Folia archeologica 18.
Tibor Kovács: Eastern Connections of North-Eastern Hungary in the Late Bronze Age
30 T. KOVÁCS The results which appear to be contradictory in many respects all lead to the same conclusion: finds (mainly metals) which can be related to the material of eastern territories came to light from the end of the Late Bronze Age (for the most part the period corresponding to the Reinecke BD period) in North-Eastern Hungary ; their occurrence in the Nyírség can be likely associated to an eastern ethnic group. Making use of all these results, T. Kemenczei was the first to examine the Berkesz —Demecser group, a part of the finds from the end of the Bronze Age of the Nyírség (in actuality belonging together) as one cultural, unit. In his view the Berkesz —Demecser group developed as the result of the spread of the Egyek culture ; from the mixture of the Egyek group spreading towards the east, from that of Felsőszőcs staying where it was and of the eastern ethnic group traced by the bronze finds which were buried in the earth in North-Eastern Hungary very likely during the third period of the Late Bronze Age. Mainly, he attributes a considerable role to the Egyek culture in forming the group on the basis of the pottery. 1 1 Kemenczei deals with the finds of the Berkesz —Demecser type included among the stray finds of the cemetery of Muhi—Princ-tanya. 1 2 According to his results in the plain at the foot of the Bükk Mountains the Berkesz— Demecser group may be regarded as the organic continuation of the Egyek culture. The people forming the Berkesz —Demecser group was forced out by the Late Bárca group from this territory. Kemenczei's results are an important step forward mainly because he examined the finds of the Berkesz —Demecser type as one cultural unit, distinguishing them from the older finds belonging to the Egyek or Felsőszőcs groups. It is also important that he attempted to select the finds which can be associated to the ethnic group of Berkesz —Demecser from among the numerous bronze finds coming to light in North-Eastern Hungary. 1 3 He intensively treats a part of these finds when dealing with the hoards which got into the Jósa András Museum before 1917. 1 4 After the results of the quoted studies, which approximately dated the finds of the Berkesz —Demecser type, determined in general their ethnic relations, briefly discussed the questions of development, we attempt to deal in details with the finds by laying stress upon the following: 1. the mapping of the sites of the finds of the Berkesz —Demecser type, that of the tumulus culture and of the Felsőszőcs group in North-Eastern Hungary and to determine the geographical ralation of these groups to one another, 2. the examination of the origin of the burial rites, 3. the analysis of the pottery and metal finds of the cemeteries, 4. the relation of the finds deriving from the cemeteries (settlements) to the hoards dated to the end of the Bronze Age (the supervision of direct and indirect possibilities). We would like to give a more comprehensive graps than earlier studies, although the scope is bound to be rather limited from the viewpoint of modern treatment. We do not possess data on the conditions of settlements. The material 1 1 Kemenczei, T., Arch. Ért. 90 (1963) 182—186. 1 2 Kemenczei, T., Arch. Ért. 92 (1965) 3—26., Fig. 7. 1 3 Kemenczei, T., Arch. Ért. 90 (1963) 186. 1 4 Jósa, A.—Kemenczei, T., JAMÉ 6—7 (1963—64) 19—44.
