A Herman Ottó Múzeum évkönyve 50. (2011)
RÉGÉSZET - KOÓS Judit: Ujabb adatok bronzkori agyagplasztikánkhoz
164 Koós Judit concentrating of the finds can be observable in the area of the middle course of River Dniester and the upper course of River Szeret, together with the eastern part of Carpathian Basin (METZNER-NEBELSICK 1998, 397, Abb. 27; V. SZABÓ 2002, 55). We can expect that they appear within Carpathian Basin in Transylvania, the eastern parts of Great Hungarian Plain, between the River Danube and Tisza, and the eastern foothills of the Alps. In C. Metzner-Nebelsick's opinion, the finds of the River Dnieper area show the clearest similarity to the pieces of Carpathian Basin according to the typological consideration. A possible typological evolution cannot be proved convincingly based on the published finds up to the present. Perhaps, it does not matter ( M ETZNERN EBELSICK 1998, 397). The doubtfulness is very much in connection with the chronological order of the zoomorphic figurines, too. The finds with zoomorphic depictions can be joined with settlements without exception, but there is few item with sure stratigraphical context. The prehistoric site of Visegrád-Lepence is one of the expectations, where the occurrence of these figurines is numerous (40 figurines and fragmentary). It is unusual both in Hungary and in Carpathian Basin. The figurines refer to the connection with the cult life ( G RÓH 1984, 53-66; G RÓH 1989, 11-42). Only in this well-known site of Piliny culture, there were zoomorphic figurines in such great quantities (NYÁRY 1909, Figs. 24, 21). In most cases, the reports are about only one figurine. A Slovakian site is almost contemporary with Visegrád-Lepence, and belongs to the exceptions. In the site of Hrcel/Gercsely, a pit of the Hallstatt culture was found during a rescue excavation. It was disturbed by a phenomenon of the Roman Imperial Age. From the undisturbed part of the pit, 17 zoomorphic figurines were come to light. The group of the finds was dated to HB-HC period on the basis of the accompanying ceramics ( K AMINSKÁ 1986, 66-72, Taf. I, 1-8, Taf. II. 1-4.) Visegrád-Lepence is an important site among the few accurately published sites, where the phenomena of Urnfield and Hallstatt culture separated well from each other ( G RÓH 1984; 1989; 2009). The separating of zoomorphic representations from the two cultures is unambiguous ( G RÓH 2009, 25). The author mentioned zoomorphic figurines from the right side of Danube Croatian site of Sotin (ILKIÓ 2006, 53-66), as parallel with the Hallstatt ones. He queried the exactness of comparing the zoomorphic figurines of Poroszló-Aponhát (PATAY 1976, 197, Abb. 3, 7-9) and Maroslekence/Lechinta de Mure? (POPESCU 1925, 342, PL 19, 4-7; HOREDT 1963, 527-534, Abb. 2, Abb. 6, 1-6) with the finds of Lepence and Sotin because of their different style ( G RÓH 2009, 30). Gróh brings up the issue that „according to the zoomorphic figurines the Danube was a dividing line in relation of the eastern type of zoomorphic depictions — Poroszló, Maroslekence —, and we have to separate the finds of Gáva culture from the finds of the Urnfield and Hallstatt culture" ( G RÓH 2009, 30). In his opinion, the zoomorphic figurines from the mountainous sites of the Kyjatice culture can connect with the latter one formally (Szilvásvárad-Töröksánc: PATEK 1973, 20. t. 6; D. MATUZ-NOVÁKI 2002, Abb. 110, 14; Miskolc-Rendezőpályaudvar: K EMENCZEI 1970, IV. t. 2; uő. 1984, Taf. LXXXIX, 6; Ózd, Dobó I. u. 4: KEMENCZEI 1984, Taf. LXXXIX, 13; Sajószentpéter-Vízmű: KEMENCZEI 1984, Taf. XCIV, 21). We agree with the observations of Dániel Gróh. The figurines, which were found eastward from the Danube, were made in different style. They are more massive and less realistic than the others. There are several published zoomorphic figurines of Gáva culture, which were not reviewed in this study (Prügy: KEMENCZEI 1984, CXXVII, 12; Baks-Temetőpart: V. SZABÓ 1996, Fig. 21; Doboz-Faluhely: V. SZABÓ 2002, Fig. 38, 28). Among the latest finds (Hernádvécse-Nagy rét, Site No. 2.; Pácin-Alharaszt: concerning the two sites see footnote 7.; Siret/Szeret: M ARE§LA SZL Ó-N ICULICÁI GNAT 2008, Fig. 1-7; Porumbenii Mari/Nagygalambfalva-Várfele: NAGY-KŐRÖSFŐI 2010, Fig. 1/2), the assemblage of Hernádvécse and Pácin has been under working up, thus the circumstances of findings are unknown so far. In the end of late Bronze Age and in the beginning of early Iron Age, the function and importance of the clay zoomorphic figurines were not only for toy or decoration. More and more data have proved that these figurines can be connected to the sacral, ritual sphere ( G RÓH 2009, 29-31: The 40 figurines of the site also confirm the cultic function). They are usually found in the surroundings of sacrificial places,
