Csengeri Piroska - Tóth Arnold (szerk.): A Herman Ottó Múzeum évkönyve 54. (Miskolc, 2015)
Régészet - L. Hajdú Melinda: Késő neolitikus település Tiszatardosról (Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén megye)
96 L. Hajdií Melinda Cups with wide-banded black paintings as well as fragments of pots also testify to the influence of this culture. On the more delicate vessels the patterns of black painting show the following variety. On some vessels (cups, bowls, pedestalled bowls) rhomboid (Fig 2, Fig 15.1/5) and zigzag {Fig. 12. 3, Fig. 14. 2, Fig. 15. Ill/2) patterns are observed; these were also generally recorded in the assemblages of other northern Late Neolithic settlements (Aszód-Papi földek, Bodrogkeresztúr- Kossuth u. 185., Bodrogkeresztúr-Kutyasor, Kenézlő-Fazekaszug). In addition to these, special ornamental patterns are also present, whose analogies are found in the Polgár-Csőszhalom assemblage (SEBOK 2007, Fig. 15, 18, 20, Fig. 3. 19—20; SEBŐK et al. 2013, 35, Fig. 6/2, Fig. 7/8, Fig. 8/4, 6, Fig. 9, Fig. 10/1—4, 8, 11, and personal communication of K. Sebők). The following decorative elements are especially interesting: “stretched X” (Fig. 2. 3, Fig. 15. 1/3), geometric forms (Fig. 2. 4, Fig. 15. 1/4), stair-shape (Fig 14. 1, Fig 15. 111/1) and “toothed triangle” (Fig 3, Fig. 15. 11/1—3). In some cases, the bowl’s surface was divided into sections by black stripes, which was also used to emphasize the ornamental knob (Fig. 2. 6, Fig. 15. 1/6). Two fragments (of a cup with shifting cross-section) feature black coating (probably birch tar) combined with traces of red and white paint (Fig. 2. 7). The rhomboid pattern on one of the vessels suggests that it was created from chopped straw pieces embedded in tar. Pastose red paint may be traced back to Middle Neolithic (Szakálhát Culture) traditions and constitutes a typical type of ornamentation in the early Tisza Culture (KALICZ 2006,147). Similar pots were unearthed at early Tisza sites in the southern part of the Great Hungarian Plain (Szegvár-Tűzköves: KOREK 1987, 55, Fig. 6—7; Öcsöd-Kováshalom: RACZKY 1987, 76, Fig. 8—9) as well as at Polgár-Csőszhalom in great numbers (SEBŐK 2007, Fig. 6. 11; SEBŐK et al. 2013, Fig. 12. 4-5). A small, globular cup has traces of red and white pastose paint are seen on its internal surface (Fig 13. 2) which may reflect to the survival of Middle Neolithic (Szakálhát Culture) tradition (but without white paint there). The presence of this painting type raises number of questions connected to its characteristics and chronology which could be answered only by further research made on the site. However, the ornamentation patterns are not completely visible in our case and so no certain statement can be formulated for the Tiszatardos cup. The Tiszatardos pit also yielded miniature vessels (Fig 12) but their precise provenance is unknown, and therefore, their function is uncertain. A well-preserved, almost intact, worked bone comb decorated with incisions is worth to mention among the finds. This object type of everyday use had not been recorded in this region before, although similar combs were brought to light in the southern region of the Great Hungarian Plain, at Öcsöd-Kováshalom (RACZKY 1987, Fig. 25. 3—5) and Vésztő- Mágor (HEGEDŰS—MAKKAY 1987, Fig. 27—28). These latter objects, however, were created by a different technique and were ornamented differently. Spindle whorls, bone tools (awl, peg, bone point, hackle /?/), chipped stone tools and chips, and grinding stone fragments are also present in the assemblage (Fig. 16). A short discussion shall be dedicated to the possible functions of the pit. According to the archaeologist who led the excavation, the pit was of considerable size, something also supported by the amount of finds brought to light from it (822 fragments). It may be hypothesized that it was primarily used for clay extraction and was later turned into a garbage pit. This is the only settlement feature about which there is information available. This is certainly not enough to draw any conclusion regarding the whole Late Neolithic settlement or its structure. The typological analysis of the pottery reveals that the forms and ornaments are mostly associated with the Tisza pottery style but probably represent a local variant. Influence of the Herpály and Samborzec-Opatów cultures was observed. Of other Late Neolithic settlements in this northern zone, the Tiszatardos pit is closest to the findings of Polgár- Csőszhalom-dűlő, where the impact of these latter cultures was similarly perceptible (RACZKY et. al. 2002, 841-843; SEBŐK 2007, 97, 113). Based on the stylistic features of the pottery, the Tiszatardos pit may have been used during the Tisza I/II, Herpály I, Lengyel I cultural phases, contemporaneously with the first phase of the Csőszhalom tell. However, as radiocarbon dates are not available, an absolute chronology proves impossible to establish. [Translated by Kyra LyublyanovicS] L. Hajdú, Melinda
