Janus Pannonius Múzeum Évkönyve 43 (1998)( Pécs, 1999)

Régészet - Schléder, Zsolt–T. Biró, Katalin. Petroarchaeological studies on polished stone artifacts from Baranya county, Hungary

82 A JANUS PANNONIUS MÚZEUM ÉVKÖNYVE 4142 (1996-97) found in Graz-basin, Burgenland, Little Hungarian Plain, Balaton Highlands, Nógrád-Gömör Unit, Persány Unit and the Bánát region. Trace element freqency of the above mentioned basalts compared to our samples are shown in Figs. 2-6. In spite of the fact that the analyses were made on basalts classified by microscopy as different types and coming from different archaeological localities both in geographical respect and chronological period, the shapes of three curves (samples 4, 9,17) are very similar (Fig. 2). Light trace elements are enriched related to heavy trace elements. Based on our data, our samples are most similar to the basalts of Little Hungarian Plain (Fig. 3.), however, they are fairly similar to basalts from other parts (Bánát, Balaton Highlands, Nógrád-Gömör Unit, Figs. 4-6) of the Pannonian-basin as well, therefore their origin cannot be unambiguously attributed to source region as yet. Mineral chemistry of the rock-forming minerals in the samples studied Investigations were done by EMA. Chemical composition of olivine and pyroxene phenocrysts (samples 4 and 17) were determined. All measurments were carried out three times, the average of the measured values are given in Table 4. Chemical composition of zoned pyroxene phenocrysts and pyroxenes of groundmass (samples 4 and 17) was also determined (Table 5). Mineral chemistry data do not necessarily imply provenace of the basaltic stone tools supposed (Little Hungarian Plain) by trace element frequency. Supposed provenance of raw materials On the basis of petrographical studies, mineral chemistry and trace elment content, taking into account the geological setting of the Pannonian-basin and neighbouring areas as well, we tried to determine the provenance of the tools' raw material for the different rock types (Fig. 8). Tephrites (samples 2, 3,8 and 13) Petrographical characteristics of stone tools made of tephrite are very similar to Lower Cretaceous tephrites occuring in the Eastern Mecsek Mountains. These rocks are well known since the following references MAURITZ (1913), HARANGI, ÁRVA, Sós (1993). Diagnostic features of this rock type: large pyroxenes (1-1.5 mm) edged by kaersutite, calcite and chlorite pseudomoiphs after olivine, presence of analcime. As the archaeological site is not far from the tephrite occurrence, the high ratio of tools made of this rock is evident. Tools made of tephrite are also frequent in archéologie findings farther from the Eastern Mecsek Mountains, in Tolna county (NIKL 1998).Tephrites are fairly special rocks: further occurrences are not known to us within the Carpathian Basin. Andésite (sample 14) Andésite is a very common rock occurring in wide areas within the Carpathian Basin. Considering geographical endowments, the most likely candidate for a possible origin is the Miocene conglomerate widespread on the surface north of Magyaregregy. Comparative material was collected in the frame of a field trip in 1997. Analysis of the comparative samples is in progress. Basalts (samples 4, 9,10,16 and 17) Based on trace element investigations, the three groups of basalts separated on the basis of different petrographical caracteristics may have the same origin. Microscopic features can be strongly varying even within the same volcanic sequence, differentiation based on mineral composition and texture alone is not adequate for the determination of the source. The shape of trace element curves of our samples compared to that of young basalts appearing in the Pannonian-basin show the greatest similarity with basalts from Little Hungarian Plain, Balaton Highland. Ce-Ce/Yb diagram (Fig. 7) does not question the supposed origin. Mineral chemistry, however, does not unambiguously support this assumption. Moreover, clinopyroxene with aegirinaugitic core characteristic only for basalts of Nógrád-Gömör Unit (DOBOSI 1989) was found in sample 17 indicating more distant origin. All we can conclude is that basaltic rocks do not originate from Mecsek Mountains (different petrographical features, see e.g. MAURITZ 1913, HARANGI, ÁRVA, Sós 1993). The closest basalt occurences to be taken into account as provenance are the following ones: Balaton Highlands, Little Hungarian Plain, Graz-basin, Nógrád-Gömör Unit and the Bánát region. It is also worth noticing that the Lengyel and Baden (Pécel) cultures covers the following basalt occurences: Little Hungarian Plain, Balaton Highland and NógrádGömör Unit (KAUCZ 1980). Basalt axe workshop planted