The Best Finds from the 1997 Excavation Season
Temporary exhibition, BTM Aquincum Museum, Museum building
April 15, 1996 - October 31

In 1997, the staff at the Aquincum Museum carried out 15 excavations connected to construction work. Of this work on the territory of the Capital city, some were long term and others short in duration (excavation, test trenches, observation only). The location of this work was more random depending the varying nature of development work.
The "concrete" results of these excavations - here a selection of the artifacts which came to light - this year are shown in a new exhibition to the interested public. Because of the extent and type of exhibition involved we can only show some chosen finds from four of the larger excavations. In addition to ceramic material from Celtic features found on Corvin Square visitors may see fragrance bottles, glass and ceramic pitchers, vessels, bronze and silver jewelry and, coins were found in Roman graves from Corvin Square and at lots 44 Bécsi Road and 101 Szentendrei road as well as ceramics from in the settlement material from Fényes Adolf Street. Small flags on the map mark the sites where the objects displayed in the exhibition were discovered. The photographs made during excavation and a reconstructed cross-section of a refuse pit filled with sherds complement this exhibition of artifacts from the previous year's excavations.

Exhibition director:
Annamária Facsády

Exhibition publication:
Aquincumi Füzetek 4 (Aquincum Notes) Aquincum - Aquincum - Excavations and rescue work at the Aquincum Museum in 1997. Budapest 1998, Ed. P.Zsidi

Archaeometry at the Aquincum Museum
temporary exhibition in the protective building for the "Painter's House"
April 29, 1998- October 15, 1998

The methods used in the Natural Sciences at Aquincum are of special importance because of the light they may shed during the reevaluation of old sites, buildings, and material which were in some cases excavated many decades ago. From a modern point of view much of the excavation documentation looks very out of date. It may even have been destroyed in the whirlwinds of two world wars. The new techniques present the Roman period from a standpoint which is no longer available through excavations but never the less can still provide links to connect the archaeological research of the past, present and future. The new information thus gleaned from old material can often tell us more about Roman lifeways than the beautiful objects which at most be interpreted in their art history or artistic contexts.
Our experience at Aquincum has taught us bringing together various experts from different branches of the natural sciences has broadened our understanding of the past. Their discoveries have yielded surprises and often raised new questions. Hopefully, co-operation with Natural Scientists will not only continue but increase.

Exhibition director:
Alice M. Choyke

Out of Rome. Aquincum - Augusta Raurica, Augusta Raurica, Life in Two Towns of the Roman Empire

Temporary exhibition in the Römermuseum Augst
March - August 1998

Following seven years of preparation the joint Swiss - Hungarian exhibition finally opened. From the time the idea was first conceived the research goal was to compare parallels in the "biographies" of the two towns. Apart from questions revolving around topography and chronology, developments in everyday life were followed. Within the confines described by differences in the extent of excavation and research we were able to look at similar aspects of town history, architecture, the lifeways of the townspeople and, the economy as well as religious life and burial practices. Of special interest was the way the Celts living by the Rhine river and the Celtic Eraviscans living by the Danube responded to Roman rule. In addition we cast a glance here and there at the source itself - the Roman town.

Exhibit publication:
Out of Rome. Aquincum - Augusta Raurica, Life in Two Towns of the Roman Empire. Published: Basel, 1997