Folia archeologica 8.
Korek József — Patay Pál: A Herpályi-halom kőkorvégi és rézkori települése
42 J. Korek —P. Patay reflect the influence of the Cucuteni culture and point to an intrusion of elements from the south-east in general. Among the dishes, the conical ones are the more numerous (Plate VII : 2—4). Fine and thin-walled vessels also abound. As decorative elements we found handles and knobs, and both are sometimes combined with hatched rims of the wares. A noteworthy feature of the wares from layers A —C, is that they were painted while painted specimens altogether ceased to appear from layer D, viz. the level of the burned-out dwelling. Painting of pottery has been met with in a number of cultures in the east of Hungary towards the end of the Stone Age. This technical feature admits a classification of the settlements here into groups as follows. Group 1. showing peculiarities of the Bükk III culture (Sátoraljaújhely). Curvilinear and rectilinear motifs in polychrome painting before firing. Group 2. The Debrecen —Tócóvölgy group (Lászlóhalom, Szántai-halom, Debrecen — Nyulas, Konyár). Dark-red linear designs on a lighter surface. Group 3. Tiszapolgár—Csőszhalom group. Several colours were used ; painting after firing. Colours : mainly white, yellow and red. Specimens also came to light at Bodrogzsadány and Herpály. Group 4. Szamosvölgy group. Light ochre mud-glazing with a painting of wide, black ribbons. It has not yet been definitely settled whether these finds should form a distinct group by themselves. Group 5. The Herpály group. The prevailing type has black painting on red surface, often on a white background. The technique of painting can be traced to the Bükk culture as well as to southern (Thessaly) and eastern (Tripolje and Cucuteni) influences. These influences also suggest a migration to these parts of Hungary from the south and the east of Europe. The finds from all these excavations have cleared up the chronology of the Tiszapolgár—Csőszhalom group. A fragment belonging to this group was encountered in layer A at Herpály (Plate II : 5). An important find was the copper bracelet (Plate IV : 8) from the layer immediately above floor C. This suggests that the earliest appearance of copper in Hungary must be put considerably earlier than the beginnings of the Tiszapolgár culture. The presence of copper must be attributed to eastern and southern influences. The population of the settlement at Herpály must have been engaged extensively in hunting, the aurochs chiefly, and in addition pursued stock-rearing and agriculture. The local evolution at Herpály largely contributed within its own sphere of influence, to the development of the early Tiszapolgár culture in the Copper Age.
