Ilon Gábor: Százszorszépek. Emberábrázolás az őskori Nyugat-Magyrországon (Szombathely, 2007)

Kalicz Nándor: Az őskori agyagszobrászat kezdetei a Nyugat-Dunántúlon (Kr. e. 6000–Kr. e. 3000)

AZ ŐSKORI AGYAGSZOBRASZAT KEZDETEI A NYUGAT-DUNÁNTÚLON DIE ANFÄNGE DER URG »

шм ш ^f N TONSTATira 30 The beginning of prehistoric figurine making in western Transdanubia, Hungary (6000-3000 ВС) EXCAVATIONS IN THE WESTERN REGION On an imagined "archaeological map" of Hungary, the first one hundred years of Hungarian archaeology, until the 1950's, was marked by a white patch in the three counties of GyőrMoson-Soporon, Vas and Zala of western Hungary in terms of the Neolithic and Copper Age. It was not until the 1950's when the white patch started to disappear as a result of small-scale excavations at the Neolithic settlements of Zalavár-Belterület, Keszthely-Dobogó and Győr-Pápai vám. These first three investigations in the region also represented three different phases of the Transdanubian Linear Pottery Culture where the first figurines, which can also be described as art products, appeared. Here items such as clay figurine torsos and figurine head fragments were found. In the 1960's and 1970's small-scale excavations brought to light further Neolithic and Copper Age finds. From these excavations the most important was at Sé in Vas County, where excavation works were carried out for several years. These excavations were medium-sized by most standards. In the second half of the 1970's small-scale diggings at Becsehely in Zala County revealed finds and figurines from the Early and Middle Neolithic transitional periods representing an until then unknown cultural group in Hungary, the Sopot culture that originated in Croatia. In the 1980's only small-scale excavations were carried out on Neolithic and Copper Age sites although figurine torsos were also found. Large-scale investigations started only at the end of the 1980's and become more extensive during the 1990's and in the first few years of the new millennium. As a result of these large-scale excavations large settlements became known from all the periods of the Neolithic and Copper Age. The previously neglected western region now reached a European degree and standard in terms of Neolithic and Copper Age excavations. The soil in Zala and Vas Counties is not favourable for bones. This is the primary reason that there are no graves, cemeteries, or animal bones found from the settlements of the Neolithic. Only in the north-western part of Győr-Moson-Sopron County have Neolithic graves and perhaps partial cemeteries been excavated. As opposed to this, one of the most significant databases developed from the settlement features of the region and mainly from the previously unknown house outlines, which formed smaller and largT-TRANSDANUBIEN THE BEGINNING OF PREHISTORIC FIGURINE MAKING IN WESTERN TRANSDANUBIA. HUNGARY er settlement structures, small villages and farm-steads. Moreover, extensive communal and/or ritual places also came to light in the region both from the Neolithic and Copper Age that were surrounded by ditches. There small figurines were found that often reach high artistic standards, similarly to pottery were made from clay. Because they were fired they are preserved until today. The small figurines mostly depict humans, the majority of which are female representations; there are only a few male figurines. At the same time several animal representations are also known. FIGURINES The small figurines or idols, which were rarely found at the beginning of archaeological investigations, attracted the early attention for research. The medium-scale to the large-scale excavations clarified that figurines representing females, males and animals were not present in all the settlements of all the periods. Even where they appear, they are not found in equal numbers and even though their first appearances were considered to be extraordinary, today the characteristics of their appearance shows some regularity indicating some order behind their use. The small figurines or idols are in the middle of debates, since they came to light, for their manufacturing technology, their use and even their naming. At the beginning they were called "idols" which is not correct since they were not fetishes. They are neither "magna mater" figurines nor fertility symbols nor representing a goddess. In spite of these they are neither play objects nor do they represent an object of a potter's apprentice. Rather these figurines represent objects from the many symbolic or ritual practices of a community. For our age these figurines are not only ritual objects but are artistic products representing the different artistic perceptions and skills of prehistoric people. For the makers of the figurines there were important parts which they represented in detail, while the unimportant areas were roughly executed or not depicted at all. In some cases the individual perceptions of the maker were emphasised distinguishing their figurine from other figurines made according to the "average" standards within that community.