play an equal, if not dominant, role in the communication network of the Carpathian Basin at this time.
The aim of this study is to discuss the theoretical aspects of the problem of discontinuity and c... more The aim of this study is to discuss the theoretical aspects of the problem of discontinuity and continuity between two major periods, the Late Avar Period and the Hungarian Conquest Period in the light of the unpublished graves 49 and 50 from Hortobágy-Árkus. For this purpose, we provide a sociological model which contributes to the understanding of the emergence of the new power structure. The graves are part of a multiperiod site (burial ground), which connects the Late Avar Period and the Conquest Period and it is a unique example of its kind in the Carpathian Basin. The archaeological observations concerning parallel finds support the dating of the two graves at the end of the 9 th century and the beginning of the 10 th century and the fact that they probably represent the formative phase of the Hungarian power structure in the Carpathian Basin. The orientation, the horse burial, the characteristics of the grave-pits, and their topographical positions indicate that the two graves belonged to the Late Avar burial site; on the other hand, however, certain material finds reflect a different cultural context associated with Hungarian Conquest Period assemblages. On the base of the material culture and the burial practices we suggest, that through interpersonal relationships, the individuals in that graves could have become part of the socio-political structures emerging in the Late Avar Period, and this allowed them to exchange and access material goods. It is important to underline that their small population groups based on blood ties (clans) could have preserved their customs, and instead of the often interchangeably used "acculturation" term, the material evidence may rather be read as a sign of "structural integration"-as this particular case suggests. "Structural integration" is also an "overlap" phenomenon during which the structural hierarchies of the conquering entity integrate that of the conquered community (or of its individual members) in a vertical way (from top to bottom). Primarily, this does not affect the self-image or internal structure of the group, but changes only its external status, by changing its relation to the dominant group. We believe that this model can be useful for interpreting the case of Graves 49 and 50 at Hortobágy. It seems that only certain elements of the burial representation-primarily those with a strong symbolic meaning, indicating the social status of the individuals, positioning the buried individuals within their social network-have changed (namely, the horse burial, the grave accessories, and their placement in the grave), while other elements which did not play any role from this point of view remained unchanged (the orientation and the features of the burial pit).
Acta Archaeologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 2019
Research on late antique and early medieval economic and social processes during the past three d... more Research on late antique and early medieval economic and social processes during the past three decades called for, and enabled, a fresh look at the history of the 'Late Avar period' of the Carpathian Basin, corresponding exactly to the 'long eighth century' of the Mediterranean and European world. This paper offers a rather sketchy new model, alongside raising questions and framing a research programme focusing on social and economic historical processes. Therefore, using the archaeological evidence as a solid foundation, I have proposed a set of research hypotheses as starting points for regional and micro-regional studies.
The paper presents a preliminary report on a new ritual deposit of the European Hun period, disco... more The paper presents a preliminary report on a new ritual deposit of the European Hun period, discovered near Telki in central Hungary. The archaeological and archaeometric analysis of the finds is currently in progress. The assemblage is made up of elements of horse gear, personal adornments (the mounts of a shoe-set and at least three belts) and weaponry. The analogies of the objects can be found in the supra-ethnic elite culture of the later Hun period in Europe. In view of its context, the assemblage is a structured deposit that was buried as part of a ritual. Comparable assemblages can be interpreted as tokens of the shared ideology of a newly emerging 'imperial' elite of the last phase of the Hunnic rule in Europe.
Social, economic and power structures can be found at both local and microregional scales – these... more Social, economic and power structures can be found at both local and microregional scales – these are the foundations of all power systems since most aspects of human life are primarily determined through these relations. Accordingly, the session seeks to investigate the microregional and regional networks emerging in Central Europe from the post-Roman era onward, during the early medieval transformation. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, relatively weak formations built their own regional systems while both communicating and competing with each other. Certain elements of the late Roman infrastructure such as communication networks and ‘central places’ retained their importance for several centuries; however, from the seventh century onward, we witness the emergence of a radically new system of local centres and central zones. What kind of social and economic resources promoted the growth and consolidation of local communities and/or microregional power centres? How did these hubs interact, what were the circumstances/interests boosting communication or, conversely, possible interferences with it? What were the factors preventing, promoting or even demanding cooperation between them? Who and what kinds of social or environmental conditions were the catalysts of these processes? What kind of role did microregional centres/central areas play in structuring the surrounding areas? Finally, how did regional power centres reflect the presence of macroregional or even global structures of considerably higher complexity? We welcome both case studies and theoretical contributions that address these issues in the Central European zone from the post-Roman period to the Middle Ages, with a focus on regionality, traces of microregional power centres and central areas. We welcome contributions addressing various aspects of the organisation of subsistence, production and distribution of specialised craft products, as well as those focusing on communication and the exploitation, processing and distribution of strategic resources such as iron and/or other non-ferrous metals. Keywords: Post-Roman and early medieval Archaeology, regional centres, local and microregional communities, networks, distribution of craft products, exploitation of strategic resources Organisers Ivan Bugarski (Institute of Archaeology, Belgrade, Serbia ) Stefan Eichert ( University of Vienna, Department of Prehistoric and Historical Archaeology, Austria) Erwin Gáll ( Vasile Pârvan Institute of Archaeology, Bucharest, Romania) Gergely Szenthe (Hungarian National Museum, Department of Archaeology, Hungary)
During the 800 years that passed between the end of the Roman era and the beginning of administra... more During the 800 years that passed between the end of the Roman era and the beginning of administrative literacy of the Hungarian state, sources are so poorly supplied and so fragmentary that all the information they hold concerning legal history in the Carpathian Basin allow hypothetical conclusions at best. This is particularly so in case of the Transylvanian Basin. On top of this insurmountable problem, none of the available sources were actually written in the Carpathian Basin, and most of the time their authors did not even intend to engage with realities, but rather manipulated the facts and spread propaganda. Consequently, these eight centuries can be considered as a “prehistorical” period. The available documents can be used only with thorough source criticism when constructing a picture on the cultural traditions of people, including their legal, ethical-moral norms and social systems.
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Books by Gergely Szenthe
The historical significance of the excavated cemetery is indeed immense: it is unique not only because of its outstanding finds and burial customs, but also because of the fact that it was in continuous use from the late 7th century to the 10th century, i.e., from the late Avar period to the period of the Hungarian Conquest. Little information has been available on the Late Avar elite dating from the end of the 7th to the first third of the 9th century.
The Hortobágy cemetery, however, provides data not only on their identity, but also on how an Avar elite group managed to get integrated into Árpád’s Hungarians.
The archaeological analysis in this volume is complemented by the results
of various disciplines – archaeological anthropology, archaeozoology, and
archaeometallurgy."
organised by the Hungarian National Museum and
the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, June 6–8, 2019.
Az avar kor második fele, a Kr. u. 8. század és a 9. század első harmada a Kárpát-medencében, ahogyan a környező világban is mélyreható változások, a középkori rendszerek születésének ideje. Az átalakulás megnyilvánul a régészeti módszerekkel jól kutatható díszítőművészetben, ezen belül az ornamentikában is. A 7. század végétől hallatlanul gazdag alakos, geometrikus és növényi ornamentika borítja el a tárgyakat: elemzésük a környező térség és a késő avar kultúra kapcsolataiba, valamint a Kárpát-medencei, önálló folyamatokba is betekintést enged. A késő avar kori díszítőművészetet egyszerre alakította a sztyeppei kapcsolatrendszer, valamint az ezt változatos formákkal dúsító, bizánci és az európai környezeten át érkező antik hatás. Az avar kultúra mindezeket egységgé, önálló díszítőművészeti stílussá alakította, alkotó módon formálva a rendelkezésére álló anyagot. Ekkoriban, a korai középkorban a különböző díszítőművészetek közötti hasonlóság, a vizuális megértés lehetőségei korábban ismeretlen mértékben bontakoztak ki; ebben már a középkori Európa vizuális világának, közös kulturális folyamatainak csírái azonosíthatók. A kötet ezen ornamentika avar változatának nagyobbik részét, a növényi eredetű minta- és motívumkincset vizsgálja.
Papers by Gergely Szenthe
processes. The research of where and when early medieval metal production started in the region in our case also provides answers to the question of how the region was linked to the European continental economic network, which is until recently an unresolved problem. Ore extraction and the production of various non-ferrous metals (copper, silver, gold) had important centres in the Carpathian Mountains throughout the Middle Ages until the Modern Era. Concerning the Avar period, our study comprises lead isotope and chemical analyses of ‘Late Avar’ (c. 8th century AD) copper rivets, used for certain purposes alongside the copper alloys predominant in the period. As rivets were selected from the entire Avar cultural area, expanding virtually to all lowland and hilly areas in the Carpathian Basin, results are representative of the entire region. It shows that Avar craftsmen producing large quantities of copper alloy objects in the 8th and the early 9th century were supplied with copper from a single mining district, from the ore deposits of the Slovak Ore Mountains in the today Central Slovakia, a region which became an important metal-processing centre in the 11th century AD.
of these tools, together with their reconstructed function offer a tempting opportunity to build a historical model. I conclude that the ”Mártély” grave may have contained the remains of an individual who played a role in the exploitation and distribution of mineral resources, probably salt from Transylvania. The study uses a deductive method to investigate the social modalities of extraction and distribution during the early medieval period.
nomadic sociocultural system. For the second half of the Avar
period, however, this is only partly true: Avar society appears
to have retained certain elements of the nomadic model of
status representation (types of horse burials, weaponry) that
were no longer used in a way typical of the Early Avar period.
Statistical analysis based on a database of 36 cemeteries
from the second half of the Avar era (Middle Avar and Late
Avar periods) shows clear changes emerging in the model of
funerary representation as the Late Avar period progressed.
At the beginning of the process, the cemeteries were characterised
by a certain set of prestige markers that was basically
nomadic, used in free variations by all participant communities.
By the end of the Late Avar period, the sociocultural system
had undergone a radical transformation and two major
groups had emerged. The overwhelming majority of the sampled
burials were of males buried with only a decorative belt
in »Reihengräberfelder« (row grave cemeteries), while a separate,
smaller group of burials came from cemeteries testified
to the rise of a specialised military stratum, probably in the
context of the emergence of social specialisation.
communication network of the Carpathian Basin at this time.
The distribution of these articles reflects not only the region’s settlement pattern, but also how these artefacts were disseminated. The communication network in the Carpathian Basin underwent a significant
transformation between the early and late Avar period: its major nodes, equated with population centres but not necessarily with elite centres, contributed to moulding a social and cultural milieu that included specialized craftsmen. An early single hub in southern Transdanubia was replaced by multiple centres by the late Avar period. Around AD 700, a bipolar settlement pattern emerges in the southern part of the Carpathian Basin. It seems that the Great Hungarian Plain began to play an equal, if not dominant, role in the communication network of the Carpathian Basin at this time.
The historical significance of the excavated cemetery is indeed immense: it is unique not only because of its outstanding finds and burial customs, but also because of the fact that it was in continuous use from the late 7th century to the 10th century, i.e., from the late Avar period to the period of the Hungarian Conquest. Little information has been available on the Late Avar elite dating from the end of the 7th to the first third of the 9th century.
The Hortobágy cemetery, however, provides data not only on their identity, but also on how an Avar elite group managed to get integrated into Árpád’s Hungarians.
The archaeological analysis in this volume is complemented by the results
of various disciplines – archaeological anthropology, archaeozoology, and
archaeometallurgy."
organised by the Hungarian National Museum and
the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, June 6–8, 2019.
Az avar kor második fele, a Kr. u. 8. század és a 9. század első harmada a Kárpát-medencében, ahogyan a környező világban is mélyreható változások, a középkori rendszerek születésének ideje. Az átalakulás megnyilvánul a régészeti módszerekkel jól kutatható díszítőművészetben, ezen belül az ornamentikában is. A 7. század végétől hallatlanul gazdag alakos, geometrikus és növényi ornamentika borítja el a tárgyakat: elemzésük a környező térség és a késő avar kultúra kapcsolataiba, valamint a Kárpát-medencei, önálló folyamatokba is betekintést enged. A késő avar kori díszítőművészetet egyszerre alakította a sztyeppei kapcsolatrendszer, valamint az ezt változatos formákkal dúsító, bizánci és az európai környezeten át érkező antik hatás. Az avar kultúra mindezeket egységgé, önálló díszítőművészeti stílussá alakította, alkotó módon formálva a rendelkezésére álló anyagot. Ekkoriban, a korai középkorban a különböző díszítőművészetek közötti hasonlóság, a vizuális megértés lehetőségei korábban ismeretlen mértékben bontakoztak ki; ebben már a középkori Európa vizuális világának, közös kulturális folyamatainak csírái azonosíthatók. A kötet ezen ornamentika avar változatának nagyobbik részét, a növényi eredetű minta- és motívumkincset vizsgálja.
processes. The research of where and when early medieval metal production started in the region in our case also provides answers to the question of how the region was linked to the European continental economic network, which is until recently an unresolved problem. Ore extraction and the production of various non-ferrous metals (copper, silver, gold) had important centres in the Carpathian Mountains throughout the Middle Ages until the Modern Era. Concerning the Avar period, our study comprises lead isotope and chemical analyses of ‘Late Avar’ (c. 8th century AD) copper rivets, used for certain purposes alongside the copper alloys predominant in the period. As rivets were selected from the entire Avar cultural area, expanding virtually to all lowland and hilly areas in the Carpathian Basin, results are representative of the entire region. It shows that Avar craftsmen producing large quantities of copper alloy objects in the 8th and the early 9th century were supplied with copper from a single mining district, from the ore deposits of the Slovak Ore Mountains in the today Central Slovakia, a region which became an important metal-processing centre in the 11th century AD.
of these tools, together with their reconstructed function offer a tempting opportunity to build a historical model. I conclude that the ”Mártély” grave may have contained the remains of an individual who played a role in the exploitation and distribution of mineral resources, probably salt from Transylvania. The study uses a deductive method to investigate the social modalities of extraction and distribution during the early medieval period.
nomadic sociocultural system. For the second half of the Avar
period, however, this is only partly true: Avar society appears
to have retained certain elements of the nomadic model of
status representation (types of horse burials, weaponry) that
were no longer used in a way typical of the Early Avar period.
Statistical analysis based on a database of 36 cemeteries
from the second half of the Avar era (Middle Avar and Late
Avar periods) shows clear changes emerging in the model of
funerary representation as the Late Avar period progressed.
At the beginning of the process, the cemeteries were characterised
by a certain set of prestige markers that was basically
nomadic, used in free variations by all participant communities.
By the end of the Late Avar period, the sociocultural system
had undergone a radical transformation and two major
groups had emerged. The overwhelming majority of the sampled
burials were of males buried with only a decorative belt
in »Reihengräberfelder« (row grave cemeteries), while a separate,
smaller group of burials came from cemeteries testified
to the rise of a specialised military stratum, probably in the
context of the emergence of social specialisation.
communication network of the Carpathian Basin at this time.
The distribution of these articles reflects not only the region’s settlement pattern, but also how these artefacts were disseminated. The communication network in the Carpathian Basin underwent a significant
transformation between the early and late Avar period: its major nodes, equated with population centres but not necessarily with elite centres, contributed to moulding a social and cultural milieu that included specialized craftsmen. An early single hub in southern Transdanubia was replaced by multiple centres by the late Avar period. Around AD 700, a bipolar settlement pattern emerges in the southern part of the Carpathian Basin. It seems that the Great Hungarian Plain began to play an equal, if not dominant, role in the communication network of the Carpathian Basin at this time.
What kind of social and economic resources promoted the growth and consolidation of local communities and/or microregional power centres? How did these hubs interact, what were the circumstances/interests boosting communication or, conversely, possible interferences with it? What were the factors preventing, promoting or even demanding cooperation between them? Who and what kinds of social or environmental conditions were the catalysts of these processes? What kind of role did microregional centres/central areas play in structuring the surrounding areas? Finally, how did regional power centres reflect the presence of macroregional or even global structures of considerably higher complexity?
We welcome both case studies and theoretical contributions that address these issues in the Central European zone from the post-Roman period to the Middle Ages, with a focus on regionality, traces of microregional power centres and central areas. We welcome contributions addressing various aspects of the organisation of subsistence, production and distribution of specialised craft products, as well as those focusing on communication and the exploitation, processing and distribution of strategic resources such as iron and/or other non-ferrous metals.
Keywords:
Post-Roman and early medieval Archaeology, regional centres, local and microregional communities, networks, distribution of craft products, exploitation of strategic resources
Organisers
Ivan Bugarski (Institute of Archaeology, Belgrade, Serbia )
Stefan Eichert ( University of Vienna, Department of Prehistoric and Historical Archaeology, Austria)
Erwin Gáll ( Vasile Pârvan Institute of Archaeology, Bucharest, Romania)
Gergely Szenthe (Hungarian National Museum, Department of Archaeology, Hungary)