Pyres over the Danube

Százhalombatta got its name from the tumuli of the Iron Age Hallstatt culture. Anonymus, the chronicler in the 12th century, was the first who mentioned the centum montes which is the hundred mounds. According to the legend, prince Árpád's army pitched camp here before starting out to conquer the former Pannonia. In the cemetery occupying 50 hectares, 122 tumuli were mapped in the 19th century, 98 of them can still be recognised.

In the southern part of the cemetery, where five most intact mounds can be found, the Matrica Museum was established which was the first prehistoric open-air museum in Hungary. Mounds dated from the 7th to the 6th century BC are the resting places of the high ranked members of the Hallstatt culture. The bodies were burned on funeral pyres then the ashes were collected and either put into urns or into burial chambers constructed earlier.

In the southernmost grave of the cemetery, tumulus No 115, which is one of the so called 'large mounds', was excavated between 1990 and 1996. A unique archaeological find was discovered in the course of the excavations. The remains of the pyre almost totally conserved the oak timber structure of the burial chamber. The ashes of a middle-aged man were scattered in the 2 m wide and 7 m long passage attached to the chamber, while vessels with food and drink - to accompany the dead to the other world - were placed within the chamber itself.

The burial chamber was supported by a slanting stone packing on the outside and a 6 m high mound of soil was raised above the whole construction. The reconstruction of the original geometric of the mound was a unique task for the architects. Restorer team undertook the task with success to conserve and reinforce the dry, porous wooden remains. Now, visitors can admire the 2700 years old passage tomb in its original form.

Visitors can get acquainted with the burial rites of the age and then with tumulus No 115 itself with the help of a multimedia show with sound and light effects. After the strange experience, they may stay among the authentic reconstruction of houses, outbuildings, kilns and furnaces from the Bronze and Iron Ages. They can get acquainted with prehistoric techniques: clay vessel making, Bronze Ages jewel making. Visitors can taste dishes made after prehistoric recipes as well.

The park is open every day from the 1st of April to the 31st of October between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Every third Sunday of the month from May to September is a so called Family Day with special programmes.

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