Folia archeologica 9.

Kőszegi Frigyes: Keleti típusú bronzkori balták a Magyar Nemzeti Múzeumban

Bronze Age Axes of Oriental Type SI Brno-LiSen, which are closely related, are very important. The latter came to light from a layer and the axes and chisels belonging to them closely resemble the material of the same kind of the Maikop group. In connection with this type the specimens from Roumania (Ostrovul-Corbului), Bulgaria (Sevlievo), and Jugoslavia can also be mentioned. The axes with shaft-tubes where the shaft-tube prolongs downwards at the butt-end form the transition to the axes with shaft-holes terminating in a semicircle (Pl. VII, no. 1). These specimens are especially common in Roumania (Sinaia). The earlier group of the axes with shaft-holes terminating in a semicircle are those which were called Fattyanovo types by Roska

7 (Pl. VII, no. 3). These axes are in connection with the mould found at Tószeg (Kunszentmárton, Tószeg). The other specimens of this type-group are connected with the moulds coining to light from layers at Pécska (Hajdusámson, Szilágysomlyó). At the same time the so-called „axes with shaft-tops" occur, on several specimens of which the characteristic spiral-ornament, tracing back to Mycenae, already appear. The chronology of each type is elucidated by well dated specimens found in layers. The axes with shaft-tubes from the Caucasus region — judging by the grave-goods — can lie assigned to the turning point of the second and third millenniums (Sachkhéré). The axe from the layer В of Cucuteni and that from the upper level of Darabani do not contradict this dating. They were generally in use in the first period of the Hungarian Bronze Age, but sporadically some may have survived to the middle of the Bronze Age (Koros). Judged by the axes of Maikop the Bányabükk types can be dated to the end of the third millenneum in the Caucasus region. In the Carpathian basin they may have appeared in the time corresponding to the early Vucedol, and they could hardly have survived the first period of the Hungarian Bronze Age. By the means of the finds from Lisen the Hungarian and Roumanian • specimens can be well dated. The axes characteristic of Lapujtő indicate some surviving variety (Pl. VI, no. 6). The earlier group of the axes with shaft-hole terminating in a semicircle, which probably were developed from those with shaft-tubes, are dated by the mould found in the layer В at Tószeg. According to this the appearence of the type may be assigned to the second period of the Bronze Age. The moulds coming to light from the layers XIII and XIV of Pécska help to date the axes of the Hajdusámson type, according to these, they may be assigned to the beginning of the third period of the Bronze Age. At this time appear the axes with „shaft-topes" dated by some grave-goods (Deszk, Megyaszó). These latter still exist in undecorated forms in the fourth period of the Hungarian Bronze Age (Érmihályfalva). The origin of the axes with shaft-tubes can be traced through SouthRussia, the Caucasus as far as Mesopotamia. According to Düllo this type came along an other route, i. e. through Asia Minor and the Bosporus.

1" This assumption seems less probable as the traces leading to Mesopotamia can be better found in tbis case through the Caucasus than through Asia Minor.