Kisné Cseh Julianna – Kemecsi Lajos szerk.: Komárom – Esztergom Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei 7. (Tata, 2000)

Vicze Magdolna: The symbolic meaning of Urn 715

in all spheres of life as well. It should be kept in mind that, although the symbiosis between the people of the two cultural complexes must have been peaceful, on a daily level they had to live together in a situation where two very different traditions were at work. The local Nagyrév population group had their well formed economic and social structures suiting the sedentary life already lived for a hundred or more years on tell settlements.

69 On the other hand very little is known about the economic and social background of the Kisapostag community. That much is certain that the basis of their economy was not that of a settled agriculturist society, they lived on open, hamlet like settlements, with half sunken houses.

70 People living on the Koziderpadlás at this time had to face and cope with constant interaction between these two diverse traditions. Grave 715 is one of the archaeologically visible answers to these challenges. The significance of this burial is additionally stressed by its uniqueness. Until now only one more early Vatya pot - also from Dunaújváros - is known with Nagyrév incised decoration.

71 The find circumstances are unfortunately not known, but nevertheless the message that vessel is communicating (on the very superficial level we are able to comprehend) is different from that of urn 715. The 715 urn, in itself and together with its grave-goods, symbolises an inevitable symbiosis. Whereas the producer of the other vessel wanted to emphasise a Nagyrév identity and ancestry, depicting a very complex Nagyrév „pictogram"

72 and an archaic Nagyrév pottery tradition, i.e. the step-like handle (in use during the Early Nagyrév phase only). The transformation of the two Early Bronze Age societies into that of the Vatya seems - from several millennia away - so straightforward and easy to understand. However it must have been a very difficult time to live in, therefore I think the 715 burial complex can be considered as a political statement. A political statement, which wants most probably to communicate that, a peaceful unity is the only fortuitous way. The complexity of this transformation is may be expressed by the length and the diverse pottery tradition of the Vatya I phase.

73 The purity and simplicity of the potters' tradition during the 69 BONA 1991; 1992. 70 BÁNDI1967; HONTI and KISS 1996. 71 PATAY 1938, PI. 4. 3; SCHREIBER 1984, Fig. 10. 72 SCHREIBER 1984. 73 BONA 1975, 31-51; VICZE 2001, Vatya I. Chapter. 126