Folia archeologica 39.

Tibor Kovács: Arcosedény Tószegről tőrábrázolással

A FACE POT FROM TÓSZEG 89 ants. The background and actual process of this 'interaction' still eludes us. Neither do we know when and how the dominance of Vatya influence began. Except for the fact that this took place sometime during the Koszider period, this date cannot be pinpointed more precisely.

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8 Its background is to be sought in the emergence of the Tumulus culture in Central Europe, which involved a northwest to southeast influence in the Carpathian Basin during the Koszider period. This is partly reflected by the eastern and southeastern "expansion" of the Vatyaculture. Tószeg lies in the northeastern border zone of this territory. In other words, it is less than surprising that the ceramic inventory of the upper levels shows a stylistic mingling similar to that observed in the contemporary levels of the Mende

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9 and Tiszaalpár

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0 settlements of the Vatya culture. The only difference is to be found in the ratio of cultural components. The numerous uncertainties in the areal definition of the different population groups of the Koszider period is increased by a further one — at least as regards Tószeg — : by the vessel ivith weapon representation (Fig. 5. 1). The other similar vessels from Pákozd, Dunaújváros and Mende (Fig. 5. 2 — 3),

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1 as well as fragments of similar anthropomorphic vessels from Igar and Mende were without exception found on sites of the Vatya culture.

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2 Since these had originally belonged to the domain of spiritual culture it can perhaps be assumed that, being relics of spiritual life, they are more firmly linked to a given society (population group) than the various artefact types, weapons or jewellery current in this period. Consequently, the Tószeg vessel can also be associated with the Vatya culture. It is in any case direct reflection and proof of a Vatya influence that is also suggested by the pottery of this settlement. To what extent this influence also involved a mingling of population groups cannot yet be established — as has already been noted in the foregoIt must also be borne in mind that this fairly closed circle of vessels with weapon representation is part of a new figurai style with novel stylistic traits This style made its appearance in the 15th —14th century B.C. and it is to be found over most parts of the Carpathian Basin. It would appear that sthis style was characteristic of a larger area, rather than of a specific population group during a given period.

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3 Л rim fragment — probably from a bowl — found at Tószeg and showing a stylized (human?) face representation between the ornamental grooves (Fig. 1. 3)

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4 is also a characteristic motif of this 'interregional style' depicting the human body plastically. There are no known analogies to this fragment from this area, and only the similar representations from Troy and Thermi can be quoted 2

8 For a summary, see Kovács 1975, 310-312; 1982a, 287-289; 1984, 380-385. 2

9 Kovács 1973, 16. 3

0 Bóna- Nováki 1982. 3

1 The reconstruction of the vessels shown in Fig. 5 were based on the most frequent late Vatya vessel types. 3

2 For a detailed survey, see Kovács 1973. 3

3 For a comprehensive review, see Kovács 1982b. 3

4 There is a surprisingly high number of vessels with wide grooved decoration on their rim among the unpublished old finds from the Füzesabony — Öregdomb settlement in the Hungarian National Museum. For possible parallels to this vessel type, cp. Mo^jolics 1962, PI. 2. 13 (Tószeg);. Banner

—Bóna-Márton 1957, Fig. 4. 9. (Tószeg); Kovács 1984, Pl. 67. 1 (Füzesabony).