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The study[1] presents the evaluation of a radiocarbon series, currently unparalleled in the research of the early medieval Carpathian Basin, which comprises data from the 7th to the 10th century AD. We provide a data set that, when combined with the radiocarbon data available in the related literature, covers the period in focus. The results of its analysis can be considered novel in several respects: 1) the radiocarbon data sequence and the relative chronological framework established for the Late Avar Period concord, 2) based on the radiocarbon sequence, the Middle Avar Period in certain large cemeteries (i.e., Tiszafured-Majoros) started considerably earlier than it was assumed previously, based on 'Middle Avar Period' elite graves -- and, interestingly, earlier even than the coin-dated 'Middle Avar' elite grave horizon, and 3) the data of the latest grave horizon in Avar cemeteries suggests a similar asynchronism between the related sites. The data set allows one to draw preliminary conclusions about the trends of the early medieval cultural and social transformations in the Carpathian Basin and outline 'innovative' groups which, by maintaining contacts with diverse regions outside the Carpathian Basin, played a central role in these processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A késő avar ornamentika összképe erős antik hatás alatt alakult ki. A tanulmány a késő avar kori díszítőművészetben megjelenő, antik típusú, valószínűleg bizánci eredetű alakokat és jeleneteket veszi sorra. Közülük más-más típusúakkal találkozunk a késő avar kor elején, valamint közepén és második felében, és úgy tűnik, hogy e két csoport esetében az avar környezet adaptációs mechanizmusai is különbözőek. A korábbi csoport erősebb avar adaptációs hatásnak kitett motívumaival szemben a későbbi csoportra kifejtett hatás minimálisnak tűnik, és nem világos, hogy a mediterrán kultúra irányából furcsának tűnő néhány egyedi jelleg hol került a jobbára övdíszeken ismert ikonográfiába. A két csoport közötti különbség hátterében valószínűleg azon kihívások változása áll, amelyekre az avar társadalom kulturális eszközökkel kísérelt meg választ adni. The overall picture of the Late Avar decorative art was formed under a strong antique influence. The paper discusses antique-type figures and scenes that appear in Late Avar decorative art, probably of Byzantine origin. At the beginning and in the middle–second half of the Late Avar period, there are two different groups of figures and scenes while the adaptive mechanisms of the Avar culture were also different in their case. In contrast to the motifs of the earlier group, which were subject to a stronger Avar influence, the Avar adaptation in the later group seems to be minimal, and it is not clear where some of the features that seem unusual from the context of Mediterranean culture have been incorporated into the iconography, which is mainly known from belt decorations. The differences between the early and late groups are probably due to changes in the challenges to which the Avar society attempted to respond through cultural means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper analyses the precious metal artefacts, scarcely known in the huge archaeological material of the "late Avar period" (eighth to early ninth centuries AD). Unlike in the previous era the majority of the gold and silver objects of the late Avar period are stray finds; in particular high-quality goldsmith's artefacts are absent in the grave assemblages of the eighth century. The significance of precious metal objects in grave assemblages reached its low ebb around the middle of the late Avar period; afterwards not only new object types appeared but a new grave-horizon emerged comprising precious metal objects. This paper, based on the quality and morphology of the objects, their archaeological contexts as well as their spatial distribution, draws a conclusion concerning the social and cultural changes in the early medieval Carpathian Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the late Avar period (eighth to ninth century ad), vast quantities of utilitarian artefacts were produced in series in the Carpathian Basin, a phenomenon not seen since the end of the Roman period. The distribution of these articles reflects not only the region's settlement pattern, but also how these artefacts were disseminated. The communication network in the Carpathian Basin underwent a significant transformation between the early and late Avar period: its major nodes, equated with population centres but not necessarily with elite centres, contributed to moulding a social and cultural milieu that included specialized craftsmen. An early single hub in southern Transdanubia was replaced by multiple centres by the late Avar period. Around ad 700, a bipolar settlement pattern emerges in the southern part of the Carpathian Basin. It seems that the Great Hungarian Plain began to play an equal, if not dominant, role in the communication network of the Carpathian Basin at this time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Research on late antique and early medieval economic and social processes during the past three decades called for, and enabled, a fresh look at the history of the 'Late Avar period' of the Carpathian Basin, corresponding exactly to the 'long eighth century' of the Mediterranean and European world. This paper offers a rather sketchy new model, alongside raising questions and framing a research programme focusing on social and economic historical processes. Therefore, using the archaeological evidence as a solid foundation, I have proposed a set of research hypotheses as starting points for regional and micro-regional studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]