Research Using Metal Detectors at the Battlefield of Muhi : Community Archaeology, Battlefield Investigation and Related Methodological Issues

Abstract

The defeat of the Hungarian forces at the battle of Muhi was a key historical episode, since it opened the country to the Mongol invasion. This event had complex consequences that have not yet been fully clarified regarding the further development of Hungarian society and its economy. The identification of the site of the battlefield has contributed to the better understanding of the events of 11 April 1241. The known course of events has been established through subjective written sources that were often based on indirect information. The identification of certain elements of the battle can provide new information, since it may be possible to reconstruct the tactical options provided to the leadership of the Hungarian and Mongolian forces by the geographical circumstances and how the location influenced the outcome of the battle. The research on the battlefield of Muhi gained momentum through the assistance of volunteers associated with a number of museums using metal detectors. In this article, we investigate the following question: what kind of opportunities does community archaeology provide in the interdisciplinary investigation of an Árpád Period (1000–1301) battlefield, and what kind of practical and methodological problems face research using metal detectors?