Archaeologists have identified the long-lost site of the medieval Premonstratensian provostship of Nagykökényes, solving a historical mystery that has puzzled researchers for decades.
The discovery was made by a team from the Institute of Archaeology at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), which uncovered the remains of the religious complex in Heves County during recent excavations.
Founded by the influential Kökényes–Radnót clan in the late 12th century, the Nagykökényes provostship was one of medieval Hungary’s important ecclesiastical centres. The monastery served as a base for monks who later established additional Premonstratensian communities at Ság and Jánoshida.
Although historians have long known of the provostship’s existence, its precise location remained uncertain. Earlier theories linked the monastery to the still-standing Church of Our Lady of the Snows (Havas Boldogasszony Church), an Árpád-era building in the village. However, recent investigations revealed that the church functioned as the settlement’s medieval parish church rather than the monastic centre itself.
Drawing on historical records, field surveys and geophysical investigations, excavation director Orsolya Mészáros and her colleagues focused their search on an area west of the present-day church. Their efforts uncovered the foundations of a nearly 900-year-old structure, along with evidence of its destruction and dismantling during the 16th century.
Among the artefacts recovered were large carved stone blocks, 12th-century architectural fragments, bronze book fittings, medieval coins and ceramic remains. Researchers noted that the monumental andesite stone construction and decorative elements bear similarities to medieval monuments in Eger and Esztergom, while also displaying French architectural influences.
Archaeologists believe the monastery served not only as a religious centre for its founding clan but also as a focal point for the surrounding community. Evidence suggests the complex remained in use throughout the Middle Ages before being destroyed during the Ottoman wars that reshaped much of Hungary in the 16th century.
The excavation revealed collapsed walls, demolition layers and traces of temporary later occupation, all pointing to a turbulent final chapter in the site’s history.
The area continued to be used as a cemetery after the monastery’s destruction. Researchers uncovered graves belonging to both adults and children, along with personal items including rosaries, clothing accessories and shoe buckles. The distribution of the burials also helped archaeologists identify the location of the church’s former sanctuary.
Researchers describe the identification of the Nagykökényes provostship as the most significant outcome of the excavation to date. However, they emphasise that the work is only beginning.
Further investigations are planned to determine the full layout of the monastery and church complex and to gain deeper insights into the daily lives of the medieval community that once flourished there.#
Header Image Credit : ELTE BTK Institute of Archaeology
Sources : National Geographic Hungary
