Search

Copyright of Archaeologiai Értesítő is the property of Akademiai Kiado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archaeologiai Értesítő is the property of Akademiai Kiado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Archaeologiai Értesítő is the property of Akademiai Kiado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Climate change no longer involves and affects just a few people or communities. However, most of them need climate change detection studies to adapt to the current and future climate conditions efficiently. The present research aimed to detect climate changes by considering the shift in climate conditions from one region to another over different periods based on a similarity index in the Carpathians basin using the new ClimShift toolbox, specially created for this purpose. Developed in R, based on the cosine similarity index and using a set of 32 climate indices (temperature and precipitation), ClimShift uses NC raster format (NetCDF files) as input data. The application is compatible with Microsoft and Unix/Linux environments. The toolbox allows the detection of forward and backward climate shifts. The results can be employed as a Climate Service and are extremely helpful for an efficient process of adaption to climate changes at a local/regional scale. A user‐friendly interface and a tutorial on how to use the toolbox are also available. The toolbox was tested for four locations in the Carpathians Basin (Vienna, Bekes, Cluj‐Napoca and Kosice) using 1961–1990 as a base period and 1991–2021 as an analysis period for the forward climate shift analysis. For Cluj‐Napoca, the application was also tested for the backward climate shift, using 1991–2021 as the base period and 1961–1990 as the analysis period, identifying the region where present climate conditions were specific during the older period. The scientific results indicated a significant shift towards the east and northeast from the older period to the most recent one and a low percentage (6%–10%) in the overlapping area with highly similar conditions between the two periods.

Recent research in the later Bronze Age of the southern Carpathian Basin has revealed an extensive network of large, often-enclosed settlements. Within this network, a particularly dense group of sites has recently been characterized: the Tisza Site Group (TSG). Building on advances in inter-site relations in recent research, we explore social organization within settlements using five case studies from different parts of this network. Using a multi-proxy approach of satellite imagery, systematic surface survey, and geophysical prospection, we studied the distribution of archaeological features and surface traces of activity within the enclosed space. Results indicate that sites in the TSG shared a common ethos regarding the use of space and the role of the built environment that was specific to LBA occupation of this landscape. Activity areas with domestic assemblages distributed in low-density relative to the enclosed space indicates settlement and specialist subsistence activities took place in parallel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) is one of the most ecologically and economically significant deciduous tree species in the Central and Southeast European regions. The species has long been known to exhibit high levels of genetic and phenotypic variation. Recent climate response predictions for Turkey oak suggest a significant distribution extension in Europe under climate change. Since Turkey oak has relative drought-tolerant behaviour, it is regarded as a potential alternative for other forest tree species during forestry climate adaptation efforts, not only in its native regions but also in Western Europe. For this reason, the survey of existing genetic variability, genetic resources, and adaptability of this species has great significance. Next-generation sequencing approaches, such as ddRAD-seq (Double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing), allow the attainment of high-resolution genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This study provides the first highly variable genome-wide SNP data for Turkey oak generated by ddRAD-seq. The dataset comprises 17 607 de novo and 26 059 reference mapped SNPs for 88 individuals from eight populations, two from Bulgaria, one from Kosovo, and five from Hungary. Reference mapping was carried out by using cork oak's (Quercus suber L.) reference genome. The obtained high-resolution genome-wide markers are suitable for investigating selection and local adaptation and inferring genetic diversity, differentiation, and population structure. The dataset is accessible at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8091252 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change no longer involves and affects just a few people or communities. However, most of them need climate change detection studies to adapt to the current and future climate conditions efficiently. The present research aimed to detect climate changes by considering the shift in climate conditions from one region to another over different periods based on a similarity index in the Carpathians basin using the new ClimShift toolbox, specially created for this purpose. Developed in R, based on the cosine similarity index and using a set of 32 climate indices (temperature and precipitation), ClimShift uses NC raster format (NetCDF files) as input data. The application is compatible with Microsoft and Unix/Linux environments. The toolbox allows the detection of forward and backward climate shifts. The results can be employed as a Climate Service and are extremely helpful for an efficient process of adaption to climate changes at a local/regional scale. A user‐friendly interface and a tutorial on how to use the toolbox are also available. The toolbox was tested for four locations in the Carpathians Basin (Vienna, Bekes, Cluj‐Napoca and Kosice) using 1961–1990 as a base period and 1991–2021 as an analysis period for the forward climate shift analysis. For Cluj‐Napoca, the application was also tested for the backward climate shift, using 1991–2021 as the base period and 1961–1990 as the analysis period, identifying the region where present climate conditions were specific during the older period. The scientific results indicated a significant shift towards the east and northeast from the older period to the most recent one and a low percentage (6%–10%) in the overlapping area with highly similar conditions between the two periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Deliblato (Banat) Sand Sea, which is one of the largest areas of аeolian sand in Europe, is located near the Iron Gate, which marks the crossing of the Danube River through the biggest gorge of this river. Here, Danubian alluvium has served as the sand source for the Banat Sand Sea, which was formed primarily through southeasterly (Košava) winds. Utilizing a multi-proxy approach, the objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of the environmental dynamics of the Banat Sand Sea. To achieve this goal, we conducted an analysis of an archive representing an approximately 20-m-thick dune formation on the northern edge of this dune field. Using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, we calculated aeolian sedimentation rates and dune ages. Sand was deposited here approximately between 17 ka and 13 ka. Magnetic susceptibility, grain size, and colorimetric analyses were interpreted in terms of local paleoenvironmental conditions. Calculated sedimentation rates (SR) indicate intensive aeolian deposition during the study period that range from 483 cm/ka to 502 cm/ka. We compared our data with regional and other European archives, as well as with climatic variations recorded in the Greenland ice core North Greenland Ice Core Project (NGRIP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are meteorological situations when huge amounts of Saharan dust are transported from Africa to Europe. These natural dust events may have a significant impact on particulate matter concentrations at monitoring sites. This phenomenon affects mainly the countries in Southern Europe; however, some strong advections can bring Saharan dust to higher latitudes too. The number of Saharan dust events in the Carpathian Basin is believed to increase due to the changing patterns in the atmospheric circulation over the Northern Hemisphere's mid-latitudes. The jet stream becomes more meandering if the temperature difference between the Arctic areas and the lower latitudes decreases. This favours the northward transport of the North African dust. The European regulation makes it possible to subtract the concentration of Saharan-originated aerosol from the measured PM10 concentration. This manuscript describes the methodology used by the HungaroMet to calculate the amount of natural dust contributing to measured PM10 concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, a new Late Bronze Age (LBA) assemblage from Völgy-dűlő at Kartal (Pest County) was added to the number of bronze hoards excavated in the framework of community archaeological programmes in Hungary. This unique assemblage was deposited beneath two fragments of a pot, originally arranged regularly. The Carpathian Basin-style objects in the Kartal hoard date to several periods from Br D to Ha B1; based on their typo-chronological analysis, their deposition may have taken place in the latter. The chronological characteristics of the Kartal find, a deposition comprising old-style jewellery, suggest the assemblage is a multi-period hoard. The signs of use, essentially abrasions and microwear traces, also indicate that some objects had been used even for a relatively long time before deposition. The breaking of the deposited ingots and bronze objects was deliberate and probably did not occur simultaneously, and most of these finds were still usable preceding their breaking. The Kartal hoard may have been deliberately assembled by a small community. The hoarded objects may represent different aspects of a Bronze Age community, who, according to our current knowledge of the topography of the era, deposited their votive assemblage far from any LBA settlements.

Temporal changes in population densities and species richness of three main pollinator groups—moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera); bees, wasps and sawflies (Hymenoptera); and hoverflies, horseflies, tachinids and bee flies (Diptera)—were investigated in the Carpathian Basin. Maintaining pollinator diversity is a crucial factor for preserving our biodiversity and ecosystems; furthermore, several pollinator species have a strong economic role in maintaining crop and fruit cultures. Our conclusions are based on our three and four decades of faunistic surveys in various regions of the Carpathian Basin. Analyzing and comparing our data with the historical data of the last 50 years, we concluded that densities of some pollinators declined during the past decade and a half (Symphyta, hoverflies), although populations of several species of Mediterranean origin grew (Aculeata) and new species even migrated from the warmer regions. In numerous cases, this decrease was dramatic: more than 90% decline of certain butterfly species were detected. On the other hand, the composition of pollinator fauna significantly changed due to the disappearance of some mountainous or mesophile species. The main reason for the decrease in pollinator communities is due partly to climatic change and partly to anthropogenic factors. Different groups of pollinators react differently: some groups like Syrphidae, Tachinidae, most of the butterfly families and bumblebees suffered a strong decline in the last two decades; other warm-loving groups like most of Aculeata and horseflies and bee flies showed a significant increase in population densities. Our conclusion: in our region, the pollinator crisis is present but moderate; however, there is a clear sign of the gradual transition of our pollinator fauna towards the Mediterranean type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented article is a contribution to the topic of amber circulation in Europe during the Bronze Age. Its main goal is to explain, based on archival and new data obtained in the course of the latest research, the issue of the origin and routes of influx of amber to the Central Balkans in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. The discussion focuses on a group of amber finds from the contemporary Bosnian-Serbian borderland. The provenance analyses carried out so far prove that the amber found there is of Baltic origin. Observations from the typological overview of amber artefacts, as well as bronze and ceramic finds cooccurring with them, have been compared with the results of recent analyses of the origin of copper and tin used in the production of bronze. Based on these observations, it can be concluded that amber reached the Central Balkans via the Tumulus Culture communities from Central Europe and the Carpathian Basin along the exchange routes of raw metals and bronze products.

Monographic processing of Avar Period (6–8th century) glass beads. Approx. 200 glass beads have been selected from 13 archaeological sites in current day Hungary as the representatives of typical Avar glass beads. The beads were analyzed with electron microprobe analyzer attached with wavelength dispersive X-ray spectrometer and/or energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer peripheries for 12–15 elements complemented with archaeological and color description. These beads provide insights primarily into the trade and interactions of the Avar population in the Carpathian Basin with other peoples. Through their analysis, we can learn about the economic systems associated with glass production and the connections between different regions. Furthermore, Avar Age glass beads offer valuable information about craftsmanship and artistic expression. Their diverse shapes, colors, and patterns showcase the skill and creativity of the artisans who made them, as well as hint at the production technology used. The purpose of data collection is to identify the raw materials and coloring agents used in bead production, detect potential chronological changes, internationally explore the identified production technology in terms of space and time, and outline the Avars' trade network, and provide reference for future research. This is the first ever published database of Avar Age glass beads.

The ethnic Germans of the Carpathian Basin were, similarly to other minorities, increasingly affected by forced migratory processes related to the Second World War. The study wishes to demonstrate that the punishment intended for them consisted of more than the widely known sanctions (expulsion, displacement and forced labor) conceived in the spirit of collective guilt after the Second World War. Berlin - even earlier than the future victors - had already begun removing them from their homes prior to 1945 in an effort to protect ethnic Germans stranded beyond the borders of the Volksboden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lynx remains are rare in archaeological assemblages. The skeleton of an adult male accompanied by four dogs was found in a large Migration Period pit at Zamárdi–Kútvölgyi‐dűlő II, Hungary. Extant lynx skeletons were used in estimating the shoulder height of this individual. Its stature is comparable to those of the large dogs it was buried with. None of the five skeletons showed skinning marks. Although the physical reconstruction of the lynx was of help in appraising this special pit, the actual nature of the deposit remains in question. Possible interpretations range from the mundane discard of carcasses to the poorly understood ritual burial of carnivores, beginning with the lynx. We reviewed these options within the framework of cultural diversity of Migration Period peoples in west‐central Hungary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number and intensity of Saharan dust storm events identified in Europe has been increasing over the last decade. This can be explained by the role of ongoing climate change. An extension of previous studies covering a 40-year period is presented in this paper, with new data on the frequency, synoptic meteorological background, source areas, grain size, grain shape and general mineralogy of deposited dust for the period 2019–2023 in the Carpathian Basin. A total of 55 dust storm episodes have been identified in the region over the five-year period, which is significantly higher than the long-term average. The classification based on synoptic meteorological background clearly showed that the frequency of circulation types with a more pronounced meridional component increased and dust material reached further north more frequently than before. In several cases, large amounts of dust were deposited, from which samples were collected and subjected to detailed granulometric analysis. The varied grain size data showed that coarse silt (20–62.5 μm) and sand (62.5 < μm) fractions were also present in large quantities in the transported dust material.

The study details a looted hoard seized near the village of Vaja by the Mátészalka Police during a night of police control. According to the person who smuggled the finds, the findings were discovered in the ‘attic of a house in Budapest, during garbage disposal’. This obvious lie can be easily refuted by the results of the typo-chronological analysis of the objects. The seized finds comprise sword blades, spearheads, a knife, socketed axes and chisels, sickles, bracelets, metal vessel parts, metal lumps, and some unidentifiable fragments. Except for a few supra-regional types (a Vadena-type knife and some Kelčice-type bracelets), the style of these artefacts matches the bronze products often deposited in Hajdúböszörmény-type (Ha B1) hoards in the east Carpathian Basin. The concentration of stylistically close analogies in the territory of Hungary and the presence of typologically identical finds in the assemblage support the previous hypothesis that they were indeed looted somewhere in ‘Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County’. A plausible findspot can be located in the northern and central areas of the county, such as the zone between Nyírmada, Mátészalka, Kántorjánosi, and Vaja, the area where the police action took place.

Hungary's first national park was created in 1973 in the Hortobágy area to protect Europe's largest contiguous steppe area and its flora and fauna. The Hortobágy National Park—the Puszta was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural landscape in 1999. The park's outstanding importance is due to the predominantly non-arboreal steppe vegetation, home to a unique bird fauna, and alkaline and chernozem soils with a complex, mosaic-like spatial structure. In addition, the landscape of Hortobágy has a pastoral history stretching back thousands of years. Several hypotheses have been put forward that suggest that the alkaline soils and the habitats that cover them were formed as a result of human activities related to river regulation that began in the second half of the 19th century. However, paleoecological and paleobiological studies over the last 30–40 years have pointed to the natural origin of the alkaline steppes, dating back to the end of the Ice Age. For thousands of years, human activities, in particular, grazing by domestic animals, hardly influenced the natural evolution of the area. The drainage of marshy and flooded areas began in the 19th century, as well as the introduction of more and more intensive agriculture, had a significant impact on the landscape. This paper aims to describe the past natural development of this special alkaline steppe ecosystem, with particular reference to the impacts of past and present human activities, including conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent decades have presented increased interest in provenance studies. However, such research in the area of mineral pigments are rare in archaeological discourse. The main aim of this paper is to portray the state of knowledge on this issue, followed by a presentation of ochre outcrops in the Carpathian Basin. The discussion is additionally illustrated by examples of 10 archaeological sites with described ochre traces from the Early Neolithic period. Moreover, two models of ochre acquisition are proposed: the first assumes direct quarrying, while the second includes potential intra-group contacts. For this reason, two roughly established areas of interest, within 50 and 150 kilometres in diameter, were proposed. Those hypothetical circles would contribute to the understanding of general mobility patterns pertaining to the discussed communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In eastern Central Europe, in the Carpathian Basin, the Avar Empire existed from AD 568 to ca. 800. Numerous written sources and a rich archaeological legacy provide an excellent basis for a new population history, which is being written as part of the major international project HistoGenes "Integrating genetic, archaeological and historical perspectives on Eastern central Europe 400-900 AD". The latest scientific methods are used, particularly archaeogenetics, which make it possible to determine relationships within and among the settlements. What were the living conditions like and what were the social rules? Can migrations and connections with neighbouring peoples be traced? A total of 6000 aDNA samples are analysed. Two cemeteries in Austria, Leobersdorf and Mödling - An der Goldenen Stiege, underwent complete archaeogenetic analyses. This article compares the two cemeteries, reviews the hard facts of archaeological evidence and demonstrates how archaeogenetics can contribute to a better understanding of early medieval societies. It also shows that social groups of different ancestry can form a common culture in a unified dominion, especially evident in the forms of representation, i.e. the jewellery worn by men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presented article is a contribution to the topic of amber circulation in Europe during the Bronze Age. Its main goal is to explain, based on archival and new data obtained in the course of the latest research, the issue of the origin and routes of influx of amber to the Central Balkans in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. The discussion focuses on a group of amber finds from the contemporary Bosnian-Serbian borderland. The provenance analyses carried out so far prove that the amber found there is of Baltic origin. Observations from the typological overview of amber artefacts, as well as bronze and ceramic finds cooccurring with them, have been compared with the results of recent analyses of the origin of copper and tin used in the production of bronze. Based on these observations, it can be concluded that amber reached the Central Balkans via the Tumulus Culture communities from Central Europe and the Carpathian Basin along the exchange routes of raw metals and bronze products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevailing paradigm about the Quaternary ecological and evolutionary history of Central European ecosystems is that they were repeatedly impoverished by regional extinctions of most species during the glacial periods, followed by massive recolonizations from southern and eastern refugia during interglacial periods. Recent literature partially contradicts this view and provides evidence to re‐evaluate this Postglacial Recolonization Hypothesis and develop an alternative one. We examined the long‐term history of the flora of the Carpathian (Pannonian) Basin by synthesising recent advances in ecological, phylogeographical, palaeoecological and palaeoclimatological research, and analysing the cold tolerance of the native flora of a test area (Hungary, the central part of the Carpathian Basin). We found that (1) many species have likely occurred there continuously since before the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM); (2) most of the present‐day native flora (1404 species, about 80%) can occur in climates as cold as or colder than the LGM (mean annual temperature ≤+3.5°C); and (3) grasslands and forests can be species‐rich under an LGM‐like cold climate. These arguments support an alternative hypothesis, which we call the Flora Continuity Hypothesis. It states that long‐term continuity of much of the flora in the Carpathian Basin is more plausible than regional extinctions during the LGM followed by massive postglacial recolonizations. The long‐term continuity of the region's flora may have fundamental implications not only for understanding local biogeography and ecology (e.g. the temporal scale of processes), but also for conservation strategies focusing on protecting ancient species‐rich ecosystems and local gene pools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Education Sciences: Education - Research - Innovation / Neveléstudomány: Oktatás - Kutatás - Innováció is the property of Education Sciences: Education - Research - Innovation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copper is one of the most important raw materials in the Carpathian Basin, and its extraction, processing and trade can be traced at least from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages and beyond. Drawing on a variety of sources and research methods, the authors explore the patterns of distribution of this raw material in Europe. The aim of the diachronic analysis is to uncover the networks of connections – commercial, cultural, and migratory – that can be traced over the long term in the Central European region. It also draws attention to other, less stable links in the Carpathian Basin, which have also influenced the history of the region in certain periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper introduces the particle-induced X-ray emission analysis (PIXE) of two Hajdúböszörmény-type situlae from the eponymous Hajdúböszörmény I hoard (collection of the Hungarian National Museum, Budapest) and Sényő (collection of the Jósa András Museum, Nyíregyháza). Both situlae are representative types of the period between 1080 and 960 BC, Ha B1, or the ‘Hajdúböszörmény hoard horizon’ of the Hungarian Late Bronze Age. The obtained results are significant in that they are the very first to characterise the classic Hajdúböszörmény-type situla from their core distribution area, i.e., the region where this metal vessel type was presumably produced. The paper is focused on a description of the elemental composition of these tin bronze vessels, with particular attention on the grouping of their accompanying elements and the ratio of tin. The PIXE results suggest that a rather homogenous raw material was used to produce and repair these objects, which can be correlated with the CG16 Copper Group. The ratio of tin was relatively high, mostly around 9–10 wt%; low values were only identified on one of the repaired parts of the Sényő situla and a secondarily attached copper rivet.

The well-known Late Neolithic tell-like settlement of Öcsöd-Kováshalom on the Great Hungarian Plain gained a completely new context when a triple enclosure consisting of segments (hence the name ‘pseudo-ditch’) was discovered in 2018. Followed by two small excavation campaigns, this paper gives account of the construction stages, various digging and filling actions, of the chronology and of the structured deposits that marked the closing event of these long-lasting communal activities. A comparison with European Neolithic enclosures supports the interpretation on the diversity of the numerous ditch systems, and do not allow any generalizing views – it rather speaks for the freedom of local communities in their choices within their respective cultural frameworks.

The Holiday Climate Index (HCI) is a well-known and valued index for assessing the weather suitability of outdoor recreational activities. As a composite index, it takes into account many aspects of the weather, all of which affect the well-being of tourists. With the accentuation of climate change, the HCI plays an important role in the organization and planning of tourist activities. These plans must take into account not only the individual values of the index for different destinations, but also the sequence of days with certain expected values of the index. The aim of our research was to create a software module in R that would allow the analysis and identification of periods of consecutive days in which the HCI is above a certain minimum threshold and also has a minimum average value for that period. We applied this module to the analysis of historical (1970-2004) and present and near-future (2005-2040) HCI values in the EC-EARTH climate model, identifying for each year and location in the Carpathian Basin the starting day of the climatically best seven-day period. To obtain a time series for each location, we aggregated the values for the two periods using the mean, median, standard deviation and trend calculation. The analysis shows that the ideal time to start a holiday is not only changing, it is becoming increasingly unpredictable. Whereas in the 1970-2004 period there was a wellobserved decreasing trend in the starting day, for the 2005-2040 period we see a trend-free situation in most of the area. Even where trends do appear, we find them in opposite directions in nearby areas, making it difficult to plan the ideal time to start a holiday. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number and intensity of Saharan dust storm events identified in Europe has been increasing over the last decade. This can be explained by the role of ongoing climate change. An extension of previous studies covering a 40-year period is presented in this paper, with new data on the frequency, synoptic meteorological background, source areas, grain size, grain shape and general mineralogy of deposited dust for the period 2019-2023 in the Carpathian Basin. A total of 55 dust storm episodes have been identified in the region over the five-year period, which is significantly higher than the long-term average. The classification based on synoptic meteorological background clearly showed that the frequency of circulation types with a more pronounced meridional component increased and dust material reached further north more frequently than before. In several cases, large amounts of dust were deposited, from which samples were collected and subjected to detailed granulometric analysis. The varied grain size data showed that coarse silt (20-62.5 µm) and sand (62.5 < µm) fractions were also present in large quantities in the transported dust material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species with wide‐range distributions usually display high genetic variation. This variation can be partly explained by historical lineages that were temporally isolated from each other and are back into secondary reproductive contact, and partly by local adaptations. The smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) is one of the most widely distributed amphibians species across Eurasia and forms a species complex with a partially overlapping distribution and morphology. In the present study, we explored the population genomic structure of smooth newt lineages in the Carpathian Basin (CB) relying on single‐nucleotide polymorphisms. Our dataset included new and previously published data to study the secondary contact zone between lineages in the CB and also tested for the barrier effect of rivers to gene flow between these lineages. We confirmed the presence of the South L. v. vulgaris Lineage distributed in Transdanubia and we provided new distribution records of L. v. ampelensis inhabiting the eastern territories of the CB. High genetic diversity of smooth newts was observed, especially in the North Hungarian Mountains and at the interfluves of the main rivers in the South with four distinct lineages of L. v. vulgaris and one lineage of L. v. ampelensis showing a low level of admixture with the spatially closest L. v. vulgaris lineage. Moreover, admixture detected at the interfluve of the main rivers (i.e. Danube and Tisza) suggested a secondary contact zone in the area. Finally, we found that the river Danube has a very weak effect on population divergence, while the river Tisza is a geographical barrier limiting gene flow between smooth newt lineages. As the range boundaries of L. v. vulgaris and L. v. ampelensis in the CB coincide with the river Tisza, our study underpins the influence of rivers in lineage diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since our climate is in a rapid changing phase, it is crucial to get information about the regional patterns of basic climatic parameters and indices. The EURO-CORDEX project provides high quality regional climate model outputs, but these raw datasets are not convenient for the application in wider geoscience studies. According to the authors’ knowledge, there is a lack in published spatial information about basic climate parameters and indices in Central-Europe and especially in the broader Carpathian region therefore the basic aim of this study to fill this gap. The study presents the future trends in daily air temperature and precipitation and various climatic indices in the broader Carpathian Basin region during the 21st century. The indices are calculated using multi-model average temperature and precipitation data from EURO-CORDEX model simulations for the future time periods (2021–2050, 2071–2100) and emission scenarios (RCP4.5, RCP8.5). The indices present the future trends of the heat load, energy demand as well as extreme precipitation and drought characteristics. Based on the results the temperature increase is obvious and the heat load and energy demand quantifying indices follow the temperature trend. However, the trend is difficult to evaluate in case of precipitation. The changes in the precipitation and the related indices can be considered small and appear within the regions. The future changes are the most considerable in the Carpathian Basin, but the entire examined region faces crucial changes in the following decades.

The Bronze Age in Europe is a dynamic time characterised by an increase in long-distance mobility and interaction, changes in social organisation, technological advancements and evolving agricultural practices. In particular, we see an increase in the range of crops grown from the middle Bronze Age, including the introduction of new crops, such as broomcorn millet and broad bean. However, evidence of agricultural practices in Croatia is limited. This paper presents new archaeobotanical data collected from ten Bronze Age settlements and cemeteries in continental Croatia. Overall, the density of plant remains was low and consisted of either cereal grains or wild taxa, with the majority coming from Mačkovac-Crišnjevi. Oats ( Avena sp.) and broomcorn millet ( Panicum miliaceum ) are the most dominant cereals, followed by small numbers of barley ( Hordeum vulgare ), emmer ( Triticum dicoccum ) and free-threshing wheat ( Triticum aestivum / durum ). The composition of the botanical remains are comparable to neighbouring regions, although the occurrence of millet and especially oats are not seen in any significance until the Iron Age.

This comprehensive paper, based on already published avian material, provides an overview of the exploitation of birds at ecclesiastical settlements in medieval Hungary, with an outlook on other European religious establishments. Owing also to the differences in excavation methods, sample size, and measurements used during the identification of bird remains, the seven discussed ecclesiastical sites in the Carpathian Basin, which was part of the Hungarian Kingdom during the Middle Ages, showed considerable variability from this point of view. It is certain that poultry constituted the lion's share of the bird meat consumed, even in the wealthiest religious houses, such as bishopric centers. The presence of sexed specimens in some of these bone collections made it possible to distinguish between a small and a large phenotype of domestic chicken based on biometric data. However, in cases when finds were not only collected by hand but the food refuse deposit was also screened, one finds that these assemblages are both quantitatively and qualitatively more varied in terms of the presence and frequency of certain taxa including small game, suggesting the value and special role of (wild) fowl at ecclesiastical establishments. The avian remains that suggest the use of trained birds, as well as the evidence for the use and curation of crossbows, contribute to our knowledge about the hunting and fowling customs at certain religious houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archeologické Rozhledy is the property of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Archaeology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of the paper is to draw attention to a newly discovered locality Balatonalmádi-Felsőhegy, where in winter 2019 was found some Late Avar finds. One of them was a fitting in shape of boar head, which with other new finds of this type from Hungary is analysed and put in our earlier published typology. The ‘boar’ on horse harness had its meaning in Late Avar society or in military hierarchy, but its precise content is uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain forms of bronze fibulae, alongside some forms of bronze belts, are recognizable items of the Middle La Tène Scordiscan female costume. One of those forms is the so-called Scordiscan variant of bronze fibulae with round plates decorated in pseudo-filigree and pseudo-granulation techniques. Fibulae belonging to this heterogeneous group, with specific variants singled out, are characteristic of communities along the Danube River which shared similar ideas of decoration of the female body during the Middle La Tène. The presence of numerous variants of fibulae clearly points to the existence of local workshops, regardless of noticeably the same basic decorative design concept in their production. Fibulae assigned to the Scordiscan variant have a characteristic trefoil motif with a knob on the top of the round plate and are, for now, known only from Scordiscan sites, due to which they can probably be considered products of their workshops. Finds of fibulae assigned to some other variants were also discovered at Scordiscan sites, indicating the existence of cultural contacts with neighbouring communities. In any case, bronze fibulae decorated in pseudo-filigree and pseudo-granulation techniques provide valuable findings of decorating Scordiscan women’s bodies, as well as their public presentation, i.e., the fibulae probably represent a recognizable manifestation of their visual identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research focuses on temperature change signals over the Carpathian Basin with a special focus on selected lowland and mountainous subregions. High‐resolution (0.11°) EURO‐ and Med‐CORDEX regional climate model (RCM) simulations of near‐surface air temperature are analysed based on raw and bias‐adjusted data. The mini‐ensemble consists of eight RCM simulations driven by five different general circulation models for the period 1976–2099 under the high‐end RCP8.5 scenario. The high‐resolution, homogenized and quality controlled CARPATCLIM was used as a reference dataset. The selected subregions cover eight municipalities located at diverse altitudes: Bratislava, Budapest, Brassov, Debrecen, Hoverla, Novi Sad, Pécs and Poprad. The following climate indices are assessed: summer days, ice days, frost days, tropical nights, the coldest day, the warmest day, the coldest night and the warmest night. In general, for the reference period (1976–2005) bias‐adjusted RCM data showed almost perfect match with observations. Accordingly, no best performing RCM is found for all indices. The ensemble mean of the bias‐adjusted RCM simulations projects an increase (decrease) of 32% and 112% (18% and 25%) in the annual number of summer days and tropical nights (frost days and ice days) for the period 2021–2050. For 2070–2099 we can expect more frequent tropical nights (about five times) with respect to the reference period and the frequency of frost days can be halved. Profound warming manifests in the increase of the warmest temperature of day of up to 2–3°C by the near future and of 5–7°C by the end of the 21st century, which means the absolute maximum temperature can reach 44–47°C for the period 2070–2099. Our results also highlight the need for bias‐adjusted data adapted by different sectors (human health, agriculture, transport, disaster management, heritage conservation) under the national adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mesolithic in Eastern Europe was the last time that hunter-gatherer economies thrived there before the spread of agriculture in the second half of the seventh millennium BC. But the period, and the interactions between foragers and the first farmers, are poorly understood in the Carpathian Basin and surrounding areas because few sites are known, and even fewer have been excavated and published. How did site location differ between Mesolithic and Early Neolithic settlers? And where should we look for rare Mesolithic sites? Proximity analysis is seldom used for predictive modeling for hunter-gatherer sites at large scales, but in this paper, we argue that it can serve as an important starting point for prospection for rare and poorly understood sites. This study uses proximity analysis to provide quantitative landscape associations of known Mesolithic and Early Neolithic sites in the Carpathian Basin to show how Mesolithic people chose attributes of the landscape for camps, and how they differed from the farmers who later settled. We use elevation and slope, rivers, wetlands prior to the twentieth century, and the distribution of lithic raw materials foragers and farmers used for toolmaking to identify key proxies for preferred locations. We then build predictive models for the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic in the Pannonian region to highlight parts of the landscape that have relatively higher probabilities of having Mesolithic sites still undiscovered and contrast them with the settlement patterns of the first farmers in the area. We find that large parts of Pannonia conform to landforms preferred by Mesolithic foragers, but these areas have not been subject to investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Carpathian Basin was a highly influential centre of metalworking in the 2nd mil. BC. Nevertheless, despite the abundance of metal objects from the Late Bronze Age, the scarcity of contextually associated metalworking remains representing distinct phases of the metalworking cycle from this region is striking. Here, we explore Late Bronze Age metalworking through the lens of a uniquely complete metalworking assemblage from the site of Șagu from contexts spanning the sixteenth to early thirteenth century BC. This material provides insights into changes in craft organisation following socio-political change after the collapse of Middle Bronze Age tell-centred communities. Our approach combines analytical and experimental data together with contextual analysis of technical ceramics (crucible, mould, and furnace fragments) to reconstruct the metalworking chaîne opératoire and place Șagu in its broader cultural context. Analyses demonstrate clear technological choices in ceramic paste recipes and strong interlinkages between metallurgy and other crafts practised on site, from domestic pottery production to building structures. Experimental replications reveal important intrinsic and experiential aspects of metallurgical activities at Șagu. Evidence on the spatial organisation of metallurgical workflows (routine sequence of actions and decisions) suggests they incorporated a high degree of visibility, which marks a distinct change in the use of craft space compared to the context of densely occupied Middle Bronze Age tells nearby. Combined, our archaeometric, experimental, and contextual results illustrate how changes in metalworking activities in the Late Bronze Age Carpathian Basin were deeply embedded in an ideological shift in the aftermath of the breakdown of Middle Bronze Age tells and the emergence of new social structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper describes and discusses a group of iron and copper-alloy rotary keys characterised by a moveable joint connecting the shaft and the key-ring, appearing in the seventh-century material record of the Carpathian Basin whose origins can be sought in the Mediterranean. While the few published examples of the class were in previous studies mainly regarded as Roman-period artefacts secondarily re-used as amulets by the Avar-period population of the Carpathian Basin, the present study argues that these pieces in fact have a sixth-to seventh-century production date, being thereby contemporaneous with their deposition in seventh-century mortuary assemblages. Taking this observation as a springboard for further interpretation, an overview of the possible meanings and symbolic associations attached to keys in Roman, late antique, and early medieval times is offered. The main argument presented here is that besides serving amuletic purposes, some of the Avar-period keys could in all probability have conveyed more explicit messages about their owners, such as that of their feminity and of their economic role and authority in their respective households. The Appendix supplementing the present paper seeks to provide a theoretical reconstruction of a wooden casket buried with the woman interred in Grave 119 of the Kölked-Feketekapu B cemetery, one of the burials yielding a Mediterranean hinged rotary key. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In early 2017, an astonishing number of archaeological finds were unearthed during the excavation of two sites in Molnár Street (Budapest), led by the archaeologists of the Budapest History Museum. As the construction works of a new hotel took place on a registered archaeological site, and historical monuments of the city were expected to be found, the presence of archaeological professionals became essential. Even though the location was inhabited for centuries, the early modern and medieval layers were found unaffected. Because of the nature of the site, the wet and muddy soil layers along the Danube provided a favourable environment for the preservation of organic materials and metals. As the climatic conditions in the Carpathian Basin are less favourable for the survival of organic material, the findings are very special both on a local and a broader regional level. In the Middle Ages, the Danube flowed over a much wider area than it does today. Today's embankment was often under water due to its proximity to the river, especially in the days before its regulation. The population, accustomed to the threat of spring floods, built their houses much further inland and along the river. Only urban landfills and, in safer times, ports and loading docks were established. The aim of this paper is to specify past ground levels along the river, and changes in the water levels as well as the path of the Danube, with the help of as many environmental archaeological methods as possible. Similar research was already conducted on Margaret Island, in Vác and in Visegrád, so this new case study is hoped to be a useful contribution to reconstructing past landscapes along the river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present and analyse the histamena (gold coins) of Romanos III. Argyros found in the territory of the former Hungarian Kingdom. The majority of these coins are known from literary and archival sources. Only the coins from Pétermonostora (County Bács-Kiskun/H) and Székesfehérvár (County Fejér/H) had got to museums and about the others only descriptions are available. Most coins are scattered finds but we have information about some nomisma of Romanos III. Argyros from the Etyek-Bóthpuszta hoard (County Fejér/H). Here we'll analyse their role outside the Byzantine Empire as compared to the coin circulation in the medieval Hungarian Kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hungary has a unique role in international migration. The research introduces the facts and figures about foreign-born population in Hungary, focusing on migrants arriving to Hungary from the Carpathian Basin and their geographical networks, revealing the source areas of migration. The analysis interprets those involved in international migration in broad terms; as such, it is not focused solely on the movements of foreign citizens, but rather examines the effects of migration together with the naturalized Hungarians born abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Türkologiya is the property of Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Hungarians arrived at the Carpathian Basin at around 895–900 and after a long journey from the east they occupied the interior plains, mostly the river valleys (in Hungarian history, this event is referred to as the Conquest). The previous tribal alliance had slowly disintegrated by the time of king Stephen I (1001–1038) when pagan beliefs were replaced by Christianity. The peripheral areas of the Kingdom of Hungary, however, were typically uninhabited until the 12th century when the ethnic landscape started changing with the arrival of Saxon settlers, Slavs, Romanians, and Pechenegs. We have no Hungarian written sources from the time preceding the Conquest. The early Latin (less frequently Greek) written sources contain Hungarian words and expressions only sporadically and they are mostly proper names designating places. However, due to their early appearance and low number, these have proved to be truly valuable for linguistics and historical studies exploring the early history of Hungarians and the ethnic and population history of the contemporary Carpathian Basin. In this respect, the settlement names rooted in ethnonyms have a key role as they also shed light on relations between Hungarians and other peoples. This paper studies settlement names that may refer to Eastern Slavic settlers designated by the ethnonym orosz in the medieval Hungarian language. The ethnic groups designated by this name were first registered in the 11th–12th century, however, groups of Slavs could have joined the Hungarian populace before the Conquest. The study shows that the highest proportion of settlement names derived from this ethnonym are found in the northeastern, northern, as well as eastern regions of early medieval Hungary, mostly along the border of the country. The author describes the most frequent name formation patterns that can also be used for relative dating of oikonyms, and discusses the extension to which these data may be useful for the reconstruction of the ethnic landscape of medieval Hungary.