Folia archeologica 53.

Alfréd Dulai: Late Palaeolithic Fossil Collectors: Small Piles of Molluscs at Szob (Börzsöny Mts, North-Hungary)

KOI.IA ARGIIAEOI.OGICA I.III. 2007. BUDAPESI LATE PALAEOLITHIC FOSSIL COLLECTORS: SMALL PILES OF MOLLUSCS AT SZOB (BÖRZSÖNY M TS, NORTH-HUNGARY) Alfréd DU LAI Fossils of Tertiary molluscs have been found frequently at the archaeological localities. V. Dobosi summarising the fossil remains of the I lungarian Palaeolithic sites mentioned gastropods, bivalves and scaphopods from Pilisszántó, Ságvár, Szob, Tarcal-Citrom-bánya, Pilismarót-Pál-rét, Mogyorósbánya and Esztergom.

1 From palaeontological point of view, in tire preliminary report of the Upper Palaeolithic site Pilismarót-Pál-rét E. Szabó determined 3 mollusc species, and he presumed Szob and Letkés, as possible source of the fossils.

2 From Verseg-Kertek alja I. Magyar mentioned 4 Miocene (mainly Sarmatian) molluscs and a worm tube without traces of manufacturing. The source of these species can be found about 10 km from the archaeological site on the surface.

3 From Esztergom-Gyurgyalag 8 fossil mollusc species were determined, seven of them represented only by some pieces, while Dentalium baderne was found in very large number. No traces of manufacturing were observed on these specimens, but 5 pieces wore drilling holes of predatory snails; in some cases the traces of regeneration after the mechanical injuries were also observed. The majority of the species are Middle Miocene (Badenian) in age, probably derived from Szob and Letkés localities at the other side of the Danube river. Two other species nowadays can be collected in the vicinity of Dömös, Pomáz and Leányfalu from Upper Oligocene sediments.

4 Szob - Ipoly-part is known for archaeologists from the 1930's when the Upper Palaeolithic campsite was discovered. One of the speciality of this archaeological site is the presence of small piles of fossil molluscs. Prehistoric people have collected the fossil gastropods, bivalves and scaphopods used as jewelleries or trinkets. Besides the piles a great quantity of other fossil molluscs were found scattered in the culture bearing layer, too. Most of I be studied material was collected by A. J. Horváth, M. Mottl and M. Gábori and are stored in the collection of the I lungarian National Museum, with the exception of 22 pieces, which are in the collection of the Geological and Palaeontological Department of the Hungarian Natural History Museum. The inventory numbers of these latter specimens were given in 1961 ; the name of the collector is missing on the labels but they were mentioned as presents of the Historical Museum, e. g. from the Hungarian National Museum. Horváth lias found some short-cut Dentalium and 2-3 dozens of Cerithium in upward pointed piles in 1937. Some ornamented specimens also occurred; at this case Horváth presumed to be selected by the prehistoric people. M. Mottl mentioned some piles with very diverse taxa (Fusus, Turritella, Area, Dentalium, Cassis, Natiea, Pirula, Venus and Cardita)? Later in the sixties Gábori M. has also found 1 DOBOSI 1985. • DOBOSI ET AI

.. 1983. ' MAGYAR 1991a. 1 MAGYAR 1991b. •"> MOTTL 1942.