Folia archeologica 47.
Hargita Oravecz: Középső újkőkori temetkezések Tiszaföldváron
56 HARGITA ORAVECZ Grave pits. Compared to the number of graves, the form of grave pits is fairly varied: oval, trapeze and rectangular ones. Oval graves, occurring in two version at Tiszafüred (contracted over the head and on one side, respectively) are most typical in the Middle Neolithic. Trapeze form grave pit was deepened only for one dead person.. The pit was wider at the head of the corpse, its length hardly exceeded 90 cms. There are only two parallels known so far from the Szakáihát context 1 1 . Two dead persons were placed in regular rectangular pits with rounded corners. Such pits are known in a low number from the Tisza region. Their dating to Middle Neolithic period is justified on the basis of the grave goods with good certainty 1 2. Position in the grave. All the deceased were laid on their left siae, in contracted position. Hands were placed either in front of the face or at the waist, bent in right angle. Orientation. The dead were placed with their head pointing to SE, oriented SENW. At most of the LBC burials in the Tisza region, this type of orientation could be observed. According to existing experiences, the communities departed from this principle only in exceptional cases. Body painting. Corpses painted or sprinkled with red ochre were observed in two graves. In both cases, the complete body was covered by the paint matter. Painting the dead is not a permanent element of LBC burials. It was observed in about one tenth of the known burials of this culture. IV. Grave goods, trinkets Two of the six graves did not contain such finds. As these graves were undisturbed, the lack of finds cannot be considered accidental. The other four graves did contain some trinkets or other grave goods. Fig. 7. gives an overview of the Middle Neolithic burials in the Tisza region in function of age, gender and presence/absence ofgrave goods. Pottery. Pottery finds were observed in one grave only. The fragments could be completed to a storage vessel of 8-10 volume 1 3. The pottery finds found in the graves of the ALBC culture generally do not differ much from regular household vessels. Some of them were, however, made for the purpose of ceremony like miniature vessels, paint holders (with pedestal) or vessels which were suitable only to hold provisions for the Other World, used for the ceremony of the burial. Generally speaking, pottery is one of the most typical type of grave goods in the Middle Neolithic. In 45 cases (54% of total nr. of graves with grave goods) some pottery was given to the deceased. Most typically, 1-2 pieces are put in the grave, more (3-4 pieces or 6) are found only rarely 1 4. Graves which are seemingly more rich than the average receive more pottery and they are often combined with other grave goods. Lumps of ochre. Beside one of the deceased, lumps of yellow ochre were placed. There were no traces of painting on the skeleton, so probably the lumps of paint were placed beside the dead intentionally. Ochre lumps were found as grave goods altogether in 3 Alföld LBC burials. Of these, two graves contained more and more valuable grave goods than the average 1 4. Trinkets. Two types of trinkets were found in the graves containing some grave goods: necklaces and belt ornaments, belonging to the garment of the deceased. 1 1 Grave 2. Of Baradla cave. Korek 1970,5; Grave 3. Csanytelek-Újhalastó. Hegedűs 1982-83/1, 24.; Grave 254. Kompolt-Kistér. Bánffy-Gogoltan-Horváth-Vaday 1999, 123. 1 2 The quality of the latter vessels was so poor that they turned to morsels during uptaking the finds. 1 3 At Vaana, 6 vessels. Korek 1957, 15; at Aggtelek, 4 vessels Korek 1970, 7; at MályinKa, 3 vessels. Korek 1957,16; at Tiszavasvári-Paptelekhát, also 3 vessels. Kalicz-Makkay 1977, Tabelle 1. 1 4 Tiszavasvári-Paptelekhát, grave 10. Kalicz-Makkay 1977, Tabelle 1.; Csanytelek-Újhalastó, grave 136. Hegedűs 1982-83/1, 28-32.
