Integrating Geophysical and Photographic Data to Visualize the Quarried Structures of the Roman Town of Bassianae

Large parts of the urban layout of the abandoned Roman town of Bassianae (in present-day Serbia) are still discernible on the surface today due to the deliberate and targeted quarrying of the Roman foundations. In 2014, all of the town's intramural (and some extramural) areas were surveyed using aerial photography, ground-penetrating radar, and magnetometry to analyze the site's topography and to map remaining buried structures. The surveys showed a strong agreement between the digital surface model derived from the aerial photographs and the geophysical prospection data. However, many structures could only be detected by one method, underlining the benefits of a complementary archaeological prospection approach using multiple methods. This article presents the results of the extensive surveys and their comprehensive integrative interpretation, discussing Bassianae's ground plan and urban infrastructure. Starting with an overview of this Roman town's research history, we present the details of the triple prospection approach, followed by the processing, integrative analysis, and interpretation of the acquired data sets. Finally, this newly gained information is contrasted with a plan of Roman Bassianae compiled in 1935

Archaeology and Ethnicity: Avars, Caranths and Moravians in the 8th Century

The author poses the question as to whether or not it is possible to draw conclusions about the ethnic consciousness of the Avars on the basis of archaeological findings from the 8th century. As currently used in the historical and social science literature the term ,ethnicity' usually refers to communities who differentiate themselves from other groups in terms of their language, history, origins, religion, dress, material culture etc., and who create a sense of belonging together from that consciousness. The author outlines the present state of knowledge about the Avars, which is predominantly based on the results of excavations of Avar burial sites. Avarian culture emerged in the Carpathian basin from the 6th century onwards at a point where the byzantine culture of the east came into contact with the bavarian-frankish culture to the west. However, owing to the fact that most of our knowledge of the Avars' culture is based upon fragmentary material evidence - nothing of their oral traditions has survived - it is very difficult to come to any firm conclusions as to their sense of ethnicity.The author poses the question as to whether or not it is possible to draw conclusions about the ethnic consciousness of the Avars on the basis of archaeological findings from the 8th century. As currently used in the historical and social science literature the term ,ethnicity' usually refers to communities who differentiate themselves from other groups in terms of their language, history, origins, religion, dress, material culture etc., and who create a sense of belonging together from that consciousness. The author outlines the present state of knowledge about the Avars, which is predominantly based on the results of excavations of Avar burial sites. Avarian culture emerged in the Carpathian basin from the 6th century onwards at a point where the byzantine culture of the east came into contact with the bavarian-frankish culture to the west. However, owing to the fact that most of our knowledge of the Avars' culture is based upon fragmentary material evidence - nothing of their oral traditions has survived - it is very difficult to come to any firm conclusions as to their sense of ethnicity

Karl der Große und seine Vision – Archäologische und historische Schlaglichter

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Die Pseudoschnallen in der Awarenzeit und ihre Transformation

The problem of the so-called “pseudo-buckles” has since long been debated in Hungarian and Russian archaeological scholarship. Although several papers have already been devoted to this topic, it seems instructive to take a fresh look from the perspective of the archaeology of the Avar period. This study offers a new typochronology and analysis of the “pseudo-buckles” with a focus on the earlier, less profusely ornamented types. Examples from both the Carpathian Basin and Eastern Europe are reviewed to illustrate the cultural connections between these two regions. Highlighted here are the formal connections between the different types, alongside a model of the transformation process of these objects. Besides the formal analysis, the technological aspects of these objects are also considered when possible. The formal and chronological analysis is followed by a discussion of the possible social and historical relevance of the pseudo-buckles

Karl der Große und seine Vision – Archäologische und historische Schlaglichter

International audienc

Kaiser, Vögel, Rankenwerk. Byzantinischer Gürteldekor des 8. Jahrhunderts und ein Neufund aus Südungarn

International audienc

Császárok, madarak, indadíszek. Egy bizánci överret a 8. századból és egy új lelet Dél-Magyarországról

International audienc

Karl der Große und seine Vision – Archäologische und historische Schlaglichter

International audienc

Császárok, madarak, indadíszek. Egy bizánci överret a 8. századból és egy új lelet Dél-Magyarországról

International audienc