Tálas László szerk.: The late neolithic of the Tisza region (1987)

The Late Neolithic of the Tisza region: A survey of recent archaeological research (N. Kalicz and P. Raczky)

A SURVEY OF RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH Neck-part oi a large face pot decorated with incised meander pattern. Hódmezővásárhely-Kökénydomb. Tisza culture. H: 47.2 cm [11] small figurines, and the ones recovered to date tend to be highly schematised. Flat, brick-shaped idols occur mostly within the Tisza distribution territory, and can be regarded as a heritage of the Alföld Linear Pottery. The few figurines of the Herpály culture betray a strong Vinca influence, as do the shield-shaped objects (sometimes termed mushroom amulets) carved from marble, rock crystal and alabaster. Similar forms, giving a highly stylized rendering of the human body, have only been recovered from the two southernmost Tisza sites: Csóka (BANNER 1960, PI. 30. 8, 11 and PI. 52. 32-34; CHAPMAN 1981, 71, 79, 120 and Figs 99-102), and Battonya (GOLDMAN 1984, Fig. 2). Vessels with a human figure incised on their outside or painted in their interior obviously had a cultic function. Human figures applied onto vessel walls, as well as painted, incised or applique swastikas can be assigned here. A zoomorphic footed vessel ornamented with the characteristic Vinca technique has come to light from the southernmost site of the Tisza culture (SZÉNÁSZKY 1978, 3-8 and Figs 1-3; GOLDMAN 1984, Fig. 24. 8). Cult paraphernalia include rattlevessels, the best known being the animal head terminalled specimen from Kökénydomb (BANNER 1930, PI. 33.1-3). Most Late Neolithic sites yielded a few animal figurines; however, the species of animal represented is often difficult to determine. The intermeshing of ritual and everyday life is indicated by the stylized animal heads and horns or bucrania found on vessels of common use. Ritual activities also pervaded the various work phases of house construction and internal furnishings. The former is indicated by the bull horns, antlers and dog skulls buried under floors and into post holes of Herpály houses. A similar ritual background can be assumed for the practice of depositing a polished stone axe under each corner and under the middle of the large storage bin plastered onto the floor of a houses excavated at Kökénydomb. These stone axes were perhaps endowed with apotropaic and protective properties to ward off evil spirits (BANNER-FOLTINY 1945,13, and PI. V. 1-4.6). A similar function can be suggested for the five stone axes in the ritual assemblage from one of the Vésztő houses (HEGEDŰS 1982, 185). A distinct group of foundation deposits could be observed at Herpály: infants buried into post holes and under floors (KALICZ-RACZKY 1984,134-135). There is abundant evidence for the burial practices of the Late Neolithic in the Tisza region as opposed, for example, to the Vinca culture in the south. A total of almost 400 graves have been excavated under controlled conditions. The relationship between graves and the corresponding settlement shows two distinct patterns. In the Tisza and Csőszhalom cultures the burials form small clusters within the settlement, whereas in the Herpály culture the burials found within the settlement are mostly of special or unusual type, with the 'real' graves lying outside the settlement boundary in small groups. This latter form in fact marks the separation of settlement and cemetery; practices indicative of a similar process have been noted on Tisza sites since the deceased were usually interred in the temporarily unoccupied parts of the settlement, suggesting that the deceased were thought to remain members of the community. The burial rites of the Late Neolithic show marked similarities throughout the Tisza region. Most conspicuous among these is the deposition of the dead in a contracted position, laid either on the left or the right side; however, no regularities perhaps indicating sex or rank have yet been detected. In the northern periphery of the Tisza territory and in the Csőszhalom culture the deceased were mostly laid in an extended position on their back. At the same time, burials in refuse pits have been reported from most sites. Neither could any uniformity be perceived in the orientation of graves, the most common being an east to west, or southeast to northwest orientation. Red ochre was extensively used in the burial rite, and was mostly sprinkled on the skull, the lower arm and the calves. Small lumps of ochre were sometimes deposited beside the deceased, occasionally in a small vessel. It would appear that with the exception of the face only the body parts not covered by the deceased's dress or funerary shroud were painted red. The use of a coffin-like wooden chest has been generally observed in the Tisza territory and, infrequently, in burials of the Herpály culture. The deceased were often wrapped in a rushwork mat. 23