Folia archeologica 45.
Viola T. Dobosi - István Gatter: Paleolit hegyikristály eszközök és tájékozódó fluid zárvány vizsgálatuk
NEOLITHIC: BURIALS 59 on settlements, the only difference being that they are smaller and miniature variants also occur. 2 0 The burials can be dated on the basis of the pottery from the burials and from the settlement. The coarse undecorated miniature vessel with a rounded body from grave B-3 was tempered with chaff. This is a fairly common form and could be part of any Neolithic assemblage (Fig. 1.1). Grave B-5 contained two vessels. One was decorated with an incised pattern encrusted with black (Fig. 2. 1 ). The interior was painted red. Both the vessel form and the ornamentation are common in the ALP, and owing to its general occurrence within the culture, it is unsuitable for a finer dating. The other vessel from this grave was undecorated (Fig. 2. 2). Its single distinctive feature was its oval mouth. In spite of other characteristic traits, it is nonetheless a 'classical' ALP form. Its manufacturing technique and form compares well to decorated wares from the settlement. The vessel from grave B-l 2 had remains of the organic temper and iron oxide on its surface (Fig. 3. I ). Although undecorated, its form is very characteristic. Its rounded lower part, high-set shoulder and constricted mouth are characteristic traits of the early (Szatmár II) forms of the ALP. 2 1 In dating the burials, the pottery from the Neolithic pits and the pottery found by the burials was also taken into consideration. The burials can be dated to the same age as the excavated settlement part. 2 2 The settlement was occupied in the early ALP phase and the burials too can be dated to this period. The grave goods also included stone implements. A broken shoe-last shaped stone axe was recovered from grave B-10. The axe was carefully polished, its edge is asymmetric. Traces of wear can be seen on its surface (Fig. 3. 2). Stone axes occur fairly frequently in Middle Neolithic burials, even though they are not too common in the Upper Tisza region. 2 3 A double-edged, retouched obsidian blade with triangular section was found in grave B-13 (Fig. 3. 3). Obsidian blades were rarely deposited in burials. 2 4 Remains of necklaces, beads scattered around the ribs, were found in four burials. Most beads were small and barrel or disc shaped. They were made from various raw materials, but only in the case of the necklace from grave B-13, whose beads were carved from limestone, could we determine the raw material used (Fig. 3. 3). The raw material of the other beads remains uncertain. The occurrence of stone beads has been noted also among more recent finds. 2 5 The grave goods from grave B-13 included Spondylus jewellery, three pendants, all carved from broken armrings. The fact that the broken armrings were re-used for manufacturing indicates the value attached to this raw material. Spondylus jewellery and personal or costume ornaments, so-called 'prestige items', are more common in the cemeteries of the western Linear Pottery cultures. 2 6 In the Upper Tisza region, Spondylus first appears commonly in the Middle Neolithic, 2 0 Kalicz-Makkay 1977, Tabelle 1; Domboróczki 1997, 22; Kalicz-Koós 1997, 30-31. Miniature vessels may have been specifically manufactured as funerary pottery, as at Vadna: cp. Korek 1957, 14-15. 2 1 Kalicz-Makkay, PI. 168. 1-3, PI. 65. 3. 2 2 The potter) finds from the refuse pits and other settlement features show considerably more early (Szatmár II) forms and ornamental patterns. 2 3 Kalicz-Makkay 1977, Tabelle 1. In contrast, stone axes were frequently deposited in graves of the western Linear Pottery cultures. Cp. Pavuk 1972, 48-55. 2 4 Not one single obsidian blade is mentioned in the chart of the then known ALP burials published by Kalicz-Makkay 1977, Tabelle 1. 2 5 Kalicz-Makkay 1977, Tabelle 1; Domboróczki 1997, 22; Kalicz-Koós 1997, 30-31. 2 6 Pavuk 1972,56-62.
