Four years of excavations at the Roman village of Pilisszentiván in Hungary had uncovered houses, tools, and coins, but no religious artifacts. In late September 2026, archaeologists from Eötvös Loránd University reported the discovery of a lead statue of Venus, which provides insight into Roman religious life in rural areas. The figurine, representing Venus Pudica—a depiction of the goddess covering her chest and lower abdomen—was found during a metal detector survey. It is one of the few examples of this type of statue, which was common throughout the Roman Empire in both marble and cheaper materials. The same excavation season also yielded a fragment of a lead bronze mirror, iron tools, and brooches. Previous campaigns had identified a village of stone, ceramic, and work, but nothing had suggested a cult until the discovery of the Venus statue. The excavation, directed by archaeologist Bence Simon, ended on September 23. Among the buildings excavated, the one labeled E occupied much of the season. The team uncovered the habitation sector and a northern forecourt, with a paved surface of slabs bordering the inhabited part. Similar arrangements were found around other houses, which the archaeologists interpret as an indication of artisanal activity. The building was likely abandoned at the beginning of the 3rd century. North of the site, an intact layer of collapse yielded a set of ceramics, including several nearly intact vases and a pair of almost complete iron tongs. These materials may help distinguish living spaces from work areas. The archaeologists hope to understand the activities around the building. Roman villages excavated in the forest remain rare in Hungary, and months of laboratory analysis are needed before any interpretation of the structures can be made. The analyses will also focus on the figurine, whose precise dating is still missing. This type of figurine was usually used in domestic sanctuaries—small altars installed in a corner of the house. Lead, a cheap material, is suitable for a village of peasants and artisans rather than an urban elite. Pilisszentiván is located in the hinterland of Aquincum, the Roman city now a district of Budapest. The rural areas that fed this city remain poorly documented, with only a handful of buildings previously identified. The Hungarian team plans to return to the site next year around the Hárás spring.