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

This study presents the results of the petrographic and geochemical analyses of the entire pottery assemblage discovered at the sixth-century (AD) cemetery of Szolad, Western Hungary, associated with the Langobard era in the territory of the former Roman province of Pannonia. Szolad 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 Szolad; 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.

Automated summary

This study presents the results of petrographic and geochemical analyses of pottery from a sixth-century cemetery in Szolad, Western Hungary. It reveals that the cemetery was used by a migrating group with diverse genetic background, and most of the pottery was locally produced. However, some pottery samples originated from outside the region. These findings suggest a strong attachment to local cultural traditions while also maintaining connections with other regions and cultural traditions.