Folia archeologica 45.

Viola T. Dobosi - István Gatter: Paleolit hegyikristály eszközök és tájékozódó fluid zárvány vizsgálatuk

FOLIA ARCIIAEOLOGICAXLV. 1996. BUDAPEST NEOLITHIC BURIALS AT TISZALÚC-SARKAD DATA TO THE BURIAL PRACTICES OF THE ALFÖLD LINEAR POTTERY CULTURE 1 largita ORAVECZ The Tiszalúc-Sarkad locality lies on an elevation rising beside the Sarkad creek west of the community, (Fig. 1). The site was investigated by Pál Patay between 1974 and 1990. During bis excavation of the settlement of the Copper Age Hunyadihalom culture,

1 he also uncovered a number of Neolithic refuse pits and burials.

2 Fhe topographic investigation of the site revealed an extensive surface scatter of Neolithic finds, most likelv the remains of a Neolithic settlement, over a roughly 1 -1.2 ha large area to the north and northwest of the Copper Age settlement. A total of nine burials were uncovered (Fig. 2). The burials and their grave goods, as well as the pottery finds in their environment can be dated to the Alföld Linear Potteiy Culture (ALP) of the Middle Neolithic.

3 The pottery shows early (Szatmár II) ALP traditions. This study will focus on the Neolithic burials, and on possible relations with other Middle Neolithic burials in the Upper Tisza region. Grave B-3 (Fig. 1). The contours of the feature (a pit or a regular grave pit) could not be observed. The skeleton was covered with a debris of potteiy and stones. The deceased was laid on its left side in a contracted position, with the hands drawn up in front of the face. The burial was northeast-southwest oriented, fhe remains of a string of beads was scattered around the forehead and the elbows. A coarse and undecorated miniature vessel was found beside the knees. However, it is doubtful whether the other pottery fragments found nearby were also part of the grave inventory. The skeleton was defined as an adult, without more precise data as to gender and age.

4 Grave B-4 (Fig. 2). The dark patch outlining the grave pit was oval. The disturbed burial contained an adult skeleton. The right thigh bone and shinbone were found in their original position, indicating that the cleceased had been laid to rest on its right side in a contracted position, with a northeast to southwest orientation. There is no mention of grave goods. The incomplete skeletal remains were unsuitable for anthropological examination. 1 Patay 1987, 89-120; 1995, 105-111. • I would here like to thank Mr. Pál Patay for his kind permission to publish the finds, and for helpful comments. ' A study on the pottery finds from the Neolithic settlement is currently under preparation. 4 It is unknown where the skeletal remains from this grave are housed.