Hódmezővásárhely (; also known by other alternative names) is a city with county rights in southeast Hungary, on the Great Hungarian Plain, at the meeting point of the Békés-Csanádi Ridge and the clay grassland surrounding the river Tisza. In 2017, it had a population of 44,009. Etymology and names The city's name, which literally translates to Beavers' Field Marketplace, was first mentioned after the unification of two Árpád-era villages, Hód and Vásárhely, the former getting its name after Beaver's lake, an apocope of Hód-tó (now one of the city's districts and the canal Hód-tavi-csatorna) and the latter coming from the mediaeval legal term marking settlements with the right of hosting markets and literally meaning market town. The middle term mező, which also refers to the city's state as an oppidum, a city with certain rights that are given by its feudal ruler, was later added to the town and to its name. The city is also known by alternative names in other languages: ; ; and . History Prehistory There is evidence of human habitation close to the modern town dating back 6,000 years, and archaeological evidence suggests that the area has been continuously inhabited since then by a variety of different cultures. Neolithic dwellings recessed into the ground stored domestic items such as plates, as well as the Kökénydombi Vénusz fertility symbol. Remains have also been found from the Copper Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age and the great migrations period. The town's archaeological treasures can now be seen at the permanent archaeological exhibition of the Tornyai János Museum. Medieval period At the end of the 8th century, the Avars found mostly remnants of the nomadic population and of the agrarian and animal-breeding Slavs. Before the Mongol invasion of Hungary, at least seven villages with churches existed in the area. After the devastation caused by the Mongols, more villages were established, but these later became victims of the Turkish invasion. The territories of these villages were later absorbed by Hódmezővásárhely as the town grew. Evidence of more than twenty villages and churches from the Middle Ages have been found. The present town of Hódmezővásárhely developed in the 15th century when Hód, Vásárhely, Tarján, and Ábrány, once small villages, became joined and the market town was established. The town is known to have been called Hódvásárhely in 1437. The town's location next to the road leading from Csongrád to Csanád was