Scythian and Avar era finds excavated near Kecskemét

A piece of Scythian jewellery and remnants of an Avar smithy were discovered in Kecskemét-Hetényegyháza during the trial excavations preceding a road construction, ng.hu reports.

Remnants from four eras were found on two locations by members of the Katona József Museum. Gábor Wilhelm, the lead archaeologist of the excavation says, one of the finds is a Scythian jewellery from the 6^th century BC. The spiral shaped hanging ornament is made of cast bronze covered with a layer of gold. The museum has no similar jewellery, and there are only a few known finds in the county.

Another particular find is a smithy discovered among the remnants of a 7-8^th century Avar village. No similar remains have been found in the Danube-Tisza Interfluve. We’ve known for a long time that the Avars were excellent metalworkers, since many well-crafted iron, bronze, and gold objects have been found in their graves, but remnants of their workshops are harder to find. Parts of a collapsed furnace, big pieces of a leftover substance from iron ore reduction, and by-products are unambiguous proof for the presence of a smith’s workplace – said the archaeologist. Traces of a Sarmatian village from the end of the 2^nd century have also been discovered, he added, as well as parts of Roman ceramics, amphoras and painted pots. These arrived in Hungary, filled with wine, from the shores of the Black Sea, which proves that trade was flourishing at the time.

Gábor Wilhelm by the remnants of the furnace

If the weather allows it, the trial excavations will be finished in May. The next step is the accurate definition of the eras based on the finds, then time and resources will be devoted to the completion of the full excavation.

Photos: MTI

Copy editor: bm

Source: ng.hu