Extraordinary findings: Traces of Roman settlement uncovered in Hungary – PHOTOS

A week ago, the excavation of the Institute of Archaeology of the ELTE BTK in Pilisszentiván ended. The excavation was carried out over two weeks in a picturesque setting, with the help of enthusiastic volunteers. During this work, treasures and buildings of a Roman village were discovered.

According to the ELTE Institute’s blog, Ásónyomon, the site is unrivalled in Hungary, as the number of Roman settlements identified in a forest environment is negligible. The village is said to be located in the north-western hinterland of Aquincum, in the surroundings of the Hársas spring, on a natural terrace. The site was identified by Tamás Marlok in 2009 and was explored between 2014 and 2018.

This year, the events picked up again, as the Pázmány Péter Catholic University carried out a ground penetrating radar survey with the help of local government funds. Moreover, Lumen Drone Services carried out an airborne laser surface scanning (LiDAR) at the site at its own expense, under the guidance of Bence Simon.

The aim of this year’s excavation was to clarify the layout of the buildings identified along the ascending road between 2014 and 2018 and the chronology of the settlement, Ásonyomon writes. During the excavation at the end of October, 166 square metres were probed. Just over 350 square metres of clearing and minor demolition work was carried out to determine the alignment of previously excavated walls.

Three buildings excavated in the Pilis

The three buildings excavated were not residential but agricultural, as only a few roof tiles were found. Due to erosion or excavation, the only remains documented are the unbonded stone layers of the foundations. For a similar reason, the only walkway found was in the western building.