Folia archeologica 49-50.
Kovács Tibor: A múltat idézve, előre tekintve emlékezzünk! 200 éves a Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum
22 VIOLA T. DOBOSI Associated fauna: The leading element of the fauna on the site is Mammuthus primigenius. The inhabitants of the Tata settlement specialised on the hunting of mammoth calves. Accessory elements of the fauna were species common in midmountain environment (Canis spelaeus, Ursus priscus, Crocotta spelea ) as well as the plains (steppe) (Asinus hydruntinus, Coelodonta, Bison). Archaeological finds: Middle Palaeolithic industry based mainly on silex pebbles. Among the approximately 3000 tools, the ratio of scrapers exceeds 60%. They are carefully worked arched or angular, double, sometimes even triple scrapers. The ratio of bifacial working approximated 40%. Large series of fabrication debris, flakes and corticated flakes typical for pebble-industries were found. Average length of the tools is 31 mm, and this is the greatest enigma of Tata-site. So far we have not found any larger tools, made of bone, stone or charred wood known from some other sites of the same period which could explain the contradiction between the dimensions of the tools and the booty. This contradiction is attestable on all pebble-using sites of the Hungarian Palaeolithic, in Lower, Middle and Upper Palaeolithic period equally. ISTÁLLÓSKŐ CAVE Chronology: Middle Würm interstadial (Hengelo?). Among the two Aurignacian levels found in the cave the younger cultural layer (typical Aurignacian was dated by 14-C method for 30 900 ka B.C., and the lower cultural layer was estimated for > 35-36 000 year. The bone stab was found in the lower cultural layer. Settlement: large cave opening at 535 m a.s.l. in mid-mountain environment. During the archaeological and historical periods the cave was inhabited several times and for longer periods. The two main levels of the Pleistocene cave sediments represent the two main levels of the Aurignacian culture, which is at the same time the most important settlement of this culture in Hungary. On the basis of the horizontal and vertical distribution of the faunistical material and the analysis of the fauna according to body regions the cave must have been a summer-autumn huning camp during the first settlement horizon, supported by an asymmetrical inventory of the archaeological material (many arms/points, few tools). In the younger layer, the habitation was occupied for longer time; this is supported by the large hearth surrounded by blocks of stone indicating a continuously inhabited home base camp site, where butchering and deposition of animal hide also took place. 1 2 Description, anatomical position and technology of production: Inv. nr. Pb 50/66 Smaller and bigger fragments of a bone sta b (?) made of polished mammoth tusk . (Fig.3.). Size: minimum 30 cm, the original length of the object is very difficult to estimate. Diameter: 15 mm. Fragments with intact surface are slightly bent, the arch do not reach the natural curvature of the tusk, i.e., the tusk was straightened. The cross section of the pieces is slightly profiles cylindrical. The object attained a dark grey/black patina. Disintegreted partly along the laminae of the tusk structure, partly broken. Some pieces are missing, thus the complete object cannot be reconstructed. Function: unknown. Its estimated as well as measured dimensions and the fragile raw material exclude its possible application as arms or tool. Its preparation 1 2 Vörös 1984
