Pannonia, a province of the Western Roman empire, was devastated
by the barbarian invasions (Huns, Gepidae, Avars, etc.). Only a
few thousand Romanized Pannonians survived the onslaughts,
mainly around Lake Pelso (now lake Balaton) in small fortified
villages like Keszthely. Roman Pannonia and surrounding areas
The Romanic population from Pannonia created the Keszthely
culture that evolved mainly during the 6th-7th centuries. Its
artefacts were made in the workshops of Roman origin located
mainly in the fortified settlements of Keszthely-Fenékpuszta and
Sopianae (modern Pécs). The Romanic craftsmen worked for their
masters (Gepidae and Avars). Under the Avars the Roman castle of
Fenékpuszta near Keszthely and the surroundings were not
occupied so the original Romanized inhabitants lived on
undisturbed. They paid food and artisan goods for peace from the
Avars. After 568 new Christian Romanized Pannonians arrived
here, probably from the destroyed Aquincum (modern Budapest).
The Keszthely-Fenékpuszta fortress b