Ágnes Füredi
The discovery includes the graves of two teenagers and an older man. Genetic analyzes indicate that they were related through the paternal line, with the oldest man possibly being the father.
Archaeologists in Hungary discovered the tombs of three elite warriorsand, 1100 years old.
The burials, full of weapons and luxury objects, reveal not only their high status, but also strong family ties. DNA analyzes show that the three men were family members through the paternal lineoffering a rare insight into the kinship between the warrior elites of the early Middle Ages.
The tombs were discovered perto da aldeia de Hangerabout 92 kilometers southeast of Budapest. The discovery was made by volunteers participating in the community archeology program at the Katona József Museum, with excavations led by Wilhelm Gábor, head of the museum’s archeology department, together with professional archaeologists and volunteers, according to .
According to the investigation team, the three men were buried during the 920s or 930sa period in which the newly formed Kingdom of Hungary was actively involved in military campaigns throughout Europe, including northern Italy. The graves revealed a total of 81 coins, most of which were minted in northern Italy during the reign of Berengar I (888–924), ruler and great-grandson of Charlemagne. Archaeologists believe the coins were likely acquired during these campaigns.
The youngest warrior was between 15 and 16 years old at the date of his death. He was buried with a bow and a quiver containing seven arrows, with the ends and handle of the bow decorated with horn plates. Another teenage warrior, aged between 17 and 18, was buried with specially ornate items, including a gilded silver belt, a leather sabretache decorated with a silver plate, a gold ring set with blue glass stones, and silver bracelets and anklets. Small gold plates found on your body can be remains of clothing or a shroud. His tomb also included a horse harness adorned with silver-gilt fittings.
The third warrior, aged between 30 and 35, was buried with a saber, archery equipment, a decorated belt, a silver bracelet and a horse harness. DNA analysis suggests that this man was probably the father or brother of the youngest warrior, reinforcing the evidence that the three men belonged to the same family.
Isotopic analysis of the remains indicates that the three had diets rich in animal protein, befitting an elite status. Based on the artifacts, archaeologists conclude that the men were members of an elite warrior group, possibly part of the military leadership of early medieval Hungary.
Further research is ongoing to find out more about their identities and the circumstances of their deaths, which remain unknown.
