Winter is always a quiet time for the physical site of the Pomáz Lab, an open-air archaeological site called Pomáz-Nagykovácsi puszta, Hungary; therefore, usually different kinds of indoor programs are organized instead of site visits. Seeing the popularity of our lecture series about Pomáz’s history and heritage, another series of lectures was organized in the new year, with plans to continue. The last lecture in March 2020 had to be cancelled due to the COVID19 pandemic and the governmental decree prohibiting community events. Hopefully, when the pandemic is over, the series can go on. The following topics were covered:
- 22 January 2020: “Famous Pomáz-based families and their heritage: The Cykó family.” This lecture, held again by József Laszlovszky, focused on the most important family of medieval landlords in Pomáz, and their role in the 14th–15th-century Hungarian royal court. The talk also aimed to address several popular myths about the family. The lecture was recorded by the local television channel (in Hungarian): https://youtu.be/ecKhNsQlk2I?t=5486
- 5 February 2020: “Woodlands, meadows, vineyards… How did Pomáz’s surroundings look like centuries ago?” József Laszlovszky discussed the results of landscape archaeology and environmental history in the region, and addressed the question how people in the Middle Ages or in the 18th–19th century related to their environment.
- 19 February 2020: “Vineyards and wine in medieval Buda and Pomáz.” Following up a lecture held earlier by László Janka on the local wine culture, József Laszlovszky talked about vine cultivation in the Pomáz area and medieval Hungarian wine production.
- 4 March 2020: “The ancient Romans are among us – Discovering a remarkable archaeological finding in Pomáz.” Archaeologist Gusztáv Tóth, a resident in Pomáz, discussed the discovery and importance of a Roman metal object found in Pomáz, which is now kept in the Hungarian National Museum.
18 March 2020: “The settlement sociology of Pomáz.” – The talk by János Nyitrai had to be cancelled for now; it will be rescheduled after the pandemic