Special finds found at BYD factory construction site

Researchers from the Hungarian National Museum and the Móra Ferenc Museum made a special discovery in Szeged: during archaeological excavations carried out on the site of a Chinese electric car factory under construction, they found artefacts from the distant history of the region, according to promotions.hu and szeged.hu articles.

Several significant developments are underway in the area. In addition to the recently announced construction of the BYD factory mentioned in recent news reports, the University of Szeged's new Science Park is also located nearby (its infrastructure is being built by Colas Út Zrt. and the Délút Kft. in winter) – it should be noted that it is not so close that the archaeological excavations would affect the ongoing work.

Returning to the finds, archaeologists discovered gold earrings and a bell from the Byzantine Empire, among other items, during excavations at a 152-grave Avar-era cemetery on the site of the BYD factory. However, this does not cover the entire historical heritage of the site, which has already been reported on in the international press here.

In addition to the cemetery, traces of settlements dating back thousands of years, even to prehistoric times, have also been found. Remains from the Middle Ages and the Migration Period have also been discovered – writes promotions.hu –, including storage pits, wells and traces of pens used for animal husbandry.

Tibor Sztankovánszki, archaeologist at the Móra Ferenc Museum, explained the Avar period cemetery itself explained that

"During the preliminary searches, the cemetery was not found by the test probes. Eventually the entire cemetery was excavated, which is not very common. The cemetery dates from the late 6th to the second half of the 7th century."

Kornél Sóskuti, group leader archaeologist at the Hungarian National Museum, provided detailed information about the excavation and the szeged.hu provided detailed information about the excavation. Kornél Sóskuti, group leader archaeologist at the Hungarian National Museum, presented the site and, in addition to describing the regularity of the archaeological process, also spoke about how such a large, continuous excavation is a rarity today.

The work is proceeding in parallel with the construction of the BYD factory, which Mayor László Botka announced on 21 April 2025. statement . As he explained, there is ongoing consultation with the contractors and BYD on the matter, but the excavation is not expected to affect the construction schedule.