A Nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyve 47. (Nyíregyháza, 2005)

Régészet - Sanda Băcueţ-Crişan: The Neolithic rite of cremation in the north-west of Romania

The Neolithic rite of cremation in the north-west of Romania The research objectives of the site from Port „Coräu" between 2002-2003 were to establish the dimensions of the site and the stratigraphy. For this reason, the research was focused especially at the areas considered to be outskirts on the basis of the spread of material. Our aim was to make a stratigraphical profile in the central area. So, up to now, we cannot make the evaluation of the dimensions of the various settlements that succeeded here. In the course of the research we identified Neolithic levels or features which belong to the Starcevo- Cris/Körös Culture (IIIB-IVA), the Piscolt Group, to the Complex of Cluj-Cheile Turzii with analogies especially in the discoveries of Zau de Cämpie type, the Suplacu de Barcäu Group. Culturally the cremation graves were attributed to the Complex Cluj-Cheile Turzii and to the Suplacu de Barcäu Group as it was defined up to now. These new discoveries determined us to make several subtile differentiations regarding the Suplacu de Barcäu Group, e.g. assigning some constitutive elements of the first stage (IGNAT 1988, 21) to the Piscolt Group and others to the Complex of Cluj-Cheile Turzii. We assigned some of the graves, M5, Ml 6, Ml 8 to the Complex of Cluj-Cheile Turzii. These are located within the settlement. In the settlement there has also been identified grave M4 among the houses, determined on the basis of its pottery belonging to stage 2 pottery of the Suplacu de Barcäu Group. We consider to belong to the same stage graves M6-M10, M12 grouped probably at two rows at the outskirts of the settlement. The graves we identified with the complex of Cluj-Cheile Turzii-Lumea Nouä were represented by burned pits of variable dimensions, in which high quality bones and decorated pottery fragments were found. Features belonging to the Suplacu de Barcäu Group always contain a variable number of complete pots or broken pots. Sometimes stone objects (chisel or axes) were added. The pottery, although it shows very poor traces of black painting, is of a low quality (insufficient burning, the paste containing mud). This can indicate that these pots were only made to be used in the funeral rite. We are aware that the problem raised by the cremation rite in Neolithic is much more complex. Our approach was aimed only to draw the attention of specialists to this sort of objects. Even though the majority of cremation graves belongs to the Late Neolithic, we cannot neglect the graves from Gura Baciului, Port „Coräu" (M5, Ml

6, Ml 8), and even Ml/

1984 from Suplacu de Barcäu which come from an earlier period. The number of cremation graves found in the north-west of Romania is rather low, however, it is likely to increase in the course of further researches. Translated by Ghila Gabriel References BÄCUET-CRISAN 2004. Sanda Bäcue|-Crisan: Burial rites in the Neolithic in Northwest Romania. [Neolit temetkezési szokások Északnyugat-Románia területén.] NyJAMÉ XLVI. 2004. 71-83. BEJINARIU 1997. loan Bejinariu: Despre un mormant de incineratie descoperit la Zaläu (jud Salaj). [ A few words about a Cremation Grave discovered in Zalau (Salaj district) and dated in the Neolithic Era.] CrisiaXXVll. 1997. 9-15. BEJINARIU ET AL. 2004. loan Bejinariu - Sanda Bäcuet-Crisan - Horea Pop - Dan Bäcuet-Crisan - Alexandru V. Matei - Mirel András: §antierul arheologic PorJ „Coräu". Cronica cercetärilor arheologice din Romania. Campania 2003. Cluj Napoca 2004. 245-247. KALICZ 1975. Nándor Kalicz: Siedlung und Gräber der Lengyel-Kultur in Aszód. MittArchlnst 5. 1974-1975. 33-39.