Noteworthy findings of the Roman Age and Early Migration Period from Borsodszirák, Northeastern...

A Herman Ottó Múzeum Évkönyve LIII (2014), 159–182.

NOTEWORTHY FINDINGS OF THE ROMAN AGE AND EARLY MIGRATION PERIOD FROM BORSODSZIRÁK, NORTHEASTERN

HUNGARY. FIRST INVESTIGATIONS

Tóth Krisztián

Ottó Herman Museum, Miskolc

Abstract: The site called Egres-dűlő near the village of Borsodszirák became known thanks to Tamás Szűcs, who have brought a bronze statue, a bust to the Museum of Miskolc in 1998. They identified the exact finding place of the object with Tamás Pusztai soon after, and have collected ceramic fragments from the Roman and Early Migration period alongside with Neolithic, Bronze Age sherds and a silver fitting. We have carried out some field surveys on the site between 2012 and 2014, which helped us to determine the exact locations of settlements from different periods. During these surveys some noteworthy metal object have been revealed from the Roman Age, some 300 m from a settlement dated to the same age. We used geophysical survey to bring to light the context of these metal objects. Despite the lack of a systematic archaeological survey, the quality of the objects and the geographical situation of the site (confluence of two rivers not far from the northern edge of the Great Hungarian Lowland) justify the necessity of further investigations.Keywords: bust, Roman Age, early migration period, field survey, geophysics

The village of Borsodszirák is situated 15 km to the North of Miskolc, 5 km to the South of the town Edelény, on the left bank of the River Bódva, 3 km from its estuary with the river Sajó in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northeast Hungary (Fig. 1, A–B). According to geographical classification it lies on the eastern edge of the Sajó Valley. 60% of this microregion is covered by fluvial sand, pebble stone, terrace gravel, 15% by loess and loessderivate (mostly on the 2nd and 4th terraces) and in the same percentage by glacial loam (Dövényi 2012, 831). Number 2 and 3 accumulation terraces escorting the left bank of the Sajó have been interwoven with the terraces of the river Bódva (Dobány 2010, 15). The site is located 500 m from the farmer’s co-operative of Borsodszirák, on 128,5 m above sea level on the 2nd terrace of the river Bódva, which can be found 700 m to the Southwest (Fig. 1, B–C). One can collect archaeological findings on this terrace in a 1200 m long and 30–40 m wide area. The Borsodszirák-Boldva railway cuts out the eastern part of the site. The wider environment of the site belonged to habitants with Germanic origin who had probably settled here at the end of the 2nd century. The hypothetical Germanic – Sarmatian border zone (according to our recent

knowledge) was some 25 km to the South. It is hard to interpret this as an exact confine, it is rather like a tessellated settlement network, which tied each other with subtle relations. Roman Age inhumation and cremation graves excavated at Nyékládháza (which is situated around 25 km to the South of Borsodszirák) (Lovász 1992, 36) may be good evidences for this, as well as the words of Ammianus Marcellinus about this territory, that Quadic and Sarmatian „people are closely united by same frontiers and like savagery” (RoLfe 1935, 375).

FINDING OF THE SITE AND FIRST INVESTIGATIONSIn the third week of April 1998, Tamás Szűcs, a villager from Sajószentpéter have brought a bronze statue into the Museum of Miskolc. He had known the site formerly and showed some findings from there to one of the archaeologists of the museum. One of his acquaintances had found the statue at the southern border of Borsodszirák, which Tamás Szűcs bought for a record player and 40 thousand forints. In the 17th of April, Tamás Pusztai with Tamás Szűcs and Péter Tóth made a field survey on the site, when they have found a silver fitting dated to the Hungarian

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Fig. 1. Position of the site: A, the location of the site (red dot) in the Northeast part of the Carpathian basin; B, the site (purple) and its environment with other sites (black dots) from the roman age and early

migration period on ASTER GDEM; C, situation of the site on the river terrace in digital elevation model1. kép. A lelőhely elhelyezkedése: A, a lelőhely helyzete (piros pont) a Kárpát-medence északkeleti részén, B, a lelőhely (lila) és környezete

további lelőhelyekkel (fekete pontok) a római és kora népvándorlás kori időszakból ASTER GDEM-en, C, a lelőhely helyzete a folyóteraszon, digitális domborzat modellen

Noteworthy Findings of the Roman Age and Early Migration Period from Borsodszirák 161

Conquest Period and most of the pottery fragments evaluated in this paper. The museum has a sack of 19 ceramic fragments with the date of 1999 probably from this former acquaintance.

In October 2012 I held a short ground survey with István Koncz to assess the situation of the site and to identify the finding place of the bust and silver fitting. During this manoeuvre we had found diggings from unidentified illegal metal detectorists. On the 21st of February, 2013 we held a four-hour metal detector survey with Ágnes Király and Csaba Lakatos using two instruments in the same time. We started at the finding place of the bust heading to the West then finished on the south-western part of the site and river terrace. We have found altogether 52 metal objects, the majority of which was discovered at the south-western part of the site (Fig. 1). We have collected ceramic sherds from the Roman and Migration Period near the place where the bust had been discovered without any metal object. In the contrary most of the metal objects were revealed near the finding place of the silver fitting on the south-western part of the site.

On the 16th of December, 2014 we carried out geophysical survey on the south-western part of the site (1.8 ha) and around the location of the bust’s discovery (0.9 ha), which was almost 3 hectares altogether (Fig. 9). For the investigation we used magnetometer system SENSYS MAGNETO® MXPDA with vertical arranged fluxgate sensors. The distance between probes was 50 cm, while the sampling distance along the array was 10 cm. Together with this measurement we made metal detector survey within the geophysical sections too. Unfortunately we have only detected a part of the area, therefore the results of this may be specified in a later article.

FINDINGS FROM THE ROMAN AND EARLY MIGRATION PERIODThe site itself is very large, but the scattering artefacts from the Roman Age do not cover its entire area. Through field research carried out until now we could more accurately delimit the territorial scope of the deposits of epochs. On the western and north-western part of the site Neolithic Bükk culture and Copper Age Bodrogkeresztúr culture artefacts were found. At the south-western corner of the site Roman and Early Migration Period metal objects came to light, with the same kind of items from the Avarian and the Hungarian Conquest Period in addition to the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Late Migration Period ceramic sherds. From the centre of the site,

we managed to collect Middle and Late Bronze Age and some Árpádian Age (10–13. c.) artefacts. Near the location of the bust and to the east, all the way to the railroad tracks, a large number of Roman and Hun Age ceramic fragments were collected. Near the railroad tracks and to the east of them a large number of Neolithic artefacts call our attention to another settlement from this epoch. In the following I point out some Roman and Early Migration Period finds from the archaeological site with the unconcealed intention to raise awareness of the Egres-dűlő and to be a basis for future researches.

METAL OBJECTS

1. Bacchus bustAmong the objects turned up in Borsodszirák–

Egres-dűlő the most interesting is surely a bronze so-called Bacchus bust, which has drawn attention to the site (Fig 3. 1). There is no possible doubt that it could be an accessory of a Roman so-called tripod or quadripod.

The height of the statue is 8.8 cm, and there are brown corrosion marks on its surface. The figure is wearing a knotted nebrist (buckskin) on the left shoulder, its herbal wreath hair style is grapes-shaped on both sides. The eyes of the statue are silver. It is joint to its 2 x 2.8 cm, profiled, rectangular basis by a 1.9 cm deep, round hole measuring 1.1 cm over (Fig. 3. 1). A strong hook starts on its rear directly above the profiled base, and extends to 3.2 cm; its square transect is 1.2 cm, 3.5 cm high.

Roman tripods and quadripods have been first studied by Ute Klatt, and based on her paper the bust of Borsodszirák belongs to the VC type four-foots (KLatt 1995, 368–369). She has counted three exemplars; one from Ephesus, one from Tvărditza and one from Zakrzew/Sackrau 1886. I. grave (KLatt 1995, 467–469). Later this type of object has been investigated by Péter Prohászka in connection with our area apropos of the findings of Ostrovany/Osztrópataka (PRohászKa 2004, 67–69). Within the territory of the Barbaricum tripods and quadripods were found only in relation to elite burials so far (Mušov, Gommern, Ostrovany/Osztrópatak, Zakrzew/Sackrau 1886 Grave I, Stráže/Strázsa Grave II), which can be dated to the second half of the first century and the first half of the third century A. D. (PRohászKa 2004, 69). I presume that the best parallel for the one of Borsodszirák is from Zakrzew/Sackrau, which Klatt dated to the 2nd century A. D. (KLatt

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Fig. 2. Period distribution of the site. Findings from the 10th century dispersing on the same area as bronze age (blue polygon)2. kép. A lelőhely korszakainak eloszlása: a 10. századból származó leletek szóródása megegyezik a bronzkori leletekével (kék polygon)

1995, 468–469). Consequently, the item in question is an accessory of a Roman quadripod.

2. Strap endThe bronze strap end is also an interesting find, and

it seems to be currently without parallel. It was fixed to the leather with three semicircular-headed bronze rivets (Fig. 3. 7). The alone standing rivet is located in the middle of an almost circular protrusion that is connected to the body. The body of the strap end widens rhomboid-like after this protrusion. The other two rivets are situated at its greatest width, in pairs. After this the body of the strap end is narrowed, it becomes round in cross section, and a barrel-shaped, flared decoration complemented with a cut-in line can be found in its middle. Another engraved line runs along at the rounded end of the object, perpendicular to the body. Its length is 7.9 cm, its maximum width is 2 cm, its thickness is 4 mm, and it is 7 mm thick at the flared barrel-shaped section.

Strap ends in the older Roman Imperial Period occur in relatively large amounts in the Germanic territories. Their origins can be traced back to the late

La Tène culture, but very similar pieces also appear at the Roman army (RaDDatz 1957, 81). Considering the analogies of the one of Borsodszirák, it shows some similarities with the Raddatz O.11 type, which is dated to the period C1 (RaDDatz 1957, 83). These were, however, mounted with one or two rivets, and their whole body is flat till the knob at the end of their shaft. In Renata Madyda-Legutko’s recent classification the Borsodszirák find can be classified into the second group of the second type, the shaft of which ends in a knob or in a cork after the knob (MaDyDa-LegutKo 2011, 211). Within this type it is most similar to variant 5 that Madyda-Legutko dated to the C1 period (MaDyDa-LegutKo 2011, 211). These are also fixed with three rivets, but their neck is decorated with engraved lines, and there is a knob on their end - unlike the Borsodszirák piece with a profiled barrel-shaped decoration. Based on the shaft and the design of the profiled barrel decoration of the Borsodszirák strap end, I reckon that its closest parallel is the strap end of Grave 82 of Weklice, although not either this item shows perfect resemblance with our ob-ject (NatuNiewicz-Sekuła–Okulicz-kOzaryN 2011,


Plate XXXIV, 3). The authors have associated this grave with the IVA phase of the cemetery, which could be synchronized with phases C1B, C2 or C2a (NatuNiewicz-Sekuła–Okulicz-kOzaryN 2011, 132).

3. Returned foot exterior chord brooch made of a single metal pieceA returned foot exterior chord brooch made of

a single bronze piece has been revealed at the south-western corner of the site; 2 m from the Roman silver coin. Its foot and spring are broken; its bow is flared, flat and slightly convex in cross section (Fig. 3. 4). Its length is 3.2 cm, its width is 7 mm and its thickness is 2 mm. This brooch is quite similar to Oscar Almgren’s VI.158 type (aLMgRen 1923, Tafel VII, 158.), although its fragmentary state leaves some doubt. The research of this type of fibula has a long history, most recently summarized by Vitalie Bârcă (Bârcă 2014, 21–39). Although in the Central European Barbaricum it can be found in large numbers, it has no detailed chronology or typology (Bârcă 2014, 26). It seems that the one from Borsodszirák is similar to the classic type, thus it can be dated between the end of the second century and the beginning of the fourth century (Bârcă 2014, 30).

4. Fragment of a bronze objectA small bronze object has been also revealed at the

south-western part of the site, which is semicircular in cross section, has rounded ends and is slightly curved. A semicircular protrusion connects to its body (Fig. 3. 5). A channel runs along the centre of the object. It was probably part of a larger object, however, no additional fragments were found. The length of it is 2.4 cm, its maximum width is 6.5 mm and its thickness is 2 mm. The protrusion’s width is 4.5 mm, and it extends the body of the item by 6 mm.

5. Roman coinsAt the same place two Roman coins were found

too. One of them is a bronze preserved in a poor state, on which just a ray crowned head is visible, which may refer to the third century origin of the object, possibly to (the time of?) Gallienus (Fig 3. 3). The other one is Iulia Mammaea’s silver denarius (Fig. 3. 2). On the front Iulia’s head can be seen with a diadem, facing to the right. Next to the head only the MAEA AVG inscription can be read. On the back-side Vesta holds a palladium in her left, and a sceptre standing up straight in her right. Only the letters T and A are readable. This silver denarius is definitely the same as the Roman

Imperial Coins IVB Volume No. 360 (MattingLy-syDenhaM-sutheRLanD 1938, 99). On the basis of the publications, this coin is extremely rare in the area of the Barbaricum of the Carpathian Basin; however, this research situation could be amended by a large number of finds forgotten in museums’ stores. The Coin Collection of the Museum of Miskolc which has two Mammaea denarius from unknown sites also supports this statement.

6. Iron plateFew meters from the finding place of the bust we

found a drilled steel disc, the precise coordinates of which could not be recorded in absence of a GPS measuring device (Fig. 3. 6). Its length is 4.8 cm, its maximum width is 2.8 cm, its thickness is 3.5 mm, and it narrows to the lower end. The hole with 2.5 mm diameter is not exactly in the middle of the upper, wide part. It is strongly corroded; smaller pieces have detached from it on many spots. Its belonging to the examined epoch raises doubts; its recent nature cannot be ruled out. Yet, when looking at it, one might think of the words of Tacitus about the blitz of Moesia by the Roxolani and the iron or leather plates of their scale armours (boRzsáK 1980, 75). Pieces of this kind of armour were found in the wood-ground construction camp near Iža, however, they have more holes (RajtáR 1996, Abb. 7). Vitalie Bârcă published a piece similar to the Borsodszirák one from the East, from the archaeological site of Kovilovka, which also has one hole (Bârcă 1997, Abb. 1, 1). Although this faraway parallel does not seem realistic, the hundreds of years of co-existence of Germans and Sarmatians in this area (as I mentioned above) gives some credence to this suggestion.

7. Further bronze objectsIn addition to the items presented above, seven

further smaller and larger pieces of bronze plates were found, among which two are folded and one is pierced. In addition, four pieces of molten bronze clots also came to light beside the plates (Fig. 9).

THE CERAMIC MATERIALIn this study I would like to point out some

fragments in better condition from the Roman and Early Migration Periods. Although 197 ceramic fragments were found at the archaeological site, the greater part of them belonged to the Neolithic, Copper, Bronze and Iron Ages as well as to the Medieval Era. During the field survey in the year 1998

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Fig. 3. Metal findings from the site (1, 6–7 and 2–5 in the same scale)3. kép. Fémtárgyak a lelőhelyről (1, 6–7 és 2–5 azonos méretarányban)


a total number of 114 sherds came to light, whereof 41 pieces could be dated to the Roman and Early Migration Periods. Another 19 got into the museum in 1999; 10 of them belonged to the periods expounded in this paper. In 2012 I collected 55 ceramic fragments with my colleague, whereof 26 pieces are the subject of this article. In 2013 only 9 fragments were collected and 7 could be dated to this periods. I discuss some of them according to the type of form determined by function. Furthermore, I intend to shed some light on their parallels to a possible extent without the attempt to be comprehensive. For the descriptions of the ceramics I used the guideline of the Prehistoric Ceramic Research Group (PCRG 2010).

Hand-made potsSeveral hand-made pottery fragments were

discovered at the site. All of them were collected in 1998. Unfortunately, there is no available data regarding their exact location within the site.

1. It is a handmade, bended over, tapered, bevelled rim fragment of a pot. In its poorly prepared basic material a common amount of well-rounded, mixed-sized sand can be found, and it is rich in mica. Its outer and inner surface is dark grey, while its fraction surface is black so it is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 4. 1). The thickness of its wall is 6 mm, while the diameter of the rim is 14 cm.

2. It is a handmade, slightly bended over, tapered rounded rim fragment of a pot. In its poorly prepared basic material a sparse amount of well-rounded, mixed-sized sand can be found, and it is rare in mica. Its outer and inner surface is greyish-brown, calcite crust can be found on its fraction surface, while it is probably burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 4. 2). The thickness of its wall is 6 mm, while the diameter of the rim is 15 cm but uncertain.

3. It is a handmade, slightly bended over, tapered rounded rim fragment of a pot flaring beneath it. In its poorly prepared basic material a sparse amount of well-rounded, mixed-sized sand and a sparse amount of mixed-sized pebble can be found, and it is rich in mica. Its outer surface is black, its inner surface is greyish-brown, its fraction surface is black, while it is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 4. 3). The thickness of its wall is 1 cm, while the diameter of the rim is 18 cm.

4. It is a handmade, slightly bended over, tapered, rounded rim fragment of a pot. In its poorly prepared basic material a moderate amount of well-rounded mixed-sized sand can be found, and it is rich in mica. Its outer, inner and fraction surface is dark grey, while it is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 4. 4). The thickness of its wall is 9 mm, while the diameter of the rim could not be measured.

5. It is a handmade, bended over, rounded rim fragment of a pot. In its poorly prepared basic material a sparse amount of well-rounded, mixed-sized sand can be found, and it is rare in mica. Its outer and inner surface is dark grey, calcite crust can be found on its fraction surface, while it is probably burnt in an oxygen- reduced atmosphere (Fig. 4. 5). The thickness of its wall is 8 mm, while the diameter of the rim is 15 cm but uncertain.

6. It is a handmade fragment of a pot with stamped four-petal flower motifs. In its poorly prepared basic material a sparse amount of well-rounded, mixed-sized sand can be found and it is rare in mica. Its outer and inner surface is greyish-brown, calcite crust can be found on its fraction surface, while it is probably burnt in an oxygen reduced atmosphere (Fig. 4. 6). The thickness of its wall is 6 mm, while the diameter of the rim is 15 cm but uncertain.

These pots with S-profile were all made by a similar technology. The mixed grain-size sand and the sparse or sporadic large pebbles were probably naturally included the poorly prepared basic material used for making them. It is probable that only a few amount of energy was invested into the preparation of these vessels, hence the borders of the area supplying raw materials was also narrow; they may have used clay from the surrounding one-kilometre area (aRnoLD 2005, 17). In the shaping of their rims rounded, rounded and slantwise cut in, or rather bevelled design can also be observed.

Hand-made pottery can be found in large quantities in the Roman Period settlement material of Northern Hungary (K. végh 1975, 87). The material excavated in Peder contained a pot with slightwise cut off rim similar to the fragment of Fig 4. 1, which was dated by the author to the Late Roman Period (schMieDLova 1969, Abb. 38, 7). Vessels similar to the fragment of Fig 3. 2. are known from Pányok (K. végh 1975, XIX. tábla 4) and from Sajókeresztúr, from the sand mine near the Sajó River (K. végh 1975, XXII. tábla 1).

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Fig. 4.Handmade pottery, mostly cooking pots from the site (1–4 and 5–6 in the same scale)4. kép. Kézzel készült, főként főzőedények a lelőhelyről (1–4 és 5–6 azonos méretarányban)


Hand-made vessels with cut-in rim are common in the Germanic area. Included but not limited to, there are examples for this from Felsőzsolca, the sand mine of the farmer’s co-operative (K. végh 1975, IV. tábla 4) and from Szirmabesenyő, Berek (K. végh 1975, XXIII. tábla 10). After István Bóna, Katalin Végh K. dated the cut-in decoration to the end of the second century and the beginning of the third century (K. végh, 1975, 88), but this kind of decoration technique is probably not specific to a particular period, but played a role in hand-made vessels’ decoration from the end of the second century surely to the end of the fourth century. Végh K. published an exact parallel of the stamped pot from Hangony (K. végh 1975, IV. tábla 5). According to her the artefacts from Hangony can be dated to the early roman period and she considers them as Celtic (K. végh 1975, 83).

Pot-shape vesselsThese kinds of vessels are similar to cooking

pots, but are always wheel-made and made of a good quality basic material. In most cases we are not able to find any sign of cooking in them. They were probably used for more functions from cooking to storing and making dairy-products.

1. It is probably made by slow throwing-wheel. In its moderately prepared basic material a sparse amount of well-rounded, fine sand can be found and it is rich in mica. Its outer and inner surface is grey, while it is probably burnt in an oxygen- reduced atmosphere. The thickness of its lateral wall is 6 mm. Beneath a horizontal incised line a diagonally stabbed decoration can be found on it in two rows, and a zigzag pattern runs between them. The surface of the fragment is polished over the top incised line and under the lower stabbed rows (Fig. 5. 1).

2. It is a wheel-made pot-shaped vessel with swelling, bended over, slantwise cut off, lid grooved rim. In its well prepared basic material an abundant amount of well-rounded, fine sand can be found, and it is poor in mica. Its section is without core. Its outer and inner surface is dark grey (blue shade), while it is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere. The sand was probably added to the basic material by the potter (Fig. 5. 2). The thickness of its wall is 4 mm, while the diameter of the rim is 14 cm.

3. It is a wheel-made pot-shaped vessel with swelling, bended over, rounded, lid grooved rim.

A corrugation runs around its neck. In its moderately prepared basic material, a moderate amount of well rounded, moderately sorted, mixed-sized sand can be found and it is rich in mica. The sand could be part of the basic material originally or could be added by the potter. Its outer surface is greyish-brown, its inner is grey, calcite crust can be found on its fraction surface, while it is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 5. 3). The thickness of its wall is 4.5 mm, while the diameter of the rim is 15 cm.

4. It is a wheel-made pot-shaped vessel with bended over, rounded, lid grooved rim. In its moderately prepared basic material a common amount of well rounded, well sorted, mixed-sized sand and a rare amount of pebble can be found, and it is rich in mica. The sand could be originally part of the basic material or was added by the potter, while the pebble is naturally included. Its outer surface is grey, its inner is dark grey, while it is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 5. 4). The thickness of its wall is 5 mm, while the diameter of the rim is 14 cm.

5. It is a wheel-made pot-shaped vessel with bended over, faceted rim slightly bending down outside and grooved inside. In its moderately prepared basic material a common amount of well rounded, sorted, mixed-sized sand and a rare amount of pebble can be found, and it is rich in mica. The sand could be originally part of the basic material or was added by the potter, while the pebble is naturally included. On the outer surface marks of the wheel-throwing can be observed. Its outer surface is dark grey, its inner is light grey, while it is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 5. 5). The thickness of its wall is 5 mm, while the diameter of the rim is 14 cm.

6. It is a wheel-made pot-shaped vessel with bended over, tapered, rounded rim. In its moderately prepared basic material a moderate amount of well-rounded, well-sorted, mixed-sized sand and a rare amount of dinky pebble can be found, and it is rich in mica. The sand could be originally part of the basic material or was added by the potter, while the pebble is naturally included. Its outer and inner surface is grey, its section has a grey core with red stripes and there is a slim grey line on both sides. It is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 5. 6). The thickness of its wall is 8.5 mm, while the diameter of the rim is 18 cm.

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Ceramic fragments with zigzag pattern running between rows of diagonally incised lines (Fig. 5. 1) have good parallels from House B (SFB) of the site of Szob, Öregfalu (bóna 1963, Tafel XLVI. 10), which the author dated to the first half of the third century A. D. after parallels from Poysdorf and Mittelhof (bóna 1963, 282). The other pot-shaped vessels belong to the so-called gritty pots, of which the archaeological research have dealt with less, therefore finding exact parallels is not a simple task. Although they are generally described as coarse pottery, it is important to note that a distinction can be made between them based on the amount of the inclusions they contain. An abundant amount of grain sand can be found in the grey lid-grooved pot-shaped vessel (Fig 5. 2), which is well-sorted. This may have been added by the potter in order to obtain favourable using properties, and thus we can call it temper. The same can be said of the other two vessels (Fig 5. 4–5), which contain common amounts of sand. The presence of small pebbles and moderately sorted sand can tell us that the potter has not filtered the sand used for tempering, therefore small gravel may have got into it, or the clay has not been cleaned, so gravel have remained in the raw material. In the case of the two vessels, which only contain a moderate amount of sand (Fig 5. 3, 6) it is much more difficult to decide whether it was human impact or not. Pieces similar to the grey lid-grooved pot-shaped vessel (Fig 5. 2) can be found in the late Roman material of Tokod (Lányi 1981, Abb. 1). Although the shaping of their rims is a little bit different from the Borsodszirák one, it undoubtedly belongs to this type. Such vessels have been revealed at Bölcske, in the Danube riverbed, which the author – though with few parallels – dated to the end of the fourth century, rather to the beginning of the 5th century A. D. (gaáL 1998, 26). Such vessels are also known from Vác, Csörögi-rét, which enabled Eszter Istvánovits and Valéria Kulcsár to analyse this type, and they also dated them to the end of the fourth century, beginning of the fifth century A.D. (iStváNOvitS–kulcSár 2005, 987–988). A vessel with an almost same profile has been revealed at Štúrovo from the 06/06a building (SFB) (Beljak–kOlNik 2008, Fig. 5, 13), which the authors dated to the beginning of the Migration Period, to the D1 period (Beljak–kOlNik 2008, 67). This gritty ware was the most characteristic pottery of the large Sarmatian pottery centre of Üllő, which spread across the Barbaricum during the fourth and fifth centuries, from the Przeworsk culture across the Sarmatians to

the Santana de Mures-Chernyakhov culture in Ukraine and Romania (iStváNOvitS–kulcSár–Mérai 2011, 367). They can be found in the Germanic territory of West Slowakia. In East Bohemia have been also discovered this type of pottery from Cholina (tejRaL 2012, Fig 9. 14 with further literature).

Bowls and platesDuring the field surveys, we have both revealed

decorative and simple designed pieces of this type of ceramic ware.

1. It is a wheel-made bowl with straight, swelling, rounded rim. Its basic material is well prepared and its surface is covered with slip. Its outer and inner surface is red, while it is burnt in a fully oxidising atmosphere (Fig. 6. 1). The inner side is broken, so the thickness of its wall cannot be measured, while the outer diameter of the rim is 24 cm.

2. It is a wheel-made plate with straight, swelling, rounded rim. Its basic material is well prepared and its surface is covered with slip. Its outer and inner surface is red, while it is burnt in a fully oxidising atmosphere (Fig. 6. 2). The thickness of its wall is 7.5 mm, while the outer diameter of the rim is 30 cm.

3. It is the base fragment with ring of a wheel-made bowl. Its basic material is well prepared and its surface is covered with black slip, it contains rare mica. Its outer and inner surface is grey, while it is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 6. 7). The diameter of the ring of the base is 6 cm.

4. It is a wheel-made bowl with vertically over-bending, rounded rim, on which a smoothed zigzag motif runs around. It is polished from the motif to the edge. In its well-prepared basic material a rare amount of well rounded, fine sand can be found, which could be originally part of it, and it is rich in mica. Its outer surface is dark grey, its inner surface is grey, and the red core is framed by grey lines. It is burnt in an oxidising atmosphere, which was tamped at the end of the firing (Fig. 6. 3). On the outer surface marks of wheel-throwing and calcite crust can be observed, which latter can be also found on the section. The thickness of its wall is 6 mm, while the outer diameter of the rim is 25 and the internal is 22 cm.

5. It is a wheel-made bowl with bended over, facetted, tapered rim. In its poorly prepared basic


Fig. 5. Pots or potlike wessels from the site (2–6 in the same scale)5. kép. Fazekak és fazékszerű edények a lelőhelyről (2–6 azonos méretarányban)

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material a spare amount of rounded, mixed-sized sand and a rare amount of rounded, small pebbles can be found, which could be originally part of it, and it is rich in mica. Its outer and inner surface is black, so it is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 6. 4). On the inner and the section surface thick calcite crust can be observed, while on its outer surface marks of wheel-throwing are visible. The thickness of its wall is 7 mm, while the outer diameter of the rim is 22 cm.

6. It is a handmade biconical deep bowl with slightly hunched-up, slightly swelling, rounded, straight rim. In its poorly prepared basic material a rare amount of mixed-sized sand and a subrounded, small pebbles can be found, which could be parts of the material originally. It is rich in mica. Its outer and inner surface is grey, so it is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 6. 5). The outer and the inner surfaces are polished with gravel. The thickness of its wall is 6 mm and the diameter of the rim is 18 cm.

7. It is a wheel-made plate with hunched-up, tapered rim. In its well prepared basic material an abundant amount of rounded, well-sorted, mixed-sized sand can be found, and it is rich in mica, which are partly small quartz crystals. The sand probably was added by the potter as temper. Its outer and inner surface is dark grey (blue shade), grey at the section, so it is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 6. 6). The thickness of its wall is 7 mm and the diameter of the rim is 25 cm but it is uncertain.

8. It is a wheel or postwheel-made bowl decorated with stabbed-in rows made by a double, pointy tool. The potter made this stubbing from the right to the left. It has a moderately prepared basic material, which is poor in mica. The inner and the section surface is covered with clay and calcite. Its outer and inner surface is brown, it is probably burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 7. 8). The thickness of its wall is 8 mm.

9. It is a hand-made bowl decorated with plastic ribs running beneath an incised line. In its moderately prepared basic material a spare amount of rounded, mixed-sized sand and a rare amount of subrounded, small pebbles can be found, which could be originally part of it. It is poor in mica. Its outer and inner surface is black, so it is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 7. 9). The inner surface is polished. The thickness of its wall is 1 cm.

The terra sigillata fragment broken at the inner side is a Drag. 37 or 30 type of Westerndorf, which is dated to the first half of the 3rd century (Fig. 6. 1).1 Until 1992, 60 pieces of sigillatae have been processed from a total of 33 archaeological sites located in the territory of Northern Hungary (GaBler–vaday 1992, 89). Among the sigillatae from the Germanic and Sarmatian sites of Northern Hungary the form Drag. 37 represents the largest amount (GaBler–vaday 1992, 91). From this area the products of the workshop of Westerndorf are represented in the largest number, however, from type Drag. 30. only three are known from the same region (GaBler–vaday 1992, 91). This type and products of the workshop of Westerndorf also dominated at Germanic settlement excavated near the village of Garadna in the Hernád Valley, dating to the Roman period (gyaLai 2009, 358–359).

The other piece of sigillata, a plate belongs to type Drag. 18/31, which is a product of the Rheinzabern workshop (Fig. 6. 2). Based on a similar piece from Garadna, the Borsodszirák sherd can be dated from the middle of the second century A. D. until the end of the first third of the third century A.D. (gyaLai 2009, 364). The products of this workshop were represented in a small number in Northern Hungary. From this area only one piece can be listed certainly to type 18 from this area, as well as another one that is unspecified (GaBler–vaday 1992, 91).

Presumably the bowl with ring on its base (Fig. 6. 7) belongs to the eastern Pannonian stamped pottery, a parallel to which has been published from Biatorbágy (Bia) by Éva Maróti (MaRóti 1985, I. tábla 4). Ceramics with provincial origin are not strange among the Roman Age material of South-Eastern Slovakia. Not too far from the site of Borsodszirák, Mária Lamiová-Schmiedlová presented such kind of ceramics from Peder, Sena, Šebastovce-Barca, Turnianske Podhradie and Ždaňa, which she dated to the second - third century A.D. (LaMiová-schMieDLová 1969, 479). The one from the Egres-dűlő is most similar to the one excavated at Peder (LaMiová-schMieDLová 1969, Abb. 13, 7).

I do not know any parallels of the bowl decorated with a double row of incised motifs (Fig. 7. 8). Perhaps similar ones could be discovered among the Quadic settlement materials of Western Slovakia, as the bowl from Object 185 of the site at Branč (kOlNik–varSik–vladár 2007, Tab 150, 2). It is also possible

1 I owe warm thanks to Dénes Gabler for defining and dating the terra sigillatae.


that the fragment belonged to a cup similar to form III of the same site (kOlNik–varSik–vladár 2007, Abb. 24, 5).

The hand-made bowl decorated with plastic ribs arranged in rows beneath an incised line (Fig. 7. 9) falls within the imitations of Roman glass bowls. These bowls begun to spread in Eastern and Southern Central Europe in the B1 period and were represented in a greater number in the B2 period, while only fewer of them can be dated to the B2/C1 period (hegewisch 2005, 213). The cup with plastic ribs beneath two incised lines from the Germanic settlement of Ózd seems similar to the Borsodszirák one (Párducz–kOrek 1958, 26, 4. kép 3).

Vessels similar to the wheel-made bowl with vertically outfolded, rounded rim with polished zigzag motif (Fig. 6. 3) occurred in the Sajó Valley, however, they have not been published yet.2 This type may have been used in this area in the 4th century.

I do not know any exact parallel to the wheel-made bowl with bended over, facetted, tapered rim yet (Fig. 6. 4). Pieces similar to the hand-made biconical deep bowl with slightly hunched-up, slightly swelling, rounded straight rim (Fig. 6. 5) are rather present in Late Imperial Period materials. Both may have been used in the 4th century A.D.

In its basic material the wheel-made plate with hunched-up, tapered rim (Fig. 6. 6) is almost the same as the pot-shaped vessel of Fig 5. 2. Although I do not know any of its parallels, it could have been used during the fourth and fifth centuries A.D.

Jugs1. Neck fragment of a wheel-made glazed jug.

In its well-prepared basic material a rare amount of mixed-sized sand can be found, which could be originally part of it, and it is rich in mica. On its outer surface the dark green glaze has been leaked. Its section has red core with grey on both of its sides. It is burnt probably in an oxidising atmosphere, which was tamped at the end of the firing (Fig. 7. 1). The thickness of its wall is 8 mm and the inner diameter of the neck is 3.5 cm.

2. Fragment of a postwheel-made vessel decorated with stamped pine-branch and petal. In its moderately prepared basic material a common amount of rounded, well-sorted, mixed-sized sand and a rare

2 Representatives of the type has been found at different sites in the Sajó Valley by either field surveys or excavations.

amount of small pebbles can be found, which latter could be originally part of the material, while the sand may have been added by the potter. It is poor in mica. On its outer and inner surface it is dark grey. It is probably burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 7. 2). The thickness of its wall is 8 mm.

3. Fragment of a wheel-made jug with a plastic rib running around its shoulder. It has well prepared basic material, which is rich in mica. Its outer surface is dark grey, while on the inner and the section surface clay crust can be found. It is probably burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere on a higher temperature (Fig. 7. 3). On its outer surface marks of wheel-throwing can be observed. The thickness of its wall is 7 mm.

4. Fragment of a wheel-made jug with smoothed zigzag motif running around its shoulder. A spare amount of rounded, mixed-sized sand and a rare amount of subrounded, small pebbles can be found in its moderately prepared basic material, which both could be originally part of the material. It is rich in mica. Its outer and inner surface is grey, and clay crust can be found on the section surface. It is probably burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 7. 4). On its outer surface it is polished above and beneath the zigzag motif. The thickness of its wall is 8 mm.

5. A handle fragment of a wheel-made jug with kidney shape cross-section. A rare amount of rounded, mixed-sized sand can be found in its moderately prepared basic material. It is rich in mica. Its outer surface is dark grey, while the inner and section surfaces are grey. It is probably burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere on a high temperature. On its inner surface marks of wheel-throwing can be observed, and its outer surface is polished with gravel (Fig. 7. 3). The thickness of its wall is 4 mm, the section of the handle is 1.2 cm wide and 3 cm long.

6. A handle fragment of a probably wheel-made jug. A spare amount of rounded, mixed-sized sand can be found in its moderately prepared basic material, which could be originally part of the material. It is poor in mica. Its outer, inner and section surfaces are light grey. It is probably burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere on high temperature. The top of the handle is grooved and its surface is polished with gravel (Fig. 7. 6). The thickness of its wall is 6 mm, the section of the handle is 1.3 cm wide.

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Fig. 6. Bowls from the site (1–6 in the same scale)6. kép. Tálak a lelőhelyről (1–6 azonos méretarányban)


Fig. 7. Jugs and bowls (8–9) from the site (in the same scale)7. kép. Korsók és tálak (8–9) a lelőhelyről (azonos méretarányban)

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7. The ringed base fragment of a wheel-made bowl. Its basic material is well prepared and contains rich amount of mica. Its outer surface is dark grey, while the inner and section surfaces are grey. It is burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere on a high temperature. On its inner surface marks of wheel-throwing can be observed, and its outer surface is scuffed (Fig. 7. 7). The thickness of its wall is 5 mm, its base is 3.5 mm and the diameter of the ringed base is 7 cm.

Among the jags the green glazed one (Fig. 7. 1) is a Roman import. Unfortunately, it is hard to determine its exact type. Based on the Pannonian late Roman cemeteries it can be dated to the fourth century A.D. (náDoRfi 1992, 45–51).

The belonging of the stamped fragment (Fig. 7, 2) to a jug is uncertain. The nearest similar sherd have been found at Sajókeresztúr, in a sand mine (K. végh 1975, XXII. tábla 8). This ornament can be also found among the Eastern Slovakian stamped ware (LaMiová-schMieDLová 1997, abb. 4).

The dark grey jag fragments could belong to the same vessel (Fig. 7. 3, 5, 7). In my view, these jugs – including the one with a lighter grey colour (Fig. 7, 6) – may have existed in the 4th century A.D. The smoothed zigzag decoration applied on the shoulder (Fig. 7, 4) is a widespread decoration in the early migration period, thus it could be used from the second half of the fourth century A.D. to the fifth century A.D.

Storage vessels1. A wheel-made storage vessel with horizontally

overbended, undistributed rim. In its moderately prepared basic material a common amount of rounded, sorted, mixed-sized sand and a spare amount of rounded, mixed-sized pebble can be found. It is poor in mica. The sand could be originally part of the basic material or was added by the potter, while the pebble is naturally included. Its outer and inner surface is dark grey, the section surface is brown. It is probably burnt in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 8. 1). The thickness of its wall is 1.3 cm, the inner diameter of the rim is 32 cm.

2. A wheel-made storage vessel with horizontally overbended, undistributed rim. In its moderately prepared basic material a spare amount of subrounded, mixed-sized pebble can be found. It is poor in mica. The pebble is naturally included. Its outer and inner surface is brownish-red (pink). It is probably burnt

in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 8. 2). The thickness of its wall is 1.5 cm, the inner diameter of the rim is 30 cm.

3. A wheel-made storage vessel with horizontally overbended, distributed rim. In its moderately prepared basic material an abundant amount of rounded, well-sorted, mixed-sized sand can be found. It is rich in mica. The sand could be added by the potter. Its outer and inner surface is dark grey, the section surface is brownish-red. It is probably burnt in an oxygen-rich atmosphere, which was tamped at the end of the firing (Fig. 8. 3). The thickness of its wall is 1.7 cm, the inner diameter of the rim is 30 cm.

4. A wheel-made storage vessel with horizontally overbended, distributed rim. In its moderately prepared basic material a moderate amount of rounded, well-sorted, mixed-sized sand can be found. It is moderate in mica. The sand could be originally part of the material or could be added by the potter. Its outer and inner surface is consistent dark grey. It is burnt probably in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 8. 4). The thickness of its wall is 1.7 cm, the inner diameter of the rim is 26 cm.

5. A wheel-made storage vessel with stamped X and pine-branch motifs. In its moderately prepared basic material a moderate amount of rounded, sorted, mixed-sized sand and a rare amount of subrounded, small pebble can be found. It is rich in mica. The sand could be originally part of the material or added by the potter, and the pebble is naturally included. Its outer and inner surface is grey. It is burnt probably in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere (Fig. 8. 5–6). The thickness of its wall is 1.7 cm.

6. A hand-made probably vessel with stamped pentapetalous flower motifs. The inner side is broken and its outer surface is polished (probably with textile). In its poorly prepared basic material a spare amount of rounded, mixed-sized sand can be found. It is rich in mica. The sand could be originally part of the material. Its outer surface is grey, while the section and the broken parts are brownish-red. It is probably burnt in an oxygen-rich atmosphere tamped at the end of the firing (Fig. 8. 7). The measurable thickness of its wall is 1.9 cm.

The beginning of the research of storage vessels and their appellation (Krausengefäße) is linked to


Fig. 8. Storage vessels (1–6) and an unknown type ceramic from the site (1–4 and 5–6 in the same scale)8. kép. Tárolóedények (1–6) és egy ismeretlen típusú kerámia a lelőhelyről (1–4 és 5–6 azonos méretarányban)

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Martin Jahn, who first outlined their types apropos of the analysis of vandal vessels in 1926 (Richthofen 1931, 257). The ones from Borsodszirák are massive. The diameter of their rims are between 26–32 cm, the thickness of their wall is 1.7 cm, and they are decorated with incised wavy lines and stamped motifs (Fig. 8. 5–6). Their research has been expounded in detail by Mihály Párducz and József Korek (Párducz–kOrek 1958, 30–31). Later Lamiová-Schmiedlová dealt with them in relation to the Eastern Slovakian specimens, and dated them between the 2nd to 4th century A.D. (LaMiová-schMieDLová 1969, 475–477). These so-called Nordic-type storage vessels spread only at the northern part of the Carpathian Basin (istvánovits 1993, 20–21). So far the rectangle X stamping with pine-branch pattern seems to be an unknown combination.

The formal type of the hand-made sherd with stamped pentapetalous flower motif could not be identified. However, similarly decorated fragment has recently been found at other site in the Sajó Valley as well, but it is yet unpublished and too small, fragmentary pieces to surely determine their forms.3

The magnetic surveyGeophysical surveys have been carried out in

two locations in December 2014 (Fig. 9). On a smaller area at the western part of the Roman Age settlement (the middle part of the site), where the bust was discovered, nearly a hectare (0.9 ha) has been examined. A magnetic feature disturbing the survey was a reinforced concrete column with a magnetic field, which obscured a small area. On the studied area sporadic anomalies of archaeological objects occurred. Especially around the place where the bust was discovered, round pits can be reported, therefrom to the north a few scattered anomalies appeared, which can even suggest sunken-featured buildings. The other surveyed area targeted the finding place of the Roman Age metal objects, where 1.8 hectare has been assessed (Fig. 10). There was no magnetic feature here that could affect the survey. The measurement yielded extremely interesting results. It turned out that in the south-western corner of the river terrace we can calculate with many objects, the majority of which can be in superposition with each other. This salience of the terrace is surrounded by a ditch, namely a single ditch system at the western part, and a double one eastward. The diameter of the enclosure is 180

3 A similar potsherd was found during a field survey at a recently discovered site near Sajókeresztúr (Sajókeresztúr-Dél).

meters. This structure probably belongs to the Bronze Age settlement. Unfortunately, the objects from the Roman period could not be connected to magnetic anomalies for several reasons. On the one hand the area is under cultivation, so the finds are constantly „migrating” in the upper soil layer. On the second hand the range of the horizontal dispersion of the handheld GPS measuring device we used was several meters. Parallel to the geophysical measurement a systematic metal detector survey was also carried out on the larger (1.8 ha) measured area, but only the half of that could be transacted. The exciting Roman Age objects which came to light during this survey could not be included in this paper due to the limit of space.

SUMMARY

The site near Borsodszirák called Egres-dűlő became known in 1998, when the bronze Bacchus bust have been taken to the Museum of Miskolc (Herman Ottó Múzeum). In the same year Tamás Pusztai, an archaeologist of the museum carried out a field survey with Tamás Szűcs, who submitted the artefact, on the course of which ceramic sherds from the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Roman and Migration Period and the early 10th century have been collected. A silver belt fitting also belonged to the latest period, which unfortunately cannot be found in the collection of the museum any more. In 1999 Tamás Szűcs visited the site again, and has brought 19 pieces of ceramic fragments, mainly from the Roman and Early Migration Period into the museum. However, from among the findings of the examined period only the finding place of the bust has become known. In 2012 I surveyed the site with my colleague István Koncz, on the course of which we concluded that Roman and early migration period pottery can be collected from the middle to the south-eastern section of the site. At this time we have found an iron plate (Fig 3, 6). In the spring of 2013 we succeeded to determine precisely the boundaries of the periods of the site during a half-day field survey with Ágnes Király (archaeologist) and Csaba Lakatos (metal detectorist). Then we refined the spreading of the ceramic artefacts relevant to the archaeological periods (Fig 2. purple polygon). In addition, inside the site we could isolate two Neolithic and a Bronze Age settlements (Fig 2). We also collected 10th century A.D. findings from the area covered by Bronze Age sherds. Since we have been informed that the sites were roamed by illegal metal detectorists, we have


Fig. 9. Locations of the geophysical surveys with the distribution of the metal findings9. kép. A geofizikai felmérések helyzete a fémleletek eloszlásával

also taken two detectors with us. In the area of the Roman Age settlement we detected fresh traces of this activity, but found no metal. It is likely that they looted this part of the site in the recent years. After that we attempted to investigate the location of the 10th century silver fitting, where we found metal objects from the Roman Age (Fig. 3. 2–5, 7) However, no pottery of the same period could be associated to them (Fig 8. red polygon). A part of the ceramics presented in this paper have been revealed during this field survey (Fig. 5. 2, 4–5; Fig. 6. 3, 7; Fig. 8. 1), about 250 meters from the Roman Age settlement indicated by the ceramic dispersion.

With geophysical survey we could investigate a 0.9 hectare territory of the settlement of the Roman Age and Early Migration Period, and 1.8 hectares on the location of the metal objects. Archaeological objects occurred at both places as well-visible anomalies, which can be interpreted as round pits and sunken-featured buildings of the settlement (Fig 10). At this place the features are scattered, therefore it is probable that one period can be reckoned. At the place of discovery of the metal objects a trench system as well as a number of closely arranged anomalies could be

identified. The dense, closely arranged spatial patterns of the anomalies could be explained by features created in different periods. At the western part of the terrace a simple and at the eastern part a double ditch system probably belonging to the Bronze Age has been established.

We could divide the artefacts into two main groups: metals and ceramics. Except for the bronze bust and the iron plate, the metals were discovered on the western part of the site. The ceramic fragments – presumably together with the ones from the ‘90s – have appeared at the eastern part of the site. Among the bronze objects the bronze strap end (Fig. 3. 7) and the Roman coins (Fig. 3. 2–3) can be dated to the third century, while the returned foot exterior chord brooch made of single metal piece (Fig. 3. 4) probably existed between the end of the second century A.D. and the beginning of the fourth century A.D. While the strap end seems to be a unique type, the fibula was a widespread, popular form in Central Europe. The specialty of the Mammaea denarius lies in the fact that it is extremely rare in the Barbaricum. The fact that these metal objects were isolated from the hypothetical settlement and they were discovered

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Fig. 10. Results of the geophysical surveys comparison with the elevation and metal findings distribution. The scale bar in nanotesla (nT)

10. kép. A geofizikai felmérések eredményei összevetve a domborzattal és a fémleletek eloszlásával. A skála nanotesla-ban (nT)


without ceramic fragments would allow some further conclusions, however, lacking sufficiant data, it cannot be supported.

The bust discovered at the area of the settlement can be undoubtedly interpreted as a Roman import, and typologically dated to the 2nd century. However, this does not exclude the possibility that it could get into the ground later. The fact that it originates from the settlement may confirm us that this kind of object was not only a prestige item of graves but had a practical function too.

The vessels discovered at the archaeological site can be divided into several groups: hand-made pots, pot-shaped vessels, bowls, jugs, storage vessels and individual or undetermined forms. The earliest pottery could be the hand-made one with stamped four-petal flower motifs (Fig. 4. 6), which can be possibly linked to the indigenous Celtic population in the early imperial period. Roman ceramics including terra sigillatae and a stamped sherd dated to the end of the second century and the first half of the third century A.D. (Fig. 6. 1–2, 7) can be considered as imports. The hand-made bowl decorated with plastic ribs which belongs to the Roman imitations can be dated to the same period (Fig. 7. 9), to which similar pieces are known from western Slovakia and Moravia. The pot with incised zigzag pattern decoration was also used in the third century A.D. (Fig 5. 1). Its parallels are known from Quadic territories. The glazed jug is a Roman import dated to the 4th century A.D. (Fig. 7. 1). The smoothed-edged bowl (Fig 6. 3), the facetted, tapering-edged bowl (Fig. 6. 4) and some of the jugs (Fig. 7. 2–3, 5–7) could also be used in this century. A part of the pot-shaped vessels, the so-called gritty pots were used in the fourth century A.D., such as a thick one with narrowing rim (Fig. 5, 6). The greater part of them (Fig. 5. 2–5) can be rather dated to the end of the fourth century or to the 5th century A.D. The hooked rim bowl (Fig. 6. 5–6) could be also used during this period, just like the jug with smoothed zigzag motif (Fig. 7. 4). The storage vessels were used from the end of the second century to the 5th century A.D.

In this study I intended to publish the first evaluations an archaeological site from an archae-ologically barely investigated geographical region. Although in recent years there were large-scale excavations in the neighbourhood, they together could not yield items of such quality as those of the field surveys of Borsodszirák, Egres-dűlő. I believe it is important to continue the research, namely the extension of the geophysical survey, and the systematic

archaeological survey, the results of which could bring forward a number of questions, which could be later answered by excavations.

I would like to express gratitude to the museum director, Tamás Pusztai, for the possibility of evaluating these artefacts, and for József S. Nagy for the beautiful drawings. My warmest to Csaba Lakatos and István Bacskai for the metal detector survey. Dénes Gabler’s help in the definition of terra sigillata was also essential. Thanks to Renata Madyda-Legutko, Judyta Rodzińska-Nowak and Marzena Przybyła for their insightful comments in relation to some of the objects. Finally I wish to thank Zsófia Kondé for proofreading the English version.

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FIGYELEMFELKELTŐ LELETEK A RÓMAI ÉS KORA NÉPVÁNDORLÁS KORBÓL BORSODSZIRÁKRÓL, ÉSZAKKELET-MAGYARORSZÁGRÓL.

ELSŐ KUTATÁSOK

Kulcsszavak: büszt, római kor, kora népvándorlás kor, terepbejárás, geofizika

Borsodszirák-Egres-dűlő lelőhely 1998-ban vált ismerté, amikor a miskolci Herman Ottó Múzeumba került a bronz Bacchus-büszt. A lelet beszolgáltatójával, Szűcs Tamással még ugyanebben az évben Pusztai Tamás, a múzeum régésze végzett terepbejárást, melynek során neolitikus, bronzkori, római és kora népvándorlás kori és 10. századi leleteket gyűjtöttek. Utóbbi korszakhoz tartozik egy ezüst övveret is, mely sajnos már nem található meg a múzeum gyűjteményében. 1999-ben Szűcs Tamás járt kint a lelőhelyen és 19 darab, főként római és kora népvándorlás kori kerámiatöredéket hozott a múzeum-ba. Azonban vizsgált korszakhoz tartozó leletek közül mindössze a büszt előkerülési helye vált ismertté. 2012-ben Koncz István kollégámmal jártunk a lelőhelyen, melynek során megállapíthattuk, hogy római és kora népvándorlás kori kerámiát a lelőhely középső részétől délkelet felé lehet gyűjteni. Ekkor került elő a vas lemez (3. kép 6). 2013 tavaszán Király Ágnes régésszel és Lakatos Csaba műszeres leletfelderítővel fél napos terepbejárás során sikerült pontosabban lehatárolni az egyes korszakokat. Ekkor pontosítottuk a vizsgált korszakhoz tartozó kerámialeletek elterjedését is (8. kép lila polygon). Ezen kívül a lelőhelyen két neolitikus települést és egy bronzkori települést sikerült lehatárolnunk (2. kép). Annak a terület-nek a középső részén, ahol bronzkori leletanyag volt megtalálható, 10. századi leleteket is gyűjtöttünk. Mivel értesültünk arról, hogy fémdetektorosok járják a lelőhelyet, két detektort is vittünk magunkkal. A római kori település területén friss beásások nyomait észleltük, azonban egyetlen fémet sem találtunk. Feltehetően az elmúlt évek során foszthatták ki a terüle-tet. Ezután a 10. századi ezüstveret helyét próbáltuk megkutatni, melynek során római kori fémtárgyakat találtunk (3. kép 2–5, 7), ezekhez azonban a korszakhoz tartozó kerámia nem társult (8. kép piros polygon). E terepbejárás során került elő a település területéről a bemutatott kerámiák egy része (5. kép 2, 4–5; 6. kép 3,7; 8. kép 1), a kerámiaszóródás által jelzett településtől mintegy 250 méterre.

A talajmágnesesség mérés során a római és kora népvándorlás kori település területén 0,9 hektárt, míg a római fémtár-gyak előkerülési helyén 1,8 hektárt sikerült felmérni. Mindkét területen jól látható anomáliákként jelentkeztek régészeti ob-jektumok (10. kép). A település területén feltételezhetően kerek gödrök és földbemélyített épületekként értelmezhetők az anomáliák. Az objektumok nem túl sűrű jelentkeztek, feltehetően egy korszakkal lehet számolni. A fémtárgyak előkerülési helyénél számos egymásba érő anomália mellett egy árokrendszert is lehetett azonosítani. Az anomáliák sűrű, egymásba érő térbeli mintázata több korszakban kialakított objektumokkal magyarázható. A terasz nyugati részén szimpla, keleti részét lekerítő dupla árok feltehetően a bronzkor folyamán került kialakításra.

Az előkerült tárgyakat két nagy csoportra oszthatjuk: fémekre és kerámiákra. A fémek, a bronz büszt és az átfúrt vas lemez kivételével a lelőhely nyugati részén kerültek elő. A kerámiák – feltételezhetően a 90-es években előkerültek is – ezzel szemben a lelőhely keletebbi részén láttak napvilágot. A bronztárgyak közül a szíjvég (3. kép 7), a római pénzek (3. kép 2–3) a 3. századra, míg a fibula (3. kép 4) a 2. század vége és a 4. század eleje közé keltezhető. A szíjvég egyedi típusnak tűnik, míg a fibula széles területen elterjedt, közkedvelt forma. Mammaea denariusának különlegessége abban rejlik, hogy rendkívül ritka a Barbaricum területén. Az, hogy a fémtárgyak a feltételezett településtől elkülönülten, illetve felszíni kerámiaanyag nélkül jelentkeztek, megengedne néhány további következtetést is, elegendő adat híján erre azonban egyelőre még nem vállalkoznék.

A település területéről előkerült, kétségtelenül római importként értelmezhető büszt tipológiai alapon a 2. század-ra keltezhető, ez azonban nem zárja ki, hogy később is földbe kerülhetett. Az a tény, hogy egy feltételezett település

Tóth Krisztián182

területéről származik, megerősíthet minket abban, hogy nem csak presztízstárgy lehetett, hanem használati funkcióval is rendelkezett.

A lelőhelyről előkerült edények formailag több csoportra bonthatók: 1. kézzel formált fazekak, 2. fazékformák, 3. tálak, 4. korsók, 5. tárolóedények, 6. egyedi vagy nem meghatározható formák. A területről a legkorábbra keltezhető kerámia a kézzel formált, kicsi, négyszirmú virággal bepecsételt töredék (4. kép 6), mely talán a kora császárkori kelta őslakossághoz lenne köthető. A 2. század vége és a 3. század első fele közé keltezhető római kerámiák, terra sigillata-k és a bepecsételt kerámiatöredék (6. kép 1–2, 7) ugyancsak importnak tekinthetők. Erre az időszakra keltezhető a római utánzatok sorába tartozó bordadíszes tálka is (7. kép 9), melyhez hasonló példányok nyugat-szlovákiai és Morva területekről ismertek. A bekarcolt cikk-cakk mintával díszített fazékforma ugyancsak a 3. században lehetett használatban. Párhuzamai kvád területről ismertek. A 4. századra keltezhető római importkerámia a mázas korsó. Szintén e században használhatták a besimított peremű tálat (6. kép 3), a síkozott, elvékonyodó peremű tálat (6. kép 4), illetve a korsók egy részét (7. kép 2–3, 5–7) is. Minden bizonnyal az ún. szemcsés fazékformák egy része is a 4 században lehetett használatban, mint például a vastag, elvékonyodó peremű példány (4. kép 6). Nagyobbik részük (5. kép 2–5) azonban inkább a 4. század végétől az 5. századra keltezhető. Ebben az időszakban használhatták a behúzott peremű tálat (6. kép 5–6), vagy a besimított cikk-cakk motívummal díszített korsót is (7. fig 4). A tárolóedények a 2. század végétől egészen az 5. századig használatban lehettek. [A szerző fordítása]

Tóth, Krisztián

Noteworthy findings of the Roman Age and Early Migration Period from Borsodszirák, Northeastern...

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