A Nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyve 37-38. - 1995-1996 (Nyíregyháza, 1997)

Régészet - Josyp Kobal’: Preliminary report on the results of archaeological research on the multi-level fortified settlement of „Chitattia” (near Solotvino/Aknaszlatina, Transcarpathian region, Ukraine) by the Expedition of the Transcarpathian Museum of Local History

Preliminary report on the results... of intensively black humus, small pieces of charcoal spread throughout the fill, remains of bones, some large pebbles and an insignificant amount of Bronze and Late Iron Age ceramics (Pl. IXA.1-12.). At the bottom of the pit we found a piece of ironwaste and, a little above it, a miniature dipper (Pl. XX.8). The archaeological material found in the deepened features (pits 2-6) is identical to the one from the lower Dacián level. Thus, these features may be attributes of this certain layer. Pottery coming from here is numerous and very characteristic. It was made, as a rule, out of clay tempered with a mixture of chamot and was mainly hand formed (the proportion of hand-made and wheel-made ceramics in the layer is 9:1). It was both moderately and strongly fired. Brick coloured, brown, black and gray vessels dominate. Some vessels were smoothed, others were covered by a slip. Some of the ceramics were a perfectly polished black or more rarely brown. The quality of the polishing is similar to certain ceramics from the Hallstatt period. Hand-made ceramics dominated in the layer and are represented by a range of characteristic forms. On the one hand, attention should be drawn to a series of pot like vessels without profiled necks. Their bodies are simply pot or barrel shaped. Their handles are in the shape of knobs directed upward or to the left or right. These were frequently connected with an applied band with finger imprints or alveoli (Pi. X.3,XII.2,XIII.1,XIV.8). Analogous vessels represent a typical Early Dacián form. They are known by the first phase in the development of Daco-Getian ceramics (CRISAN 1968.P1.13,

18). Using the classification of E.Moscalu, these vessels belong to types III c,e of Thraco-Getian ceramics and, in general, may be dated to the 6th-2nd centuries B.C., and at settlements in North-West Roumania (Ciumesti/Csomaköz, Moresti/ Malomfalva) to the 3rd-2nd centuries B.C. (MOSCALU 1983/i6.Pl.XVII,5,48. Pl.XIV.2,4,7). The early date of the vessels of this type (4th-3rd centuries B.C) is supported by the research of I.T. Niculite (NICULITE 1987.122.). Identical ceramic forms from well dated Middle La Téne time features at the settlement of Ciumesti (ZIRRA 1980.Pl.XXX.7.8,ll,Pl.XXXiV.l,4,9,10) also support these conclusions. Analogous pottery was found at settlements of La Téne Culture (Drysyno) in the territory of the modern region of Transcarpathia (POPOVICH 1974.ris.7.1-5) situated in the western, plain area of the Carpathian Ukraine. We should note that pot like vessels of this type are absolutely absent on such great Dacián sites in the Upper Tisza region such as Malaia Kopania (KOTIGOROSHKO 1989.tabl.I-HI

). At the Solotvino fortified settlement itself this ceramic form is encountered only in the lower level of the Dacián horizon and in related features (Fig. 7) but is absolutely absent in the upper layer. An analogous situation can be observed with pot like vessels in the shape of an* upside dowft truncated cone, ornamented with attached ribbon or conical handles (Pl. XI.3). A very characteristic form among the ceramic finds from the layer in question is a vessel with slightly inverted straight rim and convex body either ornamented by alveoli (Pl. IX.14) or not ornamented at all (Pl. XA.2, XI.4). The former could be placed in type IV using the classification of E.Moscalu, who dated finds from Ciumesti (ZIRRA 1980.52. Pl.XXI.4) and Moresti to the 3rd-2nd centuries B.C. (MOSCALU 1983. 52.). The early Dacián age of this layer is also supported by the typological analysis of the dishes. LIsually, they are both hand-made, wheel-made or shaped on a wheel. Among the hand-made pieces, a very characteristic shape for this level were biconical bowls with straight rims (Pi. XB.6,XC.8,XI.2,XIV.4) that represent type XId,d, using the classification of E. Moscalu (MOSCALU 1983.74-75.Pl.LIV). However, their prototypes are very wide spread in cultures from the end of the Early Iron Age in the LJpper Tisza region (CHOCHOROWSKI 1985.32-35.Abb. 1,8, JURECKO 1983.0br.5.8,9, POPOVICH 1974.ris.3.3;4.11,12). At Solotvino, bowls of this type were found only in the lower layer of the Dacián horizon and in certain features. There were no bowls of this type in the upper level. This form is also absent at Malaia Kopania (KOTIGOROSHKO 1989.T.II). Among the hand-made bowls, special attention should be drawn to a little fragment from a bowl with rounded sides, as well as handles with a round hole in the middle (Pl. XIV.6). This is a special Daco-Getian form from the 5th-3rd centuries B.C. It may have derived from the Greek lekythos (MOSCALLI 1983.74.P1.XLIX.2,4,6, NICULITE 1977.111.

ris.XII.131

). Most likely, some of the bowls were made on a wheel (Pi. XIV.

7). These are the so-called fruit vases on a high foot. They appear by the Ilnd phase in the development of Daco-Getian ceramics (CRISAN 1968.Pi.

26-29), but continue to develop in later times. At Solotvino, they are found in both Dacián layers. They were found also at Malaia Kopania (KOTIGOROSHKO 1989-T.III). Among the clay objects, some dippers and jugs should also be mentioned. As to the former, whole forms may be found among them (Pi. XIV. 1,XVA. 1). They have flat bottom, strongly convex sides, well profiled necks, a slightly profiled and everted rim, as well as a small hook-like handle rising above the level of the rim. Analogous dippers may be found by the Und phase in the development of Daco-Getian ceramics (by G. Crisan) (CRISAN 1968.Pl.37

), but can also be found later. In the territory of the Carpathian Ukraine they are known from Malaia Kopania (KOTIGOROSHKO 1989.T.II.25). Some of our pieces are similar to Celtic vessels (PL XVA.l) which they were probably influenced by. In addition to this type of dipper, we have found fragments of dippers, most likely wheel-made with the handle above the level of the rim (PL IXA.10) in the second Dacián layer of the settlement and the related features (pit 6). Precise analogies of such vessels we find in Ciumesti that V. Zirra connects to the Hallstatt time culture of Szentes-Vekerzug (ZIRRA 1980.57. pl.XXX.12

). • There is but one piece representing a miniature dipper, found in pit 6 (Pl. XX.8). Only some fragments of wheel-made jugs have been found. Following the preliminary analysis of the ceramic finds from the lower layer of the Dacián horizon, I would like to draw the attention to one more group A Jósa András Múzeum Évkönyve 1997 123