308 CHAPTER 6
directly from the remote regions of Inner Asia. Theories of Inner Asian origin
mostly connected to the so-called ‘pyre’ or ‘sacrificial’ theory12 which will be
presented below.
The theory of sacrificial fire or ‘pyre’ was constructed by Dezső Csallány,
according to whom reed-shaped spearheads with connecting chap (P.I.A) were
put to fire together with a pair of stirrups and horse bit as a burial sacrifice,
and were buried separately from the grave in a shallow pit. He interpreted this
rite as an Eastern European phenomenon practised by the Kutrigurs (Bulgaro-
Turks).13 This interpretation was refuted by Ilona Kovrig who regarded these
spearheads as one of the earliest artefacts of the Avars from the 6th century
brought from Inner Asia together with the circular stirrups with rectangu-
lar loops and trefoil-shaped harness ornaments with tufted ends. This was
based on the good preservation of these artefacts which were attributed to
Inner Asian products based on literary sources.14 These arguments were also
accepted by István Bóna who combined both theories and stated that the
spears and stirrups were of Inner Asian origin and were of good preservation
because they were only secondarily burnt on a pyre.15
The ‘sacrifice’ theory was based on the find of Bácsújfalu (today Selenča in
Serbia) where construction workers found a great number of artefacts (among
others a spearhead of type P.I.A) supposedly in a bronze cauldron. The main
problem with this description of the archaeological context is that the arte-
facts found on the site would simply not fit into the cauldron, as well as the
fact that several bones were found around it,16 suggesting that a number of
possible burials were in fact disturbed by the construction work. The argument
of secondary burning or melting traces were also used as an evidence for this
theory by both Csallány17 and Bóna.18 However, metallographic examination
12 Kovrig 1955a, 30–44; Kiss 1962; Bóna 1971a, 240 (24); Bóna 1980, 47–48; Mesterházy 1987,
219–245.
13 The starting point of the pyre-theory of Csallány was the Bácsújfalu find, where he sup-
posedly observed signs of melting (Csallány 1953, 133–137). The archaeological context of
the find is not clear, because it was found by construction workers, whose observations
were refuted by Péter Tomka (2008, 230), although he still considers it an offering.
14 Ilona Kovrig (1955a, 30–37. 40–41) listed eight reed-shaped spears with connecting chap
and grid-patterned rings.
15 Bóna 1971a, 240 (24); Bóna 1980, 47–48. Metallographical examination of this type
excludes the possibility of secondary burning (Piaskowski 1974, 122–124).
16 Tomka 2008, 230.
17 Csallány 1953, 133–137.
18 Bóna 1971a, 240 (24); Bóna 1980, 47–48.