Achaeometrical Research in Hungary II., 1988

ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY - Gábor ILON: Celtic period fortifitations and an experiment to reconstruct the rampart - Gór (Vas county)

We did not calculate the quantity of wood required by the construction of the balustrade that probably stood on the rampart. The existence of a timber balustrade was only concluded from the evidence of two pits in the western cross-section in sections E-l-3 (Fig. 5). The aforementioned data explicitly illustrate the monumental size of this fortification. At the same time, it is totally unknown, how the sliding of earth (from the hill and towards the settlement) from this timber construction was prevented. Perhaps it was supported by a wickerwork. Dating I

st period

: the Celtic period prior to the construction of the fortification. The vessel decorated on its inner surface, found in the pit ("a") that had possibly belonged (?) to the house under the rampart (section С 1-2) could be restored (Table I.A).

10 Its analogues: the similar dish from the warrior's grave no. 768 at Franzhausen is dated, in a broad sense, to the LT period similarly to another specimen from pit 152 at Sopron-Krautacker (NEUGEBAUER 1996: 384, Abb 11.9; KATALOG 1981-1982: 24). Dishes from Fertödmedgyes (Mörbisch), Oka (Oggau), Győrújszállás, Beled, Alcsút and Kiskamond, that is the Hunyady I. dish types 1-3 (or rather 1-2) should also be considered. They are dated to LT B2-C1 (the interface between early and middle LT, the beginning of the latter dating to 280/260 ВС prior to the Balkan invasion (?), HUNYADI 1942: Tab. LVII.1-2, LIX.5, LVII.5, LVII.6-7, LVII.3, LVII.8-9, 1944: 127-129, Fig. 14 1-3, HUNYADI 1957: Beled: 1-2, Győrúj szállás: 4-7, MITHAY 1966: 65-66, Fig. 24. SZABÓ 1994: 4547). Our dish seems to be more characteristic of the LT B2 period. It may be accepted as the appearance of the Celts at Gór, which, in the absence of metal finds and the complete analysis of the find material cannot be dated more precisely (UZSOKI 1987: 36, 39, 41, HORVÁTH 1987: 63).

n The decoration on the inner side of the dish is almost identical to that of another specimen from Győrúj szállás. The one found at Sopron-Bécsidomb is also very similar, as well as the dish from Grave 12, dated to the LT В at Kleine Hutweide and the (disintegrated) pattern of the dish from Grave 27 at Guntramsdorf (HUNYADI 1942: Tab. LVII.6, LIX.4. and HUNYADI 1944: 128, Tab. LIX.2. a sketch of the decoration was published by MÁRTON 1934: 107, Tab. XXXVI. 1. NEBEHAY 1973: 13, Tab. IX.l. URBAN et.al. 1985: 46, Fig. 38. 5). The grape motive on the inner surface of a dish from Komjáti (Komjatice, Slovakia; LT B-C), is also very similar. The decoration on the dish from grave 37/2 at Diirnberg is practically identical to our specimen, while the pattern on the dish from Grave 16/2 can also be considered identical (SCHWAPPACH 1975: 112-113, Tab. III.3, XIV.2, XXI.7). The result of the analysis of a piece of charcoal, removed from an accumulation of daub on Surface I, may perhaps also be attributed to the period of occupation: it points either to the period directly preceding the construction of the rampart (contemporary to the house under the rampart) or the decades around the constructions of the rampart. The radiocarbon date obtained was as follows: Deb-1689: 2280 (BP) +/- 60 = (1 sigma) 402-212 cal ВС Wheel-thrown, greyish black, burnished. The bottom is complete. The inside is decorated with a stamped grape ornament. Height: 11 cm, greatest diameter: 22.5 cm, bottom diameter: 6.5 cm. Inv.No. Gór 92.55.1. A possinble dating to the Roman period is not contradicted either by Grave 16 and 18 at Ménfő-csanak or cemeteries in Zala county. 233