Archaeologists in Hungary have uncovered a rare Roman lime kiln near the town of Bicske, along with several medieval storage pits, during excavations linked to the expansion of the M1 motorway.
The National Archaeological Institute of the Hungarian National Museum commissioned the dig. Archaeologist Alexandra Kiss led the team of museum staff and volunteers.
Last year, the same team found parts of a Roman-era settlement and an Arpad-era settlement near Bicske. They also discovered three Roman child burials at the site. This spring’s excavation added new and significant finds to that list.
The discoveries show that people used the land near Bicske for many centuries. Researchers found new sections of the early Roman and late Arpad-era settlements. They also found storage pits and other pits dating to the late medieval and Ottoman periods.
Rare Roman lime kiln found in Hungary excavation
The most notable find was the Roman lime kiln. Builders shaped it into the natural slope of a hill. The circular kiln measures about 230 centimeters (7.5 feet) across and reaches a depth of 3 meters (9.8 feet). Workers built it from mud bricks and reinforced the walls with mud plaster.
The kiln has an opening that faces west, where workers once lit fires. A ledge runs around the base of the inner wall. Workers placed limestone blocks on this ledge before burning them into lime.
Aquincum connection highlights kiln’s rare preservation
The kiln survived in good condition. A thin layer of lime still coats its floor and side walls. Researchers found fragments of Roman roof tiles in the lower fill layers. These fragments help date the structure. They also found a piece of a gray bowl with an S-shaped profile.
Experts say the find carries strong scientific value. A lime kiln in this condition has not turned up in Hungary since the early 1900s.
Archaeologist Bálint Kuzsinszky uncovered the last comparable example during his excavations at Aquincum, an ancient Roman city near modern Budapest.
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