Breakthrough in mystery of 500-year-old skull found in basilica
An unidentified skull found in a Hungarian basilica may belong to King Matthias Corvinus, who ruled in the 15th century.
Researchers believe the skull bears a resemblance to that of Corvinus's illegitimate son.
The skull was discovered in the Basilica of the Virgin Mary, a historical burial site for Hungarian kings.
King Matthias, known as "The Just", was recognised for his judicial reforms, patronage of arts and sciences, and establishing a standing army. He ruled from 1458 to 1490.
Further DNA testing is required to confirm the skull's identity.
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The Independent
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Metal objects unearthed near volcano reveal secrets of 3,400-year-old European people
A hoard of metal objects unearthed near a volcanic hilltop in Hungary has helped unravel the mysteries of an ancient European population that lived 3,400 years ago. Excavations at western Hungary 's Somló volcanic hill have led to the discovery of hundreds of artefacts, including jewellery, weapons and decorations dating to the Late Bronze Age, 1450 BC to 800 BC, and the Early Iron Age, 800 BC to 450 BC. The digs have also unearthed other ancient materials, including leather remains and amber beads, as well as tusks of boars and domestic pigs. Some of the oldest of these artefacts date to between 1400 BC and 1300 BC, according to a study published in the journal Antiquity. The findings point to a significant presence of humans in western Hungary between the 13th and 6th centuries BC. While research into early urbanism in many parts of Europe has increased in recent years, study of hilltop settlements has been scant. A previous excavation near the Hungarian hill, about 431m high and untouched by quarrying, found Early Iron Age grave goods in monumental burial mounds, indicating that landmarks like the Somló were the seats of power of an elite warrior leader class. In the new study, researchers conducted airborne laser scanning and metal-detector surveys to find an area that was likely densely populated by humans during the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age. They concluded that the people who lived here between the 13th and 6th centuries BC were tribal or clan-based societies led by elite warriors. The latest dig found some 900 metal objects in the southeastern part of the hill, one of them the first example of a ceramic pot found in western Hungary from the end of the Late Bronze Age. 'Deposition inside ceramic pots was suggested from this period but never documented,' the researchers said, adding that they found in some of the pots deposits of lentils and fragmented small-seeded cereals, known to be Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age subsistence foods. 'The unearthed hoards testify to an intentional and complex hoarding tradition on Somló Hill,' they wrote in the study. 'Large quantities of bronze lumps, droplets, casting jets, and fragmented plano-convex ingots suggest the presence of bronzeworking workshops on the plateau.' The findings also provide insights about how the region transitioned from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age. 'Occupation on the hilltop seems to have been uninterrupted during the transition into the Early Iron Age,' the study noted.
The Independent
30-04-2025
- The Independent
Breakthrough in mystery of 500-year-old skull found in basilica
An unidentified skull found in a Hungarian basilica may belong to King Matthias Corvinus, who ruled in the 15th century. Researchers believe the skull bears a resemblance to that of Corvinus's illegitimate son. The skull was discovered in the Basilica of the Virgin Mary, a historical burial site for Hungarian kings. King Matthias, known as "The Just", was recognised for his judicial reforms, patronage of arts and sciences, and establishing a standing army. He ruled from 1458 to 1490. Further DNA testing is required to confirm the skull's identity.
The Independent
30-04-2025
- The Independent
Mysterious skull found decades ago could belong to legendary Hungarian king, archaeologists say
An unidentified skull uncovered at a Hungarian basilica decades ago may belong to the legendary 15th century king Matthias Corvinus, a new study found. While further DNA tests are needed to confirm the identity of the remains, researchers from the King Stephen Museum in Hungary say the skull bears resemblance to that of Corvinus's illegitimate son. The skull was first found during excavations at the southern aisle of the Basilica of the Virgin Mary in 2002 and has remained marked simply as 'I/10'. Now, archaeologists suspect it belongs to Matthias Corvinus, the legendary king of Hungary and Croatia, who ruled from 1458 to 1490. Known by his nickname – King Corvinus 'The Just' – was renowned for reforming the justice system and for favouring talented individuals, chosen for their abilities, instead of working with people based on their social status. His kingdom was also one of the first to embrace the Renaissance, spreading from Italy, ushering in a new age of art and science. King Cornivus's royal library – Bibliotheca Corviniana – was one of the largest collections of books in Europe at the time. He is also known for establishing one of the earliest professional standing armies in medieval Europe that played a key role in driving out the invading Ottomans. The Basilica of the Virgin Mary, where the skull was found, is known to have been the coronation and burial site for medieval Hungarian kings. However, it too was destroyed in the 19th century following centuries of damage, including by the Ottomans. The latest study comes after researchers reconstructed skulls found at the basilica. They found that the one labelled I/10 particularly bore resemblance to that of Matthias' illegitimate son János Corvinus, whose remains were previously found in Croatia. Given the skull's burial location at the basilica where other kings were also buried, researchers suspect the only likely candidate could be King Matthias himself. Several historical written sources also point to King Corvinus's funeral taking place at the cathedral in 1490. 'The king's body, covered in purple, was lifted into a coffin with a sword, sceptre, crown, orb, golden spurs, and an uncovered face, in a carefully chosen space of the open vestibule of the basilica,' Antonio Bonfini, Matthias' court historian and poet, wrote. However, Hungarian officials urge caution, stating that 'scientific verification of the hypothesis is ongoing'. 'We will be able to make a final statement after the verification,' the Institute of Hungarian Research said, according to Archaeology Mag.
