A Veszprém Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei 22. (Veszprém, 2002)
Regenye Judit: A sopot kultúra kronológiai helyzete Magyarországon
ly for the Brezovljani type, but the late LBPC can not be left out of consideration in Transdanubia. Outside of the distribution territory, the Sopot culture has no direct influence on the evolution. North of the Danube in the territory of the Zseliz group, the Slovakian researchers can prove a direct transformation between the LBPC and the Lengyel culture 21 . In the latest phase of the Zseliz group grey, undecorated biconical cups can be found in large numbers with the characteristic incised Zseliz-ceramics. The most important sites of the period are Vycapy Opatovce, Vel'ky Grob, Horné Lefantovce, Sarovce, Bajc, Békásmegyer 22 . The latest phase of the Zseliz group belonging to the Vorlengyel-period can nowadays be found also in Transdanubia (Baláca (Fig. 3.10-13.), Nagycsepely, Látrány 23 (Fig. 3.1-9.)), so the transformation of the Zseliz material began everywhere in the territory, but the appearance of the Sopot culture modified the situation in the larger part of Transdanubia. The Sopot culture was studied from the standpoint of the Lengyel culture up to now. The question arose in the way, what kind of role did it play in the formation of the Lengyel culture. The responses given to the question can be summarised so that the Sopot culture was the transporter, intermediator, respectively accelerator of the southern element playing determining role in the formation of the Lengyel culture 24 . The base of the supposition of the close relation between the Sopot and the Lengyel cultures is the large number of common characteristic features, such as e.g. the existence of certain forms in both cultures: the first appearance of the dish with open mouth, the globular bowl, pot with cylindrical neck, pedestalled bowl. The simple striped painting pattern, typical for the Sopot culture, can also be found in the Lengyel culture, the plastic decorations are of Lengyel character as well (Fig. 4.). If we compare the common characteristic features both with the LBPC and with the Lengyel culture, we experience that the ones belonging to the first group are in larger numbers and are different in their type. While the elements showing relation to the LBPC acted as example of the direct borrowing, the ones to the Lengyel culture represent rather the identical evolution trend. In order that we could interpret the characteristic features existing mutually in the Sopot and Lengyel cultures this way, their chronological situation has to be precised. We have only scarce data concerning the outer relations of the two cultures. The fragments belonging to the Zseliz and Sarka group among the earliest finds of the Sopot culture in Becsehely are well known 25 . There are Tisza imports in Bicske 26 . At Baláca fragments of Tisza character (?) turned up as well (Fig. 5.2-3.). Sopot material can hardly be found in foreign territory. One fragment is known from Öcsöd, from the level В of the site, which is from the classical phase (II - according the chronological system of N. Kalicz and P. Raczky 27 ) of the Tisza culture 28 , and Goldman Gy. mentions some from Vésztő, from the formative period (I) of the Tisza culture 29 . Regarding the early Lengyel culture, we have also only scarce data. At Aszód the Tisza import is frequent 30 , and there are some pieces in Svodin 31 , too. In relation to that of Aszód, Kalicz N. notes that it derives from the classical (II) Tisza culture 32 . From the standpoint of the dating the beginning of the Lengyel culture, it is important that on the Austrian sites of the culture (Unterwölbling, Friebritz) Stroked band pottery can be found, dated by the III. phase of the culture 33 , thus by the time of the Luzianky group on the basis of the grave at PrahaDejvice 34 . S. Dimitrijevic made known a Stroked band pottery fragment from Gornji Brezovljani (Sopot culture), determined as of II. phase. 35 On the basis of all these, the following chronological conclusions can be drawn. The Sopot culture in Hungary is contemporary with the latest phase of the Zseliz group of that territory. The end of the culture is dated by the time of Tisza II, in conformity with the find from Öcsöd (according to the chronological system of Kalicz N. and Raczky P. 36 ) Consequently, the Hungarian life of the culture is parallel to the end of Vinca B2, and the С period. The Tisza finds at Aszód are of Tisza II (Vinca C) age, too 37 . Concerning the dating of the formative phase of the Lengyel culture E. Lenneis considers it parallel to Sé, Luzianky on the basis of the Stroked band pottery culture 38 . Ch. Neugebauer-Maresch dates Friebritz, Unterpullendorf, Unterwölbling and Sé into the same horizon. 39 B. Novotny determines the life of the Luzianky group contemporary with the Vinca C, starting from the end of Vinca B2 40 . The dating of the beginning of the Lengyel culture by Vinca С has been an accepted fact for a long time 41 . In accordance of the listed facts, the data concerning the two (Sopot and Lengyel) cultures are grouping around the Vinca С period. The partial coincidence of the data seems to be a contradiction, as according to the opinion till now, the Lengyel culture followed the Sopot culture in time. The beginning of the Lengyel culture dated by the start of Vinca C, and the supposed succession of the two cultures together forced us to draw the theoretical conclusion that the Sopot culture, preceding the Lengyel culture, had to live in Vinca B2 42 . But certain facts contradict this. The finds of the Sopot culture in Hungary are rather of Vinca С character than B. There are decoration types, which definitely indicate this: a bowl with channelled spiral ornaments on the inner surface (Fig. 5.4.) and a rim-fragment with 32
