Zalai Múzeum 14. Müller Róbert 60 éves (Zalaegerszeg, 2005)

M. Virág Zsuzsanna: Középső rézkori kerámialeletek Zalavár–Basaszigetről (A Balaton-Lasinja kultúra tipológiájának és belső kronológiájának kérdéseiről)

46 M. Virág Zsuzsanna Middle Copper Age Ceramic Finds from Zalavár-Basasziget (Some considerations about the typology and chronology of the Balaton-Lasinja Culture) Between 1984-1989, at Zalavár-Basasziget, which is located at the eastern edge of the Zalavár table land, a rescue excavation was carried out prior to works in the Small-Balaton region. The excavation covered 3200 m

2 and revealed a central part of a BalatonLasinja settlement (Fig. 1). I wish to thank to Róbert Müller, the director of the Museum of Balaton, also to the Directorate of the Museums of Zala County for providing possibility to undertake and continue research on the site. The most prominent finds and features of the excavation, such as remains of upright constructions, have received considerable attention prior to this study (M. VIRÁG 1986; 1989; 1990; 1996; 2003). For this reason this paper investigates the most „typical" object of the settlement, that is ceramic finds. The excavation at Zalavár-Basasziget revealed a relatively small number of ceramic objects. Alongside the foundations of buildings 167 pits were also revealed although only 36 exhibited suitable ceramic material for a typological analysis. According to the superposition of the house foundations and the pits, three building periods could be identified (M. VIRÁG 2003, 380-384). A very careful estimation of the life span of the upright timber structures suggests that the settlement lasted for approximately 100 years. The typological characteristics of the ceramic finds from Basasziget show similarity to ceramic finds in other classic Balaton-Lasinja settlements in Zalacounty, with only minor typological differences (BÁNFFY 1985; 1994; 1995; HORVÁTH 1991; 2002, KALICZ 1973; 1973a; 1995a; 2003; HORVÁTHSIMON 1994; 2003). These sites are very similar in terms of material culture, although they show differences, which are considered to be local rather than chronological. This view seems to be supported by the finds from Basasziget, where in spite of the relatively long life span of the settlement no fundamental changes in the ceramic material could be identified. In previous studies the Balaton-Lasinja culture was thought to be homogeneous. On the basis on recent data, it can be assumed that regional differences emerged in Transdanubia. The finds of the classic phase of the Balaton Lasinja culture can be located to a smaller part of Zala County, but the border of the culture can be identified further south than it has previously been assumed. Even though the material culture in Transdanubia north from Lake Balaton is little known, there is a high probability that a characteristic material culture can be identified there within which the traditions of both the Lengyel and Balaton-Lasinja cultures can be recognised. Furthermore, the relationship between the Ludanice and Balaton-Lasinja cultural groups can also be identified in settlements around Győr. This area is considered to be the borderland between the two cultural groups. Within the valley of the river Marcal, the interaction between the Ludanice and Balaton-Lasinja can be identified in terms of similarities in material culture, that also indicate their co-existence. The material culture of the sites along the river Dráva, near Slovenia and the sites at the foothills of the Alps, shows considerable differences from the above discussed sites. The available data does not allow assessment of the internal chronology of the Balaton-Lasinja culture. Evaluation of the data from Zalavár-Basasziget and from other excavations suggests that the differences between the sites in terms of material culture are a measure of local rather than chronological differences. Translated by Eszter Kreiter