Csontlemezes skatulyák és dobozkák a Kárpát-medence avar kori anyagában
Bard-boxes and Small Cases Decorated with Carved Bone Plates in the Carpathian Basin from the Avar Period

Summary/Abstract: The present article examines the carved bone plates of the Avar archaeological material from the Carpathian Basin, which decorated small bard-boxes and cases. Such objects were found in 22 graves from 13 Avar Age cemeteries. The majority of archaeological sites are located in the Danube–Tisa Interfluve, in a strait zone near the two rivers (Map 1). These type of findings are known in great number in Bačko Petrovo Selo, Čik (4) and Szeged-Fehértó A. cemetery. Primary they came up from female graves, but in four cases they were found in male graves. The small carved bone plates were usually found near the femur and elbow, at the left site. One of the sides of these plates are always decorated with geometric motif. Almost on each of them can be seen point-circle motifs (Plate 1–3, Plate 4. 1–2). Two bone plates are decorated with geometric motif without point-circle (Plate 4. 3–4). One plate with ribbon ornament (Plate 4. 5) and another decorated with ornamental foliage (Plate 4. 6) represent a different style. The motifs of these bone plates are similar to the motifs of the bone rectangular hand-bag claps of the Avar Period. The similarity of the decoration is partly in relation with the form of the bone plates, but I also think that these carvings were made by workmen or bone-carving workshops using the same motifs. These bone plates were simply stock together or were pasted on a kind of wooden plate. The length of the bard-boxes was between 5,5 and 8 cm, the width was between 2 and 3,6 cm. The specification of the bard-boxes isn’t easy. Near some of them were found toilet tools. In these cases I think that these were toilet boxes containing ointment or face-powder. In another case these boxes contained other powders, grains or small things. The bard-boxes decorated with carved bone plates hanged usually on the belt with bronze or iron chain. In grave 240. and 371. in the Szeged-Fehértó A. cemetery strait bone lath were found, decorated with point-circle motif. Similarly to early Byzantine relic boxes, the small wooden boxes were decorated with them. The lid of the boxes could be like a roof-form. The measurement of these cases could be similar to bard-boxes and these were similarly suitable to contain small things and grains too. The bard-boxes and small cases decorated with carved bone plates came up from average rich graves, in which were generally characteristic archaeological finds. On the basis of the analysis of the archaeological finds these bard-boxes and small cases are dated to 2nd–3rd quarter of the 7th century. Their origin must be investigated.

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