A Nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyve 46. (Nyíregyháza, 2004)

Régészet - Mikhailo Potushniak: Data the question of the Stračevo/Körös Culture dwellings in the Upper Tisza Region

Mikhailo Potushniak Beregszász-Kerekhegy/Berehovo-Kerekhegy Finally, the third settlement that can be categorised as belonging to the SKC in the Transcarpathian Region was discovered as long ago as in 1896 in the eastern outskirts of Beregszász, at the site of Kerekhegy. Unstratified material coming from here and preserved in T. Lehoczky's collection is kept now in the Transcarpathian Museum of Local History. A bottom fragment of a black polished vessel standing at four nipple shaped feet belongs to the Starcevo/Körös time. The data described above can be summarised in the following way. On the settlements of the SKC in the Transcarpathian Region we found two types of dwelling constructions (judging from the shapes of their bases): semi-subterranean and subterranean houses. On the settlement of ZastavneMala Hora both semi-subterranean and subterranean houses are known. On the settlement of RivneKismező I we know exclusively semi-subterranean houses. Shapes and sizes of the dwelling pits are different. Large size can be met both in the case of semi-subterranean and subterranean houses. Taking into consideration the size of the bottoms of the houses, we can assume that the useful territory of the subterranean houses at the settlement of Zastavne-Mala Hora made an average of 65-70 120 sq. m (dwellings la/76, 3/82), of the semi-subterranean houses: 70-100 sq. m (dwellings 1/76, 2/77, 4/82). At the settlement of Rivne-Kismező I the significant size of the dwelling pit in semisubterranean house 1/77-78 is outstanding: about 240 sq. m, while the territory of the semisubterranean houses 2/88 and 3/88 is relatively small: 30 and 70 sq. m. There is no doubt that inside, the large dwellings were divided into several rooms. It could be probably made by dividing walls, because in wintertime the heating of such big territory of dwellings could not be effective. This is true mainly in the case of subterranean house 3/82 (fig. 3) and semisubterranean house 1/77-78. One of the rooms of such dwellings probably functioned as food storage, and in wintertime young animals of the domestic stock could be kept here. The agricultural function of these rooms can be suggested because of the lack of heating devices, and also because the small number of archaeological material found here. The cultural layer usually differs by its lighter colour. The base of the agricultural part of the dwelling pit is less cut by pits, it is more even. The kitchen and living part of these dwellings is significantly smaller. Here we usually record heating devices. The base of the floor is uneven, it is usually cut by pits. The cultural layer is of dark colour, containing a large number of archaeological material. In the subterranean houses we recorded 2 or 3 fireplaces, they are always open. However, the latter fact has nothing to do with chronology, because, for example, the semi-subterranean house 4/ 82 that, according to all typological signs of the pottery assemblage, coexisted with subterranean house 3/82, had a clay kiln. In the semi-subterranean houses, along with fireplaces we observe also clay kilns. Usually heating devices were constructed at the walls of the dwelling pit. The reason for that was that in the sidewalls or under the roof of the dwelling, holes for letting the smoke out were made. In several dwellings, heating devices were situated closer to the exit, probably, for the same reason. We suggest that clay kilns had a season character. Usually they were built in wintertime and worked more effective for the heating of the dwelling; at that time there could have been several ones in the house. We also have to take into consideration that kilns functioned for a short time, they were frequently destroyed and reconstructed. Remains of destroyed kilns were taken out of the dwelling. That is why the place of the kilns did not remained in the base of the floor. In wintertime, when the soil was frozen, material for building the kiln, similarly as for other needs, was taken directly from the base of the dwelling - which would explain the unevenness of the floor and the large number of pits in the kitchens. 62