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

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

• 58 ZS. ZOFFMANN In the Carpatian basin the apparent directions oif sunrise (sundown) show a maximal oscillation of 72 degrees. Given the eventual inexactitudes of the orientation of the contracted skeletons, we suggest that (the graves are orientated in the maim directions E

—W or W

—E, according to the apparent sunrise or sundown.

20 At Viliáinylkövesd we find thus two main orientations: E

—W and W

—E; in the first case «the skeletons lying consistently on their left •aide, and in the second on their right. As to the Zengőváríkony cemetery, the disposal Of the bunried on their right side is linked with a SW—-NE and NW-^SE orientation, while in NE—SW, E—W and SE—

NW orientation the skeletons are lying on their left. We may conclude from this fact, together with the minimal divergence in orientation of the skeleton's shown in the unpublished sketch of the cemetery, that this site neither has no more than two orientations.

21 According to the publication by M. Wosioszlky »a strict consistency« ruled at Lengyel: the skeletons of the »Eastern group« were orientated S—'-N and lay on their right side, while those in the ^South-eastern group« were orientated E

—W and lay on their left side.

22 As a final conclusion we may state that in the cemeteries of the Lengyel culture, so far 20 The direction of sunrise covers exactly the geographical E

—W line only at the spring and autumn aequinactia (21 March, 23 September). Between the 21st March and the 23rd September the sun rises to the north of the E

—W direction, between the 23rd September and the 21st March to the south of the same. The apparent place of the sunset is reverse. The theory of orientation of the graves in the direction of the apparent sunrise and sundown was first exposed by Zs. Csalog alt the Hungarian Academy of Sciences on the 17 th March 1965. I wish to express my thanks to the author kindly allowing its use. 21 Publishing the material, J. Doimbay distinguished nine kinds of orientation (Dombay 1960. 196.), this seeims to be unjustified according to our view. 22 Wosinszky 1889. 331. 23 Only two graves were orientated N—S, the skeletons lying on their left side. (Graves 33,227.) It may be explained by a simple adoption of different rite. unearthed three orientations are found: E

—W with skeletons lying on their left side and W

—E or •S—'-N with skeletons lying on their right side.

23 Wihereas at Lengyel the two kinds of orientation and disposal of skeletons are sharply differentiated according to the two cemetery groups, in the other three cemeteries both orientations mlay occur side by side, inside the same cemetery group. In the six exactly defined graves at Pécsvárad—Aranyhegy two skeletons were lying on their right side. At Zengőváríkony the 32 skeletons lying on their right side are spread unevenly over the cemetery groups. It should be mentioned that such graves are mislsiiing in the cemetery groups in wihioh the rite of severing the skulls is practised.

24 Since the excavation were but partial and our knowledge of the groups with mixed rite is still imperfect, it is hard to reach definite conclusions. In the groups 8a and XI wihioh are completely uncovered, the proportion between the rites is uneven. J. Bombay identified the sex of the burned mainly on the basis of archaeological data and thus was unable to give allways exact definitions. Neí:utihe,

r can we hope to get an adequate answer to our problem from the fragmentary anthropological «material he secured.

25 But even so we may state that the graves orientated W

—E contain both skeletons .of adults (male and female according to J. Dombay) and those of Children. In all the graves the archaeological miaterlial was rather uniform. In the light of present investigation two major problems conseming the Lengyel culture are as yet unanswered: the existence and the simultaneous practice of the two different burial rites.

26 24 Group Villa in an exception ; the defect in the skull observed in a single case may be the result of later disturbing. 25 Of the anthropological material of the uncovered 368 graves only the material of 56 could be saved, or in whole or in part. Janus Pannonius Museum, Pécs. Inv. No. 54.1—54.60. 20 I wish to express my thanks to G. Bandi for the kindness reading my manuscript.