Walrus on the side of the Drava?
An ivory belt plaque found in a Turkish garrison in South-Western Hungary

Erika Gál
Archaeological Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Archaeological excavations carried out on the area of the Castle of Barcs in South-Western Hungary in 1989-2003 yielded the most abundant animal bone assemblage from this period in Hungary. According to historical documents, the garrison has been erected and settled by 170-200 Turkish watchers in 1567-1664 and provided the landing stage on the bank of the Drava.

Cattle remains dominated in the assemblage of almost 10,000 animal bones by 76.0%, which were followed by the remains of domestic hen (9.5%) and sheep and goat (9.0%). Pig and other species including wild animals were rather underrepresented.

The belt plaque carved out from the basic segment of a walrus tusk represents the most interesting find of animal origin. The margin of the 52.3 mm long, 39.1 mm wide and 6.5-7.0 mm thick object is symmetrically engraved. The exterior of the plaque is decorated by four lines most probably representing a plant symbol. The back side is heavily polished. According to the two series of drillings and (remains of) iron pins placed in a larger and a smaller triangle shape, the plaque has been fixed two times or to two different belts. 

The belt plaque is one of the rare luxury objects in addition to a decorated knife from Styria and a few pottery of Balkan and Chinese origin. Since only simple people were living in the garrison, these items may have been arrived to the castle through trade or other similar ways.

The object from Barcs is the second artefact carved out from walrus tusk in Hungary. The other object represents a fragment of a crosier and it was found in a medieval grave deposit of the Veszprémszentgyörgy convent in Western Hungary.

Keywords: walrus ivory, belt plaque, late medieval, Turkish garrison, Hungary.

This research is granted by the OTKA Programme no. K 72231.