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

Régészet - Ivan Popovich: Periodization and chronology of Kushtanovica type sites in the Transcarpathian region

Periodization and chronology of Kushtanovica type sites in the Transcarpathian region Ivan Popovich To date the main goal of research concerning the end of Hallstatt - beginning of the La Téne period in the Transcarpathian region is the determination of the chronology and periodization Kushtanovica type sites. In order to resolve this problem, a serious data base has been collected. We have at our disposal materials from 130 barrow graves as well as results of field surveys and excavations at 20 settlements (POPOVICH 1993.254-267.). There has long been an opinion in the special literature according to which the relatively large material from Kushtanovica type sites can not be chronologically divided (BIDZILIA 1971.153-, SMIRNOVA

1979-5253). Most of the researchers have directed most of their attention to the lower and upper dating of the investigated group of sites (SMIRNOVA-BERNIAKOVICH 1965-89-115., ILLINS'KA-TERENOZHKIN 1971.174-176, KRUSHEL'NIC KA 1974.265-268., PAULÍK 1966.141-146, DUSEK 1974.378-379.). Attempts have been made to explain the difficulty in resolving this question in the absence of field documentation and the poor excavation methods employed by JJankovich and the brothers J. and E.Zatlukal, who investigated the Kushtanovica/Kustánfalva barrows in the 1930's(BERNIAKOVICH 1955.171-173.). Field diaries and documentation from these researchers have been kept in the Transcarpathian Museum of Local History. The diaries of JJankovich, former director of the T.Lehoczky Museum (Mukachevo/Munkács), who in 1929-1931 took part in the excavation of the barrow at Kushtanovica, were carried out at a high professional level with perfect documentation of the archaeological material. JJankovich worked under the leadership of the famous Czech academician J.Böhm (BÖHM-JANKOVICH 1936.33-71.). The archaeological heritage of JJankovich and the Zatlukal brothers (ZATLUKAL-ZATLUKAL 1937.) is a worthy one. Due to the conscientiousness and great professionalism of these researchers their observations have played a definitive role in building the stratigraphic chronological column for the Kushtanovica type sites, first presented here. Today the questions of the Kushtanovica finds chronology may be more completely interpreted because of new sources (SMIRNOVA-BERNIAKOVICH 1965. 89-115, SMIRNOVA 1979.39-54, POPOVICH 1975.36, POPOVICH 1978.107., POPOVICH 1985.50-62., POPOVICH 1993.250-286.) and research on the classification of sites from the end of the Hallstatt - beginning of the La Téne period in the CarpathianDanubian region (MELIUKOVA 1979-, DUSEK 1966, DUSEK 1974, PÁRDUCZ 1973, VULPE 19Ó7, VULPE 1970,CRISAN 1968, VASILIEV 1980, CHOCHOROWSKI 1984, CHOCHOROWSKI 1985, CHOCHOROWSKI 1993.). However, the small number of datable finds causes many difficulties. It is enough to say that only 28 barrows yielded material finds and only some of them may be placed within narrow chronological frameworks. We have not yet succeeded in resolving the question of dividing collective burials into closed find assemblages that belong to each of the burials, because of the lack of anthropological definition of Kushtanovica cremations. Stratigraphic observations can only support conditionally the time differences between burials. It may be suggested that multiple burials within one barrow took place over 2-3 quarters of a century. On the basis of morphological features, however it is difficult to determine the chronological difference between the burials. The great variety of forms and types of ceramic products make the attempt to use mathematical correlation ineffective for identifying comparable elements in this or that object. For resolving this question it is necessary to mobilize the whole existing data base and determinate methodological principles. Most of the investigators of Scythian Age sites in the Carpathian Basin use the phase principle of division, taking into account stratigraphic observations, special features of the burial rite characteristic for certain burial assemblages situated in different parts of the cemetery (VULPE 1976.80-100, STOIA 1975.87-104, CHOCHOROWSKI 1984.99-161.). Studying the chronology of sites from the Great Hungarian Plain and Southeast Slovakia, J.Chochorowski emphasized that the greatest difficulties are caused by the necessity to synchronize archaeological materials belonging to different historical-cultural circles, among them Hallstatt, Thraco-Illyric and Scythian. Their classifications are based on different chronological schemes (CHOCHOROWSKI 1984.109112.). Taking into consideration the homogeneous character of artifacts in the Carpathian-Danubian region starting with the study of the sites of the Transcarpathian Kushtanovica group, all the principles mentioned above can be used. We must however take into consideration the role of stratigraphic observations when investigating cremation burials under the barrow. First acquaintance with the Kushtanovica material gives the impression that this circle of sites had a short life. However, the lower and upper temporal boundaries can be precisely identified on the basis of Hallstatt and La Téne finds. At the first sight, the change of the culture of Thracian Hallstatt into its Cava variant in the Transcarpathian region, took place rapidly supporting the suggestion that the Kushtanovica group appeared in our territory in a developed form. This, however is only the first impression resulting from insufficient study of the intermediate links: the transition sites between the Gáva culture and the Kushtanovica group. The problem of the relationship between the finds of Gáva and Kushtanovica today has a new hearing, because this question is well founded and supported by reliable sources, not only from neighbouring territories, but also from the Transcarpathian region. A Jósa András Múzeum Évkönyve 1997 77