'Forest People': The Goths in Transylvania

L. SCHMIDT's classic study, Die Ostgermanen (München, 1941), remains a reliable reference work on the history of the Visigoths and Gepids.

The essential archaeological studies regarding the Visigoths include B. PÓSTA, A marosszentannai sírmező: Emlékkönyv az Erdélyi Múzeum-Egylet Vándorgyűlésére (Marosvásárhely, 19O6) as well as two works by I. KOVÁCS, 'A marosszentannai népvándorláskori temető' (Dolg. ENM 3: 1912) and 'A marosvásárhelyi ásatások' (Dolg. ENM 6: 1915). The description of the cemetery at Marosszentanna is based on the detailed maps (7) and tabulation of finds (4) drawn up by Gyula LÁSZLÓ, in Kolozsvár, on the basis of the original material. My assessment of grave finds, burial rites, and styles of dress is similar to that of I. IONIŢA in 'Das Gräberfeld von Independenta', Saarbrücker Beiträge zur Altertumskunde, Band 1O (Bonn, 1971). E. BENINGER assigns too early a date to Maroslekence in 'Ein westgotisches Brandgab von Maros-Lekencze' (Mannus 30: 1938). The cemetery excavated by Gy. LÁSZLÓ and M. MACREA at Magyarpalatka is described in I. HICA-CÎMPEANU, 'Das Grabfeld aus dem 4. Jh. u.Z. von Palatca' (Dacia 20: 1976). Most of these finds are reviewed in K. HOREDT, Siebenbürgen in spätrömischer Zeit (Bucharest, 1982).