avars and slavs...a omogućeni su uz potporu grada vinkovaca, vukovarsko-srijemske županije,...

AVARS AND SLAVSAVARS AND SLAVSInternational scientific conference

TWO SIDES OF A BELT STRAP END:AVARS ON THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH OF THE KHAGANATE

MUNICIPAL MUSEUM VINKOVCI / ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM IN ZAGREB

VINKOVCI – ZAGREB6 – 8 FEBRUARY 2020

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AVARI I SLAVENIMeđunarodni znanstveni skup

DVIJE STRANE POJASNOG JEZIČCA: AVARI NA SJEVERU I JUGU KAGANATA

GRADSKI MUZEJ VINKOVCI / ARHEOLOŠKI MUZEJ U ZAGREBU

VINKOVCI – ZAGREB 06. – 08.02.2020.

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nakladnikpublisherGradski muzej Vinkovci Municipal Museum Vinkovci

za nakladnika for the publisher Hrvoje Vulić

glavni urednici editors in chief Anita Rapan Papeša Anita Dugonjić

lektura proofreading Ivana Turčin Pavle Dugonjić

grafički dizajn i prijelom graphic design and layout Ana Mrazek Lugarov (atelier ANII)

organizatori organizers Gradski muzej Vinkovci Municipal Museum Vinkovci Trg bana Josipa Šokčevića 16 32 100 Vinkovci Hrvatska Croatia

Arheološki muzej u Zagrebu Archaeological Museum in Zagreb Trg Nikole Šubića Zrinskog 19 10 000 Zagreb Hrvatska Croatia

znanstveni i organizacijski odbor scientific and organisational committeeAnita Rapan PapešaGradski muzej Vinkovci Municipal Museum Vinkovci

Anita DugonjićArheološki muzej u Zagrebu Archaeological Museum in Zagreb

Krešimir Filipec, PhDOdsjek za arheologiju Filozofskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences – Department for Archaeology

Željko Demo, PhDMuzejski i znanstveni savjetnik u mirovini Museum and scientific adviser in retirement

Andras Csuthy, PhDPodunajské múzeum v Komárne Danube Region Museum in Komárno

Tajana Sekelj Ivančan, PhDInstitut za arheologiju Institute of Archaeology

Znanstveni skup i knjiga sažetaka dio su izložbenog projekta „Avari i Slaveni“, a omogućeni su uz potporu Grada Vinkovaca, Vukovarsko-srijemske županije, Ministarstva kulture RH i sponzora Hrvatskih šuma d.d. This conference and the Book of abstracts are a part of the exhibition project “Avars and Slavs”, partly financed by the City of Vinkovci, Vukovar-Srijem County, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, and sponsors Hrvatske šume d.d.

programme:

february 6, 2020vinkovci, hotel admiral

09:30 Welcome speech

10:00-10:45 Key lecture: Falko DaimThe Future of the Avars – New Approaches, Methods, Challenge

10:45-11:00 Coffee break

first session: Newly identified sites of the Avar periodschair: Anita Rapan Papeša

11:00-11:20 Anita Dugonjić, Dinko Tresić Pavičić, Mario NovakEarly Mediaeval Cemetery in Jagodnjak (Croatian Baranja) – First Resultsof the Archaeological Research and Anthropological Analysis

11:20-11:40 Tajana Sekelj Ivančan, Ivan ValentSimilarities and Differences between 7th and 8th-Century Pottery on the Example of the Archaeological Sites in the Vicinity of Hlebine

11:40-12:00 Bernadett Kovacsóczy, Viktória Mozgai, Bernadett BajnócziMetal Craftsman’s Set from the Danube River

12:00-12:20 Bendeguz Tobias, Konstantina SaliariChanges in the North-Western Carpathian Basin under the Avar Rule –New Data from the Cemetery of Podersdorf am See (Austria)

12:20-12:40 Zsófia Básti, Bence GulyásNew Methods in the Examination of Avar-Period Cemeteries – Gis-Basedand Statistical Analysis of the Late Avar-Period Site of Pitvaros-Viztarozo

12:40-13:10 Discussion

13:15-15:00 Lunch break

second session: Neighbouring Cultures: Cultural Interaction, Assimilation, and Eliteschair: Krešimir Filipec

15:00-15:20 Anita Rapan PapešaEarly Fashion Influencers or Just Ordinary Women?

15:20-15:40 Erwin Gáll, Gergely SzentheThe Case of the Needle-Case – On the Distribution of Low-Value Products in the Late Avar-Period Carpathian Basin

15:40-16:00 Miklós TakácsSettlement Archaeology of the Avar Age in the Southern Parts of theCarpathian Basin – Similarities and Differences

16:00-16:20 Alpár DobosShifting Identities on the Periphery of the Avar Khaganate – SettlementPattern and Social Transformations in the Transylvanian Basin duringthe Avar Period

16:20-16:40 Zbigniew RobakHow Did These Get There? Avar Finds North of the Carpathian Basin



17:30-17:50 András CsuthyAnimals on Horse Harness – About Horse Harness Mounts from the Late Avar Period

17:50-18:10 Naďa ProfantováAvar Type Finds in Bohemia and the Traces of its Local Production

18:10-18:30 Naďa Profantová, Jan HasilSignificant Metal Objects as a Key to the Landscape and Society of Bohemia from the 7th to the 9th Century

18:30-18:50 Hana ChorvátováDevelopment Tendencies of Jewellery and Rattle items at the Turn of the 8th and 9th Century on the Northern Border of the Avar Khaganate

18:50-19:10 Ilona BedeHorse burial practice, between nomadic heritage and cultural interaction


20:00 Dinner

february 7, 2020vinkovci, hotel admiral

third session: Communities within the Peripheral Regions(Geographically and Culturally) with Subtopic:

Funerary Contributions Depicting the Funerary Rites and the Way of Life chair: Ivan Bugarski

09:40-10:00 Florin Mărginean, Erwin Gáll, Mihály Huba K.HőgyesThe Outskirts of the Khaganate – New Data Concerning the FuneralDiscoveries from the Avar Period in the Lower Mures Basin (Pecica, AradCounty, Romania)

10:00-10:20 Jozef ZábojníkGrave Constructions from the Period of Avar Khaganate at the ObidCemetery

10:20-10:40 Danica Staššíková-ŠtukovskáThe niche-graves and their origins in the culture of Avars and Slavs



fourth session: Belt set reflecting a hierarchical and a chronological relation chair: Željko Demo

11:20-11:40 Pia Šmalcelj NovakovićOn the North and South of the Khaganate – from Komarno to Croatia: A Scene from the Late Antiquity on a Belt Set from Privlaka

11:40-12:00 Orsolya Heinrich TamáskaStatus Symbols or Prestige Goods? The Interpretation of Burials withPseudo-Belt Buckles in Avaria

12:00-12:20 Christoph LobingerAbout Boars and Emperors – Two Outstanding Belt Motifs and TheirSignificance within the Late Avar Power Structures

12:20-12:40 József SzentpéteriThe Knights of the Avar Age

12:40-13:00 Levente Samu, Adrienn BlayRegional Shifts and Cultural Connections in the 7th-CenturyCarpathian Basin


13:30-15:00 Lunch break

fifth session: Indicators of Presence of Early Slavs withinthe Carpathian Basin – New Insightchair: Martina Korić

15:00-15:20 Krešimir FilipecSlavic Cremation Cemetery from Belišće (Slavonia)

15:20-15:40 Călin Cosma, Aurel RustoiuAvar Artefacts in Slavic Barrow Incineration Cemeteries from Transylvaniaand North-West Romania

15:40-16:00 Andrea RimpfOne Cemetery, Two Tribes



sixth session: Issues regarding the Post-Avar Period -The Disappearance of Avar Populationchair: Andras Csuthy

16:40-17:00 Ivan BugarskiNumismatic and Archaeological Evidence of Supra-Regional Trade in theSouthern Parts of the Late Avar State

17:00-17:20 Maja PetrinecAvar Finds on the Eastern Adriatic Coast


19:30 Dinner

february 8, 2020

Excursion to ZagrebGuided tour at the exhibition “Avars and Slavs” in the Archaeological museum in Zagreb. Participation in the EU Archeology Festival.Free time in Zagreb

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SAŽECI PREDAVANJAABSTRACTS

THE FUTURE OF THE AVARS – NEW APPROACHES, METHODS, CHALLENGES

Falko Daimuniversity of viennauniversitätsring 11010 [email protected]

Every era has its specific concerns, which are also carried over into the field of archaeology: in the

19th century, these were - among other issues - the roots of nations.But there are also engines other

than social discussions that drive the formulation of research questions, such as new, unexpected

technical developments. For example, although the use of combined statistical methods in

archaeology began with pencil and ruler, their broader application depended on having access to

a Personal Computer, which became widely available only in the mid-1980s. The same applies to

geophysics, and later to airborne laser scan technology (LIDAR = Light Detection and Ranging),

which revolutionised archaeological field research. Recent developments relevant to archaeology

concern physical anthropology and bioarchaeology: isotope studies of skeletal material and DNA

analyses.

However, but as important as these achievements have been and will continue to be, the most

significant advances of recent decades result from new inter- or transdisciplinary approaches, in

which the methods of long-familiar disciplines (e.g. antiquarian archaeology, historical research,

anthropology, bioarchaeology, mineralogy, chemistry, physics, geography, climatology, astronomy,

etc.) are combined, and the results are brought together and interpreted as a unit. Since the 1980s,

more and more excellent works combine academic disciplines and their specific methods in order

to exploit archaeological data as comprehensively as possible, and gain insights into human actions

and their underlying social rules and value systems.

Of course, archaeologists also have their specific perspectives or even prejudices that can prevent

them from recognising unfamiliar patterns in a distant culture. Therefore, to make the most of

the significance of archaeological relics, it is often helpful to playfully test theoretical approaches

or concepts, such as the “history of mentalities”, “environmental history”, “gender theory” and

”performative approach“.

Over the past decades, Avar research has focused primarily on chronological questions, the heritage

from the eastern steppes, and the relationships of the Avars in the Mediterranean region. Important

insights could also be gained concerning multicultural society during the Early Avar period.

Numerous works dealt with Slavs and their relationship with Avars. In the near future it will be

necessary to re-evaluate the Avar culture in terms of its connections with the Eurasian steppe, but

also the influence of the Roman legacy and the powerful Byzantine Empire. It will be shown that

the ever more extensive adaptation of the Avar tribal coalition in the Carpathian Basin was not only

a response to the mostly well-watered, fertile landscape, but also involved other important cultural

areas that can probably only be explained by the contacts that the Avars had with other cultures.

Therefore, particular attention must be paid towards deciphering the Avar cultural system and

its transformation over a 250-year period. The comparison with Bulgarians (7th–9th centuries) and

Hungarians (9th–11th centuries), both of whom, under their own impetus, transformed themselves

into medieval kingdoms – a change that affected all elements of society – will be helpful in this

respect.

The extremely rich archaeological legacy of Avars will help us to understand how human societies

function in terms of their communication with “others”, and such insights extend far beyond the

history of Avars, as well as beyond that of the Old World.

EARLY MEDIAEVAL CEMETERY IN JAGODNJAK (CROATIAN BARANJA) – FIRST RESULTS OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Anita Dugonjićarchaeological museum in zagrebtrg n. šubića zrinskog 19 10000 [email protected]

Dinko Tresić Pavičić kaducej d.o.o.papandopulova 2721000 splitcroatia [email protected]

Mario Novakinstitute for anthropological researchljudevita gaja 3210000 [email protected]

A part of an early-medieval cemetery with 35 skeletal burials was discovered during the rescue

archaeological excavation conducted from October 2014 to August 2015 at Jagodnjak-Krčevine

site, near Beli Manastir in Croatian Baranja. Graves show evidence of complex funerary practices:

ceramic vessels (pots) and remains of animal bones indicate that food was usually placed next to

the deceased, postholes near the sidewalls of the grave pit indicate a wooden grave chamber or

fixture, and traces of transversal logs under the body indicate wooden coffin or stretchers.

Common grave finds include personal items such as knives, jewellery for the head and chest

(earrings, glass bead necklaces, torcs), and some attire elements (simple belt buckles). According to

the finds, the cemetery was used by a smaller community at the very end of the Late Avar period,

possibly even in the post-Avar period. The archaeological and anthropological research of the

cemetery will provide a new insight on burial practices of the Late Avar period in eastern Croatia.

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SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN 7TH AND 8TH-CENTURY POTTERY ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN THE VICINITY OF HLEBINE

Tajana Sekelj Ivančaninstitute of archaeologygajeva 3210000 [email protected]

Ivan Valentkoprivnica town museumtrg dr. leandera brozovića 148000 [email protected]

During 2017 and 2018, as a part of the project TransFER - Iron production along the Drava River in the

Roman period and the Middle Ages: Creation and transfer of knowledge, technologies and goods (IP-06-2016-

5047), funded by the Croatian Science Foundation, two archaeological sites in the vicinity of the village

Hlebine were excavated. The aim of the research was to explore the bog iron ore smelting workshop

at the site of Velike Hlebine and to define features and function of presumed furnaces on the position

of Dedanovice, whose existence was acknowledged by the conducted geophysical research. During

the course of the excavation, both positions (which are about 600 meters apart), besides the remains

connected to smelting activities, brought to light the remains of archaeological structures which

can be connected with the remains of settlements. Numerous chipped pottery pieces of various

characteristic, belonging mainly to kitchen pots, were discovered within the fillings of the excavated

archaeological objects. By comparing their shapes, fabrication, facture, colour, decoration, and other

details, it is concluded that, even though the mentioned economic activity took place on both

positions at the same time, the ceramic material is significantly different, which suggests it was made

in different periods. Comparative ceramic material found within the same region points to a fact

that one of the settlements (Dedanovice) was occupied during the first half or the middle of the 7th

century, while the other one (Velike Hlebine) operat during the (middle of) 8th century, which was also

confirmed by radiocarbon dating.

METAL CRAFTSMAN’S SET FROM THE DANUBE RIVER

Bernadett Kovacsóczykecskeméti katona józsef museumbethlenkrt. 16000 kecskemé[email protected]

Viktória Mozgaiinstitute for geological and geochemical research rcaes45 budaörsiút1112 [email protected]

Bernadett Bajnóczi institute for geological and geochemical research rcaes45 budaörsiút1112 [email protected]

At the end of October 2018, the Katona József Museum in Kecskemet received a notification. Two

persons found metal objects using a metal detector near Apostag, on the east bank of the Danube

River. They found some heavily corroded iron objects, as well as several well-preserved bronze

objects.

After a survey of the site, it can be assumed that there was a metalworking workshop there.

The finds can be dated to back to the Avar period and (by their nature) can be parts of a metal

craftsman’s tools and implements.

Some of the iron objects are metalworking tools, such as a hammer, an anvil, and a measuring

rod. The bronze finds include press mouldsand moulds, which were tools as well. The objects and

patterns created by these instruments can be found at great distance from each other in space

and time.

CHANGES IN THE NORTH-WESTERN CARPATHIAN BASIN UNDER THE AVAR RULE – NEW DATA FROM THE CEMETERY OF PODERSDORF AM SEE (AUSTRIA)

Bendeguz Tobiasuniversität innsbruckinnrain 526020 [email protected]

Konstantina Saliarinaturhistorisches museum wienburgring 71010 [email protected]

In 2015–2017, a part of the Avar-period cemetery of Podersdorf am See has been archaeologically

investigated. The focus was on structural changes in the burial and settlement landscape, the burial

customs, and the economy of this region. With this aim, a series of interdisciplinary studies have

been carried out, including analyses on human and animal bones, radiocarbon dating, geochemistry,

isotopic analyses, ancient DNA studies and geoarchaeological research.

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NEW METHODS IN THE EXAMINATION OF THE AVAR-PERIOD CEMETERIES. GIS-BASED AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE LATE AVAR PERIOD SITE OF PITVAROS-VÍZTÁROZÓ

Zsófia BástiBence Gulyásinstitute for hungarian studiesúriutca 54-561014 budapesthungary [email protected]@gmail.com

Tamás Czuppon hansági múzeumfőutca 199200 mosonmagyaróvá[email protected]

Despite the constantly growing number of the published Avar cemeteries, very few modern analyses

were carried out. Most of those publications are restricted to descriptions of burial customs and

grave goods, and seeking their analogies, while the questions concerning the social structures

remain unanswered. However, while the statistical and GIS-based analyses are commonly used in

the British and American burial archaeology, these methods are barely adapted in our field. The aim

of our project is the (re-)examination and comparative analyses of well-known sites from the Avar

period with the help of such methods. In our paper, we are trying to show the great potential of

this approach on a single example of a middle-sized Late Avar cemetery. The advantage of this site

is the availability of anthropological and archaeozoological results, which offers a possibility for a

more detailed analysis.

EARLY FASHION INFLUENCERS OR JUST ORDINARY WOMEN?

Anita Rapan Papešamunicipal museum vinkovcitrg bana josipa šokčevića 1632100 [email protected]

Late Avar period cemeteries in Croatia, although very important, have not been properly published.

One of the recently excavated cemeteries located in Nuštar, East Croatia, yielded several round

breast-clasps. Besides these, only one more is known from the territory of Croatia, found in Draž

(Baranja), and kept in the Hungarian National Museum. Female graves tend to be left in the shadow

of the elite warrior’s graves, although they also provide valuable data. This paper will examine the

question of grave assemblages in graves with breast-clasps in the contexts of gender and age, and

try to explain the symbolic level of the role of these women in society.

THE CASE OF THE NEEDLE-CASE: ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF LOW–VALUE PRODUCTS IN THE LATE AVAR PERIOD CARPATHIAN BASIN

Erwin Gállinstitutul de arheologie “vasilepârvan”str. henri coandã, nr. 11bucureşti, sector [email protected]

Gergely Szenthehungarian national museummúzeumkrt. 14–161088 [email protected]

Contrary to common opinion, material culture patterning provides arguments for the existence

of a well-established central power in the Late Avar period Carpathian Basin. One of those is

the distribution of precious metal artefacts of the elite and high-status burials with horse and

weaponry. Nevertheless, our contribution focuses on one of the less spectacular among these,

that is on the signs of the existence of a distributional system. Mass-produced objects of low-value

cover the entire area of the Carpathian Basin inhabited by people under the khagan’s rule. However,

in the present stage of research, regional centres can be identified in this distributional system,

which suggests the presence of regional distributional centres in the Avar Khaganate. The intriguing

question is: can these centres be identified with the power centres of the Khaganate?

SETTLEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE AVAR AGE IN THE SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE CARPATHIAN BASIN– SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Miklós Takácshungarian academy of sciencesinstitute for archaeologyűrí u. 491014 [email protected]

Our study will be an attempt to present the main results of the settlement archaeology of the

Avar Age in the four countries of the given region: Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, and Romania. We will

try to give an overview on both the similarities and differences, through the investigation of the

settlement sites and their interpretation. In our study, we do not intend to focus on the problems

connected with the ethnical interpretation of the sites, but to formulate conclusions concerning

other questions that really affected the life of the population of the given epoch. One of the very

important questions to be dealt with is the problem of the way of life of the inhabitants of the

village-like settlements. We will try to summarise the new results with an emphasis on the results

of research carried out with various archaeometry methods.

In the last part of our study we will analyse the remains which can be interpreted as remains of

dwellings. Various parts of continental Croatia and especially its northern regions can be treated as

regions of special interest, as a consequence of adichotomy of the dwelling types. House remains

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of the so called Grubenhaus-type form a regular type of features on the sites inthe north-eastern

parts of the country, i.e. in Srijem and Eastern Slavonia, in opposition to the North-Western Croatia,

where a different type of archaeological features wereexcavated. There were remains of buildings

documented on several sites of the given region that can most likely be interpreted as remains of

timber houses. This situation will be compared with the results of settlement excavations carried

out in various parts of Slovakia.

SHIFTING IDENTITIES ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE AVAR KHAGANATE – SETTLEMENT PATTERN AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE TRANSYLVANIAN BASIN DURING THE AVAR PERIOD

Alpár Dobosnational history museum of transylvaniastr. constantin daicoviciu, nr. 2400020 [email protected]

The Transylvanian Basin is one of the less intensively explor regions of the Carpathian Basin from

the Avar period. Given the fact that it is surrounded by the mountain range of the Carpathians, it

constitutes a separate and quite well delimited geographical unit. Of course, this situation had a

serious impact on the historical evolution of the region. During the Avar period, Transylvania can

be considered a peripheral region of the Avar Khaganate which, for this reason, shows a rather

different archaeological picture in comparison with the core areas of the Carpathian Basin. First of

all, both in the early and the late phase of the Avar period the heterogeneity of the archaeological

evidence can be observed. This situation has generally been explained on ethnic grounds, mainly

with the coexistence of different communities living side by side (e.g. Avars, Gepids, Slavs etc.).

The presentation is an attempt to sketch the settlement pattern of the Transylvanian Basin

during the Avar period on the basis of the archaeological evidence (mainly coming from funerary

contexts), and to shed light on the mechanisms that shaped the social identity of the Transylvanian

communities in a continuously changing political context. The issue of the local elites as well as

the communication networks with the rest of the Khaganate will also be raised. Emphasis will

also be put on the importance of the micro-regional differences within the Transylvanian Basin.

Unfortunately, the archaeological data are scanty (and sometimes of poor quality), and therefore

only partial and incomplete results can be expected.

HOW DID THESE GET THERE? AVAR FINDS NORTH OF THE CARPATHIAN BASIN

Zbigniew Robakinstitute of archaeology of the slovak academy of sciences 949 21 nitraslovak [email protected]

The presentation discusses the current state of the art in the chronology and distribution of Late

Avar artefacts in Slavic territories located to the north of the Carpathian Mountains and the Sudetes

(today’s Poland and eastern parts of Germany). A few dozens of known artefacts are concentrated in

four clusters related to the most significant Western Slavic tribal areas and political and economic

centres. A recently identified cluster in the Middle Bug Region, on the border of today’s Poland and

Ukraine, seems to be particularly interesting. The area is linked with a Slavic tribe, the Dulebes

(also called Volhynians or Buzhans). Relations of the tribe with the Avars were described by Nestor

in the Tale of Bygone Years. Modern discoveries shed new light on this historical curiosity. Unlike

three other clusters, here there are no Western European imports dated back to the second half

of the 8th century and the beginning of the 9th century. This, in turn, could indicate the existence

of direct relations between people living in the Middle Bug Region and the culture of the Late Avar

Khaganate.

ANIMALS ON HORSE HARNESS – ABOUT HORSE HARNESS MOUNTS FROM THE LATE AVAR AGE

András Csuthydanube region museum in komárno palatínova 1394505 komárnoslovak [email protected]

Animal or mythological iconography is used on horse harness decorations in the Avar age as well.

In this presentation we will discuss horse harness mounts shaped in the form of a griffin or a

boar head, with short detour to phaleras (with dog-, lion- and eagle head-shaped mounts). These

partially gilded decorations (most likely on the bridle) were probably signalizing the high social

status of their owner in the Late Avar period. The boar head-shaped mounts are known not only

from the north-western region of the Avar Khaganate, but also along the main rivers, and over the

borders of Avar rule (for example, in Bohemia), as booty or as raw material. The griffin head-shaped

mounts are rarer than the boar head-shaped ones, which also offers us interesting interpretations

of connections between the northern and the southern peripheral (border) regions. The phaleras

with animal-shaped mounts can be interpreted similarly, as insignias of rank on horses of peripheral

warrior class, but some types can be relatively dated later (in the Late Avar period), and they were

not used only on the bridle.

AVAR-TYPE FINDS IN BOHEMIA AND THE TRACES OF THEIR LOCAL PRODUCTION

Naďa Profantováinstitute of archaeology of the czech academy of sciencesletenská 4118 01prague 1czech [email protected]

Late Avar finds are known from more than hundred sites in Bohemia. There are only a few sites

which include a large concentration of those finds. Also, finds of half-products or ingots,as well as

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some finds of crucibles are documented. These special sites used to be on hilltops, and they were

usually fortified. The most important are Tismice, Hostim and Kosoř/Prague (Middle Bohemia), all

including the evidence of local production (metal model, unfinished fitting). The problem is the

exact dating of the casting activities: typologically they point to the last third of the 8th century. The

complete workshop was not excavated, which is why the production of decorations could also be

dated to the first half of the 9th century. In the mid-9th century as the latest, clothesbelonging tothe

members of the local elite were oriented towards west, and from the half of the mid-9th century

they probably used other fitting types and other types of spurs.

SIGNIFICANT METAL OBJECTS AS A KEY TO THE LANDSCAPE AND SOCIETY OF BOHEMIA FROM THE 7TH TO THE 9TH CENTURY

Naďa Profantováinstitute of archaeology of the czech academy of sciencesletenská 4118 01prague 1czech [email protected]

Jan Hasilinstitute of archaeology of the czech academy of sciencesletenská 4118 01prague 1czech [email protected]

Typo-chronologically expressive objects made of iron and precious or non-ferrous metals, frequently

imported from other regions and cultural contexts, play crucial interpretative role in the study of

the landscape/settlement and social structure of Bohemia in the pre-přemyslid (pre-state) period of

the Early Middle Ages. This paper is the first attempt of synthesis of this problematics, based on a

corpus of approximately 170 sites where significant metal objects were found. The results show an

alternative approach towards the reconstruction of cultural landscape, as well as some important

new discoveries on the position of Bohemian basin between the Merovingian/Carolingian Empire

and the Avar Khaganate.

DEVELOPMENT TENDENCIES OF JEWELLERY AND RATTLE ITEMS AT THE TURN OF THE 8TH AND 9TH CENTURY ON THE NORTHERN BORDER OF THE AVAR KHAGANATE

Hana Chorvátovácentrum medievistických studiígolianova 7banská bystricaczech [email protected]

The contribution deals with women decoration and rattle items at the turn of the 8th and 9th

centuries in two cultural milieus: those that are in Slovak archaeological literature traditionally

referred to as the so-called Avarian-Slavic burial places, and the so-called Great Moravian burial

places. Presentation traces the development and potential mutual influence of those two cultural

environments. At the same time, the contribution poses questions about approaches to the

research of this period, because it seems that the current approach is in some aspects running

out of possibilities to process and interpret material culture or material manifestations of this era.

HORSE BURIAL PRACTICE, BETWEEN NOMADIC HERITAGE AND CULTURAL INTERACTION

Ilona Bedewillmanndamm 710827 berlingermany [email protected]

Burying horses with the deceased is a very well-known funerary practice of the pastoral nomadic

and equestrian cultures in the eastern steppes. It has also been one of the main archaeological

finds, which permitted the identification of oriental comers settled in the Carpathian Basin during

the Early Middle Ages and their material cultures. This practice is therefore generally interpreted as

a practice of steppic origin and the persistence of steppic traditions and beliefs.

Equine burial is also often invoked as a social marker, a symbol of power. If this is the case, then

this marker should be known and recognised among the elites. Its occurrence in various funeral

contexts could thus show that the symbolic significance carried by the burial of the horse (or its

attribute) should be understood and shared within a group defined by other means than “ethnic

identity” alone.

The study of horse burials in the territory of ancient Pannonia allows us to grasp the significance of

this practice for populations with multiple cultural influences, since this space was at the crossroads

of Roman, Germanic, Byzantine, Slavic and Steppic worlds.

OUTSKIRTS OF THE KHAGANATE – NEW DATA CONCERNING THE FUNERAL DISCOVERIES FROM THE AVAR PERIOD IN THE LOWER MURES BASIN (PECICA, ARAD COUNTY, ROMANIA)

Florin Mărgineanmuseum of arad piața george enescu 1arad romania [email protected]

Erwin Gállinstitutul se arheologie“vasile pârvan”str. henri coandã, nr. 11bucureşti, sector 1 [email protected]

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Mihály Huba K.Hőgyesthe székely national museumstr. kós károly nr. 10sfântul [email protected]

The preventive archaeological excavations carried out in recent years following the infrastructure

works or spatial arrangement for business and services in the administrative territory of Pecica

(Arad county) have simultaneously uncovered parts of settlements, as well as burials pertaining to

funerary sites, which fill in the information gap with new datain regard to the habitat and funerary

rituals of the second half of the first millennium in this micro region of the Carpathian Basin.

Our presentation will reveal a series of recent discoveries, such as those surrounding the city of

Pecica (Pecica Site 15, Pecica Rovine, Pecica Diesel or Pecica Duvenbeck), which complete the

limited and perhaps exaggerated repertoire exploited in the literature of the past decades. Partially

published or currently under study, the already accumulated data complete the repertoire of

discoveries from the Avar period, and allow us to emit new working hypotheses for the area east

of the Tisa river.

Considering the sometimes poor aspects of the material culture, respectively the distinctions

between their funerary rituals and those recorded in the eastern Transdanubia region and in the

territory between the Danube and Tisa, where clans close to the khagan settled (integral horse

burials in separate pits, N-S orientation without exceptions, rich inventories), the micro region

of Pecica represents – as part of the area between the Tisa and the Carpathians – an area of

„nomadic” communities of different cultural origins, located on the periphery near central regions,

an in-between region.

GRAVE CONSTRUCTIONS FROM THE PERIOD OF AVAR KHAGANATE AT THE OBID CEMETERY

Jozef Zábojníkinstitute of archaeology of the slovak academy of sciences akademicka 2949 21 nitraslovak republic [email protected]

It is generally known that numerous modifications of grave pits occur at the cemeteries from

the Avar Khaganate period. Their aim was mainly to create hollow space around the body of the

buried individual. Motivations for such an action were, in the first place, pious reasons – to at least

prevent the primary contact of soil with the body of the deceased to whom surviving relatives were

bound by emotional bonds. Modifications of walls and bottoms of grave pits, resp. various grave

constructions were found in 114 cases at the cemetery in Obid. The following data emerge from

their statistical evaluation:

- Two-post constructions occurred in just two cases;

- Four-post constructions were recognised in 35 cases;

- Grave construction consisting of six posts was discovered in 35 graves;

- The existence of lining resp. the so-called frame construction was observed in five graves of

the cemetery;

- Stepped modification of longer walls was discovered in 20 cases;

- Black coloured stain of irregular shape was found at the bottom of grave 28, perhaps it was a

mat made from organic material;

- Regularly distributed small pits of circular, oval, resp. angular shape, were observed at the

bottom of grave pits in five cases.

They are, evidently, traces of existence of the so-called bed of the dead, legs of which sunk into the

soft sandy bedrock under the weight of the body.

There are two types of post constructions. Posts were sunk into the walls and interconnected

by horizontal beams/plates, which in most of the cases enclosed hollow space from above. This

upper “lid” was found usually at 50-70 cm above the bottom. Horizontal cuppings into which the

“lid” was sunk were in many cases found in the walls of the grave pits. I tried to visualise different

types of constructions and grave modifications. I chose only some of the types because of the large

number of various alternations. Four and six post constructions, where posts didn´t reach the level

of detection of grave pit, were the most often find.

In addition to the usual constructions, there were numerous combinations of grave pit modifications.

The grave constructions are not bound just to the period of Avar Khaganate in the Early Middle Ages.

Relatively rich spectrum of various modifications of grave pits was found on the Great Moravian

cemeteries from the area of Slovakia, and Moravia as well.

NICHE-GRAVES AND THEIR ORIGINS IN THE CULTURE OF AVARS AND SLAVS

Danica Staššíková-Štukovskábizetova 1994911 nitraslovak [email protected]

The paper is based mainly on the unpublished finds from niche graves in Dubovany and Borovce

in the context of published finds from the last 20 years in Slovakia, Moravia, Austria and Hungary.

We focus mainly on finds from the northern border of the Avar Khaganate and the area behind it.

Attention is paid to the types of niche graves in relation to their geographical and cultural presence.

We study the chronological question of the concurrent or subsequent occurrence of these graves in

the northern part of the Avar Khaganate and in Great Moravia as the central issue of the origin of

niche graves in the Central European area.

ON THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE KHAGANATE – FROM KOMARNO TO CROATIA: A SCENE FROM THE LATE ANTIQUITY ON A BELT SET FROM PRIVLAKA

Pia Šmalcelj Novakovićinstitute of archaeologygajeva 3210000 [email protected]

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Privlaka-Gole njive, discovered and partially excavated in the 1970s, is the biggest Avar-period

cemetery in Croatia to this day. Although it leaves the impression of a simple rural community,

there is one group of graves containing very interesting finds. In one of them, the deceased was

buried with a belt set with a motif that was previously known only from one mount in Komarno.

In this contribution, we will present this discovery and explore the context of its appearance in

Privlaka.

STATUS SYMBOLS OR PRESTIGE GOODS? THE INTERPRETATION OF BURIALS WITH PSEUDO-BUCKLE BELTS IN AVARIA

Orsolya Heinrich Tamáskaleibniz-institute for history and culture of easten europe (gwzo)specks hof(eingang a)reichsstr. 4-604109 [email protected]

The gold pseudo-belt buckles of the Tépe-Bócsa-Kunbábony cultural circle belong to the richest

burials of their time. These burials are – as far as it can be ascertained – graves of men who

were accompanied, in addition to other belts with metal fittings, by grave goods made of gold.

Despite their poor state of preservation, these burials appear to be furnished quite consistently,

with weapons with gold fittings, items of personal adornment made of gold, and tableware made of

precious metal or with precious metal mounts. This wealth, both in terms of quantity and quality,

is seen as an indication of high status or prestige, with some burials even interpreted as those of

a khagan.

In this paper, a critical discussion, which also refers to debates about the so-called ‘princely burials’

of the Hallstatt period being status symbols or prestige goods, serves as a starting point for an

examination and re-evaluation of the methodological foundations on which such interpretations

rest, based on the gold pseudo-belt buckles and the context in which they were found.

New insights into these questions have been gained through the analyses of the materials and

production techniques conducted over the last few years.

ABOUT BOARS AND EMPERORS – TWO OUTSTANDING BELT MOTIFS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN THE LATE AVAR POWER STRUCTURES

Christoph Lobinger archaeological heritage office of saxonyzur wetterwarte 701109 [email protected]

The Late Avar period is famous for its large amount of bronze cast belt sets consisting of buckles,

mounts, and strap ends. Most of them are showing animal combat scenes, griffins, or are decorated

with floral scroll ornaments, although there are also more outstanding types such as boar head-

shaped strap ends or mounds bearing an emperor’s portrait. Both are characterised by a quiet

temporal and regional character in their distribution. Recent research has underlined a possible

‘prestige chain network’ of Late Avar elites in contrast to the simpler model of workshops. Regarding

the historically recorded power struggles in the late 8th century, the following paper investigates

these distinctive finds as possible social and political markers.

THE KNIGHTS OF THE AVAR AGE

József Szentpéteri has institute of history4 tóthkálmán street1097 [email protected]

The military leaders of the nomadic Avar army of mounted warriors represented the military elite

of the Migration period in the Carpathian Basin. They can rightly be called the first “knights” of

European history in view of their lifestyle and their role in the period’s society. Their prominent

status is signalled by their costume, weapons, and jewellery, all reflecting their high social status.

At the close of the 8th century, the Avar Khaganate was bordered by a border zone over 2200 km

long with a continuous chain of military settlements. One of the settlements tasked with the

defence of the khaganate was investigated in the Little Balaton region (Vörs-Papkert-dűlő, County

Somogy, HU). The settlement’s cemetery contained burials of the highest-ranking members of two

generations, interred with their horse and large ornate phaleras adorning the harness. This study

takes as its starting point this “uniform equipment”, which, although tailored to individual tastes,

was typical of the Late Avar period, and examines the composition of the grave assemblages of the

mounted warriors and their role in the border defence of the Avar Khaganate.

REGIONAL SHIFTS AND CULTURAL CONNECTIONS IN THE 7TH-CENTURY CARPATHIAN BASIN

Levente Samuinstitute of archeological scienceseötvös loránd universitymúzeum körút 4/b1088 [email protected]

Adrienn Blayhungarian academy of sciencesinstitute for archaeologytóth kálmán utca 41097 [email protected]

In the first part of our presentation, we model the regional changes in the fashion of belt fittings

using spatial interpolation maps, which indicate diachronic changes in the regional frequencies

of mount-ornamented belts. In the first third of the 7th century, these belts predominate in the

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southern Carpathian Basin; a change can be noted from the century’s second third, involving a

gradually northward shift and the appearance of belt fittings north of the former distribution

territory and, eventually, a preponderance in the north in the century’s later half and its close.

We examine the possible reasons for this shift: the most likely explanation seems to be that the

deceased were increasingly often interred with their ornate belt to signal their social status in the

newly opened cemeteries. It must nevertheless be noted that – as shown by the keys to the maps –

a larger cluster in the later seventh century does not indicate a similar concentration of belt fittings

as during the preceding period. With the passing of time, certain gradual changes can be noted

regarding the regional patterns. Three main, relatively distinct distributions, can be outlined by the

earlier and mid-7th century. A major change can be noted from the later 7th century onward, when

the earlier hubs in part disintegrate, and in part undergo some transformation, and the changes can

be seen in the earlier distribution map. We will try to present these transformations in parallel with

the changes of the long-distance cultural contacts.

Many details can be added to the broad picture of the distribution of belt fittings if we look at certain

jewellery and other item types (e.g. ceramic). Although there are fewer Byzantine-type articles with

direct parallels during the middle 3rd of the 7th century and its later half, individual types appear

in much higher numbers in the Carpathian Basin compared to the Early Avar period. Among the

earrings, the crescentic type with granulation along the lower arc and the Jánoshida-type earrings

can principally be associated with male burials, and it is suggested that these were endowed with

greater prestige judging from the other grave goods. Concentrations in their distribution can be

noted at Budakalász, Alattyán and Visznek in the northern region, at Zamárdi in the Balaton region,

and in the Szeged area in the southern Hungarian Plain. This corresponds to the concentrations

noted in the distribution of belt fittings. These major economic and communication hubs played a

prominent role in the Carpathian Basin during the Avar period and they were no doubt controlled by

the period’s Avar elite in order to maintain its power. Distances and the accessibility of the central

places were no doubt important considerations.

SLAVIC CREMATION CEMETERY FROM BELIŠĆE (SLAVONIA)

Krešimir Filipecuniversity of zagreb, faculty of humanities and social sciencesdepartment for archaeologyivana lučića 310000 [email protected]

A Slavic cremation cemetery was discovered in Belišće, at the Zagajci site along the southern coast

of the Drava River. The cemetery laid out on the sandy hill has been completely excavated. 32

graves were discovered: 9 burials in a ceramic vessel, 22 burials in a pit, 1 burial in an “urn” made

of organic material. In addition, traces of destroyed graves were found and part of the cemetery

was destroyed during the excavation of sand. Small human and animal bones or their fragments,

fragments of iron objects and a knife have been found in the grave pits, with ceramic vessels, whole

or broken. The cemetery was not in use for along period of time, and it can be dated to the Late

Avar period.

AVAR ARTEFACTS IN SLAVIC BARROW INCINERATION: CEMETERIES FROM TRANSYLVANIA AND NORTH-WEST ROMANIA

Călin Cosmainstitutul de arheologie şi istoria arteial academiei române din cluj-napoca str. m. kogălniceanunr. 12-14400 084 cluj-napoca [email protected]

Aurel Rustoiuinstitutul de arheologie şi istoria arteial academiei române din cluj-napoca str. m. kogălniceanunr. 12-14400 084 cluj-napoca [email protected]

Two barrow incineration cemeteries that belonged to Slavic communities that had arrived from the

eastern part of Europe were discovered on the territory of Transylvania, in Someșeni (Cluj County),

and in North-West Romania, in Nușfalău (Sălaj County).

Inside some of these barrows the archaeologists have discovered a series of silver and bronze

artefacts that are typically Avar. The items consist of belt sets, such as silver belt ends with a

pressed motif, belt ends, bronze pendants and belt appliques, cast and decorated with zoomorphic

and floral motifs. All these items can be included among the artefacts used by the upper class/elites

of the Avar society.

One of the barrows from Nușfalău that have been excavated at the end of the nineteenth century

has revealed stirrups and bids, while another barrow from the same necropolis included a horse

burial. Both the elements of harness and the horse burial are elements that belong to the Avar world

from the Carpathian Basin. Their presence in the barrows from Nușfalău attests the connections

between the Slavs from Nușfalău and the Avar world.

The artefacts from the graves mentioned above were gifts from the Avar leaders to the leaders of the

Slavs from the communities in Nușfalău and Someșeni. Through these gifts the Avar leaders wished

to maintained good relations with their neighbours from North-West Transylvania (Someșeni) and

North-West Romania (Nușfalău).

The geographic location of the two necropolises, on two important routes that connected the

Transylvanian Plateau and the Pannonian Puszta, can be linked to the fact that the Avar leaders

wished to control the access from Transylvania westwards through the mediation of local

potentates, in this case the Slavic leaders. One cannot exclude the possibility that the Avar Khagans

have “officially colonised” these Slavs in order to exert an efficient control over certain territories

farther from their central area of domination. This fact is not isolated. Inside the Avar Khaganate

one knows of cases when the khagans controlled certain areas through the mediation of individuals

who were not of Avar origin.

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ONE CEMETERY, TWO TRIBES

Andrea Rimpfilok city museumšetalište o. m. barbarića 532236 [email protected]

In this article the author will present new archaeological finds of an early Slavic population

discovered in Šarengrad-Klopare. This site has been excavated since 2016 and belongs to the period

of the second Avar Khaganate. Excavation conducted in 2019 resulted in a discovery of seven burials

which have been attributed to the Slavic population. Archaeological site Šarengrad-Klopare is the

first recorded cemetery with biritual burial in continental Croatia.

NUMISMATIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF SUPRA-REGIONAL TRADE IN THE SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE LATE AVAR STATE

Ivan Bugarskiinstitute of archaeologyknez mihailova 35/iv11000 [email protected]

This article will bring together the archaeological finds from Syrmia and Southern Bačka, mostly

numismatic, which apparently testify to the supra-regional trade that was taking place in the

southern parts of the Late Avar state: Abbasid coins from Čelarevo, Futog, and Šišatovci, as well as

a well-known hoard from Donji Petrovci (also containing nine dirhems), an eighth-century solidus

from Maglić and a belt set from a Zemun grave. In doing so, it will build upon the studies of, first of

all, Michael McCormick, Falko Daim, and Péter Somogyi. These finds have been mistakenly linked

with migrations, or left without interpretation; only occasionally some of them were described as

pointing to interethnic trade relations. On the other hand, the belt set from Zemun, bearing human

representations in a Late Roman style, may be seen as indicative of connections between the North

Mediterranean region and the southern parts of the Khaganate.

AVAR FINDS ON THE EASTERN ADRIATIC COAST

Maja Petrinecmuseum of croatian archaeological monuments - splitstjepana gunjače 321000 [email protected]

Chapter 29 of De Administrando Imperio written by Byzantine Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenites

mentions that Salona, the capital of Dalmatia, was destroyed by Avars and Slavs. Chapter 31 of the

same work states the fact that upon settling in Dalmatia, the Croats found the Avars as landowners.

Although conquering and subduing them, it is said that even after that, descendants of the Avars

continued living in Croatia, where they were recognized as Avars.

In historiography these facts are often taken as a proof of a longer settlement, or even of Avar

rule on the territory of the Roman province Dalmatia. The paper will consider the archaeological

aspect of this matter, i.e. archaeological finds on the territory of the Eastern Adriatic coast and

its immediate hinterland that may be relevant to the material culture typical of the Avars in their

native land in the Carpathian Plain.

avars and slavs...a omogućeni su uz potporu grada vinkovaca, vukovarsko-srijemske županije,...

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