Sárisáp-Quadriburg Research Programme
Excavation of the Archaeology Department of Péter Pázány Catholic University
The newly established Department of Archaeology at Péter Pázmány Catholic University launched its inaugural excavation in Hungary during the summer of 2012 at the Late Antique site of Quadriburg, located in the village of Sárisáp. This initial season, supported by the Balassa Bálint Museum in Esztergom, the Hungarian National Museum, and the Directorate of Museums of Baranya County, marked an important milestone for the department.
The site, situated on the outskirts of Sárisáp, is primarily occupied by a Bronze Age earthwork fortification. However, earlier excavations in 1926 at the eastern end of the site uncovered the remains of an Early Christian burial chapel, dated to the fourth century AD. The primary objective of the 2012 summer excavation was to authenticate and explore the chapel remains and conduct a preliminary survey of the surrounding area.
The research commenced with magnetometer and ground-penetrating radar surveys, which identified several magnetic anomalies beyond the buried chapel remains. These anomalies guided the excavation, leading to the rediscovery of the chapel's location and the unearthing of several Roman-era burials. Among these, the most significant find was a second-century "chariot" burial, expertly excavated by Zsolt Mráv, a renowned specialist and member of the National Museum staff.
The excavation provided a rich interdisciplinary environment, bringing together archaeologists, restorers, geologists, geophysicists, archaeozoologists, and architects to exchange knowledge and skills. During the summer season, six enthusiastic students from the Pontifical Institute participated, while an additional fourteen students joined the project in the October season, which concluded the first year of research.
A heartfelt thanks to all who contributed their enthusiasm and hard work to this groundbreaking project!
Balázs Major PhD
Head of excavation
PPKE BTK Department of Archaeology
