Janus Pannonius Múzeum Évkönyve (1965) (Pécs, 1966)

Régészet - Zoffmann, Zs.: Data to the Burial Rites of the Lengyel Culture

DATES TO THE BURIAL RITES OF THE LENGYEL CULTURE ZS. ZOFFMANN Up to 1965 four cemeteries of the Lengyel culture have been unearthed and published from Southern Trans danuhia. In 1882 and 1888 excavations were executed by M. Wosinszky at Lengyel .(Tolnia county).

1 Two separated groups of graves have been uncovered, the »Eastern group«, consisting of about 80 graves, and the »iSouth-eaterai group« of 47.

2 In 1942, 8 graves have been unearthed by J. Donibay at Pécsvárad-Aranyhegy.

3 In 1957 test excavation was made equally by J. Bombay at Vilánykövesd, resultung in the discovery of 28 graves of the Lengyel culture.

4 The most extensive excavations were executed at Zengőváitfkomy. From 1934 to 1944 388 graves were uncovered by J. Damlhay, which he divided into 24 cementery groups, i. e. sub groups.

5 (Table I.) The aim of the archaeologist being the excavation of the Whole settlement, the cemetery itself was not completely unearthed by him.

G Moreover the site was strongly eroded, suggesting that many graves must have perished.

7 These factors may explain why some groups in the cementery are represented only by 1 to 10 graves. According to the data of J. Doim1 Wosinszky, M., Das prähistorische Schanzwerk von Lengyel, seine Erbauer und Bewohner. I

—III. (Bp. 1888—1892); Wosinszky, M., Lengyeli ásatások 1888-ban (Excavations at Lengyel in 1888). Arch. Ert. 1889. 331—335. (In the following Wosinsziky 1889.) 2 Wosinszky 1889. 331. 3 Dombay, J., Kőrézkori és koravaskori település nyomai a pécsváradi Aranyhegyen. (Traces of an Aenieoüthic and Early Iron Settlement an Pécstvánad—Aranyhegy). JPMÉ 1958 53—96. (In the following Domibay 1958.) 4 Dombay, J., Próibaáisatás a villánykövesdi kőrézkori lakótelepen. (Test Excavation in the Aeneoiliitihic Dwelling Place at Villánykövesd). JPMÉ 1959 55—70. (In the following Dombay 1959.) 5 Dombay, J., The Prehistoric Settlement and Cemetery at Zenglővárkony. Arch.Hung. 23 (Bp. 1939); Dombay, J., Die Siedlung und das Gräberfeld in Zengővárlkony. Areh.Hung. 37 (Bp. 1960). (In the following Dombay 1960.) fi Dombay 1960. 149—194. 7 Dombay 1960. 194. bay, only the groups 6a, Vic, VId .and XI have been unearthed entirely.

8 As the mentioned excavations were partly test excavations (Villánykövesd, PécsiváradAranybegy), and partly undertaken in areas much worn off by agriculture and erosion (Zeingővárkoiny), no cemetery may be considered as entirely uncovered. Nevertheless the large number of grieves unearthed at Zengővárlkony and the exact observations on the site of the excavation at Villánykövesd may permit a tentative reconstruction of the burial rites of this culture. TabZe I The division of the graves into cemetery groups at Zengővárkoiny Cemetery groups Number of uncovered as marked by J. Dombay graves I. la 3 I. 2b 1 II. 3 1 II. 4b 12 II. 5a 4 6a 17 IV. 7 2 V. 8 14 9b 3 VI .a 15 Vl.b 10 VI.c 51 Vl.d 53 VII. 1 VHI.a 9 Vlll.b 9 IX.a 6 IX.b 62 X17 XI. 30 XII. 10 XIII. 24 XlV.a 6 XlV.b 8 8 Dombay 1960, 197.