28 August 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Archaeologists Discovered Medieval Silver Communion Set and 70 Silver Coins in Hungary

A 14th-century silver communion set (chalice and wafer holder) and a treasure trove of 70 silver coins were discovered in a research project by the Hungarian National Archaeological Institute (Nemzeti Régészeti Intézet) near Lake Tisza.

The discovery was announced on the Institute’s Facebook page. In 2023, experts from the National Archaeological Institute of the Public Collection Centre of the Hungarian National Museum discovered the remains of a medieval Benedictine abbey founded by a clan during their microregional research near Lake Tisza, a unique cultural heritage.

The main purpose of the ten-year research plan of the National Archaeological Institute is to identify all the sites in the country within the framework of the “Archaeological Topography Programme”. To this end, micro-regional pilot projects have been launched, one of which can also provide the basis for developing tourism in the southeastern region of Lake Tisza based on its historical and cultural heritage.

In October 2023, in the village of Tomajmonostora, the remains of the former Benedictine abbey church were revealed during a trial excavation of the archaeological work carried out by archaeologists on the site of the former monastery.

Photo: Hungarian National Archaeological Institute (Nemzeti Régészeti Intézet)
Photo: Hungarian National Archaeological Institute (Nemzeti Régészeti Intézet)

“Last year the layers of the three-nave monastic basilica and the early round church were also clarified. So we have found the medieval Benedictine abbey and the church of the settlement that preceded it,” he said. Excavation leader Gábor Virágos, archaeologist, deputy director general of the Public Collection Centre of the Hungarian National Museum, and president of the National Archaeological Institute.

A special discovery made during this year’s excavation was a communion set that was in the deceased person’s hand at the time of burial.  The ceremonial vessels are thought to be from the 13th or 14th century and include a wafer holder and a silver chalice. They were put into the hands of a deceased individual. Although more excavation is required to determine the precise findings, it is most likely a burial component.

The micro-regional research, including the excavation at Tomajmonostora, also produced other outstanding results. The National Archaeological Institute of the Public Collections Centre of the Hungarian National Museum also pays special attention to the sites of key, fate-transforming events in Hungarian history.

Photo: Hungarian National Archaeological Institute (Nemzeti Régészeti Intézet)

One of the milestones of this work is the identification of key sites of the battle of 1596 near Mezőkeresztes, and the collection and interpretation of artefactual material related to the battle. Here, archaeologists have found a treasure trove of 70 silver coins of the Viennese penny (denar). The hidden treasure, dating back to the 13th-14th centuries, was uncovered during a search by volunteers from the Community Archaeology Programme, led by archaeologist Gábor Bakos.

The Viennese denarii that make up the treasure were issued by the Austrian princes, contrary to their common summary name, not only from the Viennese mints but also from the Enns and Bécsujhely mints. Due to the intensive trade relations, their traffic also extended to the territory of the Kingdom of Hungary in the 1200s and 1300s.

Photo: Hungarian National Archaeological Institute (Nemzeti Régészeti Intézet)

“Their presence is attested by the presence of coins such as the one just discovered, mainly from the western part of the country and along the trade route through Kassia to Cracow. The latter includes the medal material found in the Mezőkeresztes area,” said Enikő Kovács, numismatist and research associate.

Research continues with the participation of volunteers and local people.

Cover Photo: Hungarian National Archaeological Institute (Nemzeti Régészeti Intézet)

Related Articles

Archaeologists Find One of the Long-Lost Holy Cities in Jordan

13 July 2025

13 July 2025

A remarkable archaeological discovery in Jordan has brought one of the Holy Land’s long-lost cities back to light. Researchers now...

Friendly Fire: Lost Battlefield from 1758 Found Near Fort Ligonier

16 July 2025

16 July 2025

A foggy evening in November 1758 nearly cost George Washington his life in a friendly fire skirmish between two groups...

Iron Age stone altar and gold-plated ceremonial sword discovered in Kazakhstan

14 August 2021

14 August 2021

A stone altar and a gold-plated ceremonial sword used in the early Iron Age were discovered during excavations along the...

An exciting discovery in Hattusa, the capital of the Hittites

11 September 2022

11 September 2022

It is aimed to reach new information about the traditions of the Hittite civilization with 249 new hieroglyphs discovered in...

3600 years old Unique ancient drinking bowls on display at Boğazkale Museum

15 August 2021

15 August 2021

The 3,600-year-old fist-shaped drinking bowls found in excavations in Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite Civilization, which shaped the Anatolian...

Ancient Balkan genomes trace the rise and fall of the Roman Empire’s frontier, reveal Slavic migrations to southeastern Europe

7 January 2024

7 January 2024

The genomic history of the Balkan Peninsula during the first millennium of the common era—a period marked by significant changes...

An inscription with the name of the ancient city was found at the excavation site in Gordion, the capital of the Phrygians

8 August 2022

8 August 2022

An inscription bearing the name of the ancient city was found at the excavation site in Gordion, the capital of...

The unknown importance of Göllü Dağ on the route of the first humans’ Transition from Africa to Europe

4 October 2021

4 October 2021

The researches conducted in Göllü Dağ and its surroundings, located within the borders of Niğde province in Central Anatolia, and...

2,000 Bronze Statue Fragments Found in Ancient Scrap Yard

20 January 2025

20 January 2025

Archaeologists in Izmir, Turkey have made an extraordinary discovery in the ancient city of Metropolis: Approximately 2,000 bronze statue fragments...

1,500-year-old Byzantine artifacts found under a peach orchard in Turkey’s Iznik

27 January 2023

27 January 2023

In the world-famous historical city of Iznik, which was the capital of four civilizations, a farmer found coins and historical...

Isotopic Evidence reveals surprising dietary practices of pre-agricultural human groups in Morocco

30 April 2024

30 April 2024

It has long been accepted wisdom that hunter-gatherer societies lived primarily off of meat. But fresh data from an innovative...

Serbian Archaeologists Unearth Roman Triumphal Arch Dedicated to Emperor Caracalla

24 January 2024

24 January 2024

Archaeologists in Serbia have unearthed an ancient Roman triumphal arch dating back to the third century at Viminacium, a Roman...

Assyrian Art at Getty Villa

22 June 2021

22 June 2021

The Getty Villa in Malibu, California’s arts complex is showcasing superbly-restored gypsum reliefs from the Assyrian Empire’s palaces for its...

Hussar Armor From The 17th Century Found By Metal Detectorist In Poland

8 April 2024

8 April 2024

A 17th-century Hussar armor was found in a field in the village of Mikułowice in the Opatów region in southeastern...

Ice Age turtle finds near Magdeburg point to canned food from the Stone Age

2 May 2024

2 May 2024

Experts have recovered around 50,000-year-old turtle shell fragments from the Barleben-Adamsee gravel pit near Magdeburg. The turtles could have been...