Alba Regia. Annales Musei Stephani Regis. – Alba Regia. A Szent István Király Múzeum Évkönyve. 34. 2004 – Szent István Király Múzeum közleményei: C sorozat (2005)
Tanulmányok – Abhandlungen - Bartosiewicz, László: Skull fragment of a late neolithic auroch (Bos primigenius Bojanus 1827) from Mórágy–Tűzkődomb (Tolna county, western Hungary. XXXIV. p. 41–44. T. I–III.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The horned neurocranium fragment of a large late neolithic aurochs bull recovered at the site of MórágyTűzkődomb (Tolna County, Western Hungary) belonged to a relatively large, adult individual. From a zoological point of view, this find is of special significance, since late neolithic aurochs horn cores are known almost exclusively from the Great Hungarian Plain (Eastern Hungary), especially the site of Berettyóúj falu-Herpály. 6 Although skull and horn dimensions of aurochs did not significantly decrease during the Holocene period in the Carpathian Basin, the specimen discussed in this paper was larger than the average of mesolithic/neolithic aurochs bulls in the Carpathian Basin. In spite of the lack of formal statistical significance (p<0.05), however, it is possible that increasingly isolated aurochs populations gradually deteriorated prior to their extinction (Grigson 1969). Unfortunately, neither the rate of "decline", nor a measure of "deterioration" have been reliably determined. However, should any size decrease have taken place, the dimensions of this relatively late neolithic specimen would look even more impressive. As for the cultural interpretation of this find, there is no doubt that the precious "trophy" was severed from the rest of the skull and retained for a special purpose. The symbolic meanings of such a display may have been manifold, although bulls have been most commonly associated with power, male prowess and danger throughout cultural history. This may have been especially the case with a fierce wild animal. As for the selection of the body part, based on the principle of "pars pro toto", displaying the Kopßewaffnung of powerful animals (horns, antlers, canine teeth etc.) has been a preferred medium for transmitting stern social/religious messages throughout human history. 7 In fact, dog skulls were also found in what looks like a ritual context at the settlement of Mórágy-Tűzkődomb. 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks are due to the excavator Dr. István Zalai-Gaál who provided basic archaeological information for the interpretation of this find. Pictures in Figure 2 were photographed by Tibor Kádas. Writing this report was supported by Grant OTKA T047228. 1 Bartosiewicz 1999. e. g. Bartosiewicz 2001; Choyke 2005. Bartosiewicz 1994. 43
