During the week before the actual start of the 2004 field season, the Hungarian team have uncovered the trench and prepared for the arrival of the other teams. Besides the Hungarian archaeologists, the Swedish group have joined the excavation after driving the 1750 kilometres from Göteborg to Százhalombatta. (Picture 42)

Picture 42

This year our main aim is to excavate the house remains that were found during the previous season. In the first week much of the effort has been concentrated on the main, burned house that is situated in the centre of the trench. The northeastern edge of the floor is still covered by debris that is excavated away; wile producing some interesting finds and features. A more detailed description of these will follow as soon as we have uncovered a larger area that will enable us to better determine their spatial relationships. (picture 16 and 17)

Picture 17

Close to the eastern side of the burned house we are in the process of excavating an unburned clay house with several renewed floor layers. In the northern end of the building two superimposed hearths has been found. The remains of the house are partially well preserved while other areas have been completely destroyed by erosion and later pits. (Picture 21 and 50)

Picture 21

Picture 50

We have, aside from the houses, also excavated two pits and the area between the burned house and the unburned eastern house. Perhaps the most interesting finds made during the first week is three, non-related, partial moulds for bronze casting (Picture 48).

To be able to obtain as much information as possible from the site we routinely gather a large number of micro morphology- and regular soil samples. These are analysed after the field season and the main results will in due time be found in the article section of this home page.
(Picture 49)

All in all, the first week has been running smoothly. We have however had some problems with the weather. Untypical for Hungarian summers it has been quite unstable recently, and on Friday we actually had to leave the trench late in the morning since it started to rain.

Picture 49