Folia archeologica 21.

Patay Pál: A javarézkor néhány etnikai és időrendi kérdéséről

z6 P. PATAY Examining the part of the Polgár-Basatanya cemetery belonging to period II (Bodrogkeresztúr culture) we have doubts about the opinion of I. Kutzián who states that in each row of the cemetery the graves were dug according to a strict rule from S to N. The location of the graves contradicts this opinion in numerous cases, especially when regarding their different orientations. We consider it more likely that the families of the communities were buried in the cemetery in separate groups. (It was a trend, however, to order the graves in rows within the groups.) So we can find between two groups of graves (A and B) orientated to W-E another one (C) of E-W orientation, about the same age ; on the eastern edge of the cemetery, as well as in its part of period I - and partly wedged in the earliest graves of period II being on the western edge of the area - we find a group each (D and E) with mixed orientation. These graves are from the latest period of the cemetery, when the differences among the burial rites of the families living together already disappeared. The gaps between the graves of these groups may be ascribed to the departure of the last generation. There is a separate group of graves in the Tiszavalk cemetery orientated to W-E (A) and another one orientated to E-W which can be subdivided to two subgroups (Bj_

2). Comparing the pottery of the individual groups it can be observed that the forms characteristic to the finds of the Hunyadi Hill at Hódmezővásárhely occur in grave group D of the Polgár cemetery. I. Kutzián refers to similar finds from Tiszavalk, coming to light near the cemetery; notwithstanding the finds of the cemetery definitely belong to the inheritance of the Bodrogkeresztúr culture. Analogical finds to some of grave group Bj (Figs. 5-8) occur among the grave goods of grave group D of Basatanya. This fact indicates also a closer connection between the peoples of the two cemeteries. Judging by the occurrence of the finds of the Hunyadi Hill group I. Kutzián found a possibility of setting up a chronology within the Bodrogkeresztúr culture. But just this proves the fact that the different orientations are due to ethnic and not to chronological factors. On the one hand in the youngest grave group (D) of the Basatanya cemetery there are graves orientated to E-W together with those in W-E orientation, and on the other hand factors assigning to a later phase (Hunyadi Hill) are absent from the earlier group C, using the orientation to E-W. Orientation to W-E can therefore be traced to local traditions. There are other occurrences similar to these in the Bodrogkeresztúr culture, e.g. the decoration of the Tiszaug-Kisrétipart pottery of the Early Copper Age is recognizable on the vessels of the Middle Copper Age cemetery of Pusztaistvánháza, being situated in a distance of 15 kms.