Excavations at the Tokod-Várberek archaeological site in Hungary have produced new evidence about an early Christian church located within a late Roman fortress. The work was carried out by the Institute of Archaeology of Pázmány Péter Catholic University in cooperation with the Balassa Bálint Museum of the Hungarian National Museum.
This season, the excavation team focused on the fortress’s north-eastern corner. Investigations there revealed additional details of the church’s floor plan and helped establish the chronological relationship between its vestibule and nave.
Among the most notable architectural discoveries was the foundation of a ciborium, a canopy or baldachin built above an altar in early Christian churches. Its presence provides further evidence for reconstructing the arrangement of the church’s interior, although the excavation report does not establish how the complete structure originally appeared.
The team also recovered fragments of multicoloured frescoes from the church’s apse. The surviving pieces had fallen from the walls, and conservators carefully lifted them for preservation and further study. The fragments offer additional information about the building’s decoration.
Metal finds from the excavation included a fibula, or ancient brooch, a jewelled ring, a coin and a key. According to the report, further analysis of these objects may provide information about the people who occupied or used the fortress and church. Some of the finds could also become subjects of future university research.
The field season included a record number of students, who worked alongside the excavation team and received practical training in archaeological methods. Their instruction covered levelling, drawing sections and surfaces, photography and the preparation of field documentation.
Together, the architectural remains, painted plaster and small finds are adding to the understanding of Tokod-Várberek. The latest work is particularly significant for documenting the church’s layout and decoration, while the artefacts may help researchers investigate activity at the fortress and the people connected with it.
