A Debreceni Déri Múzeum Évkönyve 1968 (Debrecen, 1970)

M. Nepper Ibolya: Some remarks concerning the use of tools in the Körös-Group Culture

M. Ibolya Nepper Some Remarks Concerning the Use of Tools in the Körös-Group Culture The author gives a survey of papers on the emergence of the culture known as the Körösgroup. She summarizes the main points expounded in the various papers, particularly the relative and internal chronology of this culture, the conclusions being based on the findings of investigations into economic ecclesiastical history. The author analyses the Körös-material preserved in the following museums

: Móra Ferenc Museum, Szeged, Tornyai János Museum, Hódmezővásárhely, Koszta József Museum, Szentes and groups the tools according to the material they are made of, viz. stone, clay and bone. The idea of a functional classification had to be abandoned owing to the multiplicity of aspects. The surprisingly great number of tools made of stone found during excavations of the culture is of considerable interest, notable sites in this respect being Perienj and Salcute, Romania. The nature of the tools found at these places raises the question whether the Körös-StarcevoCris group was formed under the influence of mesolithic tradition. Unfortunately no authentic findings relating to the Körös-culture have been found as yet. Sándor BökönyVs investigation of animal bones found in the Körös-area showed that goats and sheep were already used in Hungary as domestic animals. The domestic character of these animals provides a link connecting the neolithic Körös-culture with the previous ages. The population of this area came from the south and if their predecessors are to be found, they must, in all probability, be sought in the paleolithic and mesolithic sites of the south. The stone-tool collections in the above museums include the following inventory pieces: 134 rock-flints, 2 obsidian blades, 122 flint-flakes, 100 pieces of worked stone, 4 grindstones, 1 flywheel for making fire, 1 stone ball. Of the axes, 26 were found to be unclassifiable and 27 broken; moreover: 1. their total number is very great 2. the majority are last-shaped (13) or trapezoid (12) 3. the number of axes with a hole for the handle is surprisingly small (4); the fact that there are such specimens indicates a knowledge of drilling techniques 4. a number of axes show a transition between the last and trapezoid forms inasmuch as there is a relatively small difference between width and length and the form is flat 5. the 2 types of axe of the Körös-culture, similarly to those belonging to the Sesklo-culture can, with a fair degree of certainty, be said to have a common ancestor in the fist-stones, chased only on one side. The clay plummets found show the following formal and numerical distribution: tomatoshaped (300), cylindrical (200), truncated cone shaped (50). The disc-shape is also fairly frequent, although less numerous than the others. Occasionally the following shapes are also encountered: spindle, egg, mushroom, lemon, ball and pear. On some of them traces of paint can be seen. A short survey of the various views on the function of plummet is given. Awls and gimlets made of stone play an important part among the tools of this culture. This group contains 135 pieces. The author also treats the various hooks in greater detail. Finally the way of life practised by the people of this culture is reconstructed on the basis of the above findings. The author expounds her view that a kind of complex husbandry must be assumed. 109