Graves of Ancient Hungarians discovered
Valuable finds from Szeged-Öthalom
MúzeumCafé 15.
Szeged-Öthalom is an archaeological site of about 185 acres. The hills bearing the name Öthalom (Five Hills) are of European significance. The first archaeological finds were discovered there when, after the Szeged flood of 1879, a large quantity of earth was removed for dykes around the town. The most spectacular finds of the Öthalom sand quarry, explored in 2009, comprise eight graves of ancient Hungarians, which were spread by location. Since earlier excavations were not well documented, there is no precise information about the position of graves discovered in the last century. We have found men of 170-180 cm. in height buried with bows, quivers including arrow points, horses and harnesses in five graves. We have noted the items of their wares, silver lock rings and finger rings, iron buckles, bracelets and dress ornaments. A sabretache plate has been found in one of the graves, which is unique since to date no such plate has been known south of the Upper Tisza region. In another man’s grave square golden plates were placed by the deceased’s mouth. In the same grave we have also found a belt set with tiny thin golden plates. Dating the grave can be done with the help of the silver coins sewn on the horse harness. Besides the graves of five men, those of a woman and two children have also been discovered. Of note are the bronze shirt neck fittings and the bone pin-case from the female grave. As a necklace one of the children wore a pierced fitting, known from horse harnesses. In the other child’s grave thin bronze plates sewn on the clothes have been found. So-called partial horse burial took place in all the graves. This meant that the saddle horse of the deceased was killed, skinned and only the horse’s skull, limbs and hide were buried at the feet.