A Nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyve 48. (Nyíregyháza, 2006)

Régészet - Korbály József: Copper Age metal finds from the Transcarpathian Region

Kobály József VlZDAL 1977. Jaroslav Vizdal: Tiszapolgárske pohrebisko ve Velkych Raskovciach. Zemplínské múzeum, Michalovce 1977. VULPE 1975. Alexandru Vulpe: Die Äxte und Beile in Rumänien. IL PBF IX: 5. München 1975. KOBÁLY József Йосип КОБАЛЬ Закарпатський Краезнавчий Музей вул. Каттульна 33. м. Ужгород 88000 Украша e-mail: kaiso@tn.uz.ua Copper Age metal finds from the Transcarpathian Region In my present study I have examined sixteen metal objects from the Copper Age. Finds known only from literature (N 2, 7, 8) cannot be determined from typological and chronological point of view. The objects in question can be divided into two big groups. The first one includes axes of different types (PI. I

—II, PI. Ill: 1-3), the second one comprises smaller copper tools: a hatchet, (PI. Ill: 5), an awl (PI. Ill: 6) and a fishhook (PI. Ill: 4). The majority of the finds, except for the fishhook, appeared without any cultural context, and even the exact provenance of the objects is unknown. For these reasons their chronological and partly cultural definition is possible only on the basis of the typological features. The earliest group of the Copper Age metal finds from the Transcarpathian Region (in several cases the sites are to be looked for at the territory of present Slovakia close to the Ukrainian border) includes one-bladed axes (PI. I: 1-5). Only one of them got a more or less exact provenance (N 1 - Agtelek), another one is likely to originate from the Transcarpathian Region (N 6 - „Nagybégány") and three of them come from the territory of former Ung county (N 13, 16, 18, PI. I: 1,2, 5). Axe numbered 13 in our catalogue deserves a special attention (PI. I: 1). Its pentagonal shape, straight profile, harmonious proportions, slight elevation on one side of the highly regular shaft hole, size and weight absolutely cover the definition of one-bladed axes of the so-called Plocnik type. They were spread at a vast territory (PATAY 1984. 39). These finds occur in the Carpathian Basin mainly in Eastern Slovakia and Transylvania, and can be dated to the Early Copper Age, to the time of the Tiszapolgár Culture (NOVOTNÁ 1970. 20, VULPE 1975. 20, PATAY 1984. 39, SCHALK 1998. 25, 27, 31). This type is interesting for its relatively frequent appearance in hoards, that, together with its wide spread, can refer to the suggestion that it played an important role in the trade of the age (TODOROVA1981.36). Two largest and heaviest axes of our collection belong to the Szendrő type (PI. I: 2, 5). Both of them come from the former Ung county. This is one more fact to support the assumption according to which Eastern Slovakia could play an important role in their production. Not only these finds are concentrated in this region, but also copper used for their manufacturing refers to it (PATAY 1984. 54