Integrated petrographic and geochemical analysis of the Langobard age pottery of Szólád, Western Hungary

Abstract

This study presents the results of the petrographic and geochemical analyses of the entire pottery assemblage discovered at the sixth-century (AD) cemetery of Szólád, Western Hungary, associated with the Langobard era in the territory of the former Roman province of Pannonia. Szólád is one of the most prominent archaeological sites of this period, where prior studies have shown that the cemetery was used for ca. one or two generations by a migrating group of diverse genetic background. The present work is the first integrated typological and archaeological science pottery analysis from the early migration period (fifth to sixth century) Hungary. We applied polarising light optical microscopy (OM), prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA), and neutron activation analysis (NAA) on all samples and, additionally, scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM–EDS) on one selected sample. One main fabric group with three subgroups were defined by OM, to which the majority of the samples belong. This fabric group was characterised by aplastic inclusions derived from a carbonate-cemented sandstone typical of the environs of Szólád; therefore, the vessels of this fabric group appear to have been produced locally. The remaining four samples display a variety of unique, ungrouped, fabrics (loners) indicative of different recipes and/or the presence of pottery originating from outside of the region. Our study concludes that the community associated with the cemetery favoured burying pots with the deceased that stylistically resembled archaic “Elbe Germanic” traditions, but which were in fact made locally. However, in some cases, relationships with more distant territories and cultural traditions are also represented.

Combined studies on glazed ceramic bodies from the Middle and Neo Elamite periods (1500-539 BCE)

“…According to Fig. 4j, these needles can be a type of carbonate, in which case, this fabric will be very similar to the sandstone fabrics in ancient ceramics [23]. Due to this feature, this group of ceramics was classi ed as having poorly sorted angular textures.…”

Better late (Roman) than never! A possible amphora fragment from 6th century Balatonlelle, Western Hungary

“…Although Late Antique elements can be detected in the known cemeteries as well (e.g. Szólád (Bajnok et al 2022), Kajdacs (Bóna & B. Horváth 2009)), their relative abundance in these first excavated settlements was substantially higher.…”

A Süttő és Neszmély közti őskori lelőhelykomplexum kerámiaanyagán végzett petrográfiai vizsgálatok eredményei

“…Ugyan a 6. csoport késő vaskori kerámiáinak alapanyaga a helyi nyersanyaggal soványított többi csoportéhoz hasonló, azonban a soványításhoz használt márványtöredékek a lelőhely környékén nem fordulnak elő, azaz a soványító anyagot távolabbról hozhatták. Magyarország területén egyedül a Polgárdi Mészkő Formáció kristályos mészköve lehet hasonló kifejlődésű (Zöldföldi et al 2004;Bajnok et al 2014Bajnok et al , 2022. A származási hely meghatározásához a Polgárdi Mészkő mellett a lelőhelyhez legközelebb eső ausztriai és szlovákiai márványbányák jellemző ásványos összetételének és stabil izotóp arányainak részletes vizsgálatára lenne szükség.…”