Ancient remains found at Budapest construction site

Part of a medieval cemetery and remains of Roman-era houses have been unearthed in Budapest's District XI at the site of the recently-demolished Budai Skála shopping center, reports ingatlanmagazin.com. Most of the findings date back to the 1st and 2nd centuries, A.D., but some remnants, including fireplace fragments, are probably from a 1st century, B.C., settlement of Celts.

Previous archeological surveys have determined that a Celtic-Roman settlement was located in the flats south of Gellért Hill (Gellérthegy), with finds in the area of Gellért tér, Ménesi utca, Móricz Zsigmond körtér and Kende utca. But the recently unearthed artifacts are thought to belong to a different, unrelated settlement.

Archaeologists working at the construction site have also found minor artifacts from the New Stone Age, the Copper Age and the Bronze Age.

The current archaeological digs will not impact construction of the new mall that will replace the Budai Skála. Archaeologists can continue digging on the site until demolition of the former shopping center is completed in October.

Property developer ING Ingatlanfejlesztő will build a multi-use complex at the site containing a mall, offices and flats, representing an investment of roughly Ft 35 billion (€136.8 million). Demolition work began in early August, with construction scheduled to be completed by spring 2009.