Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 30/1. (2010)

Articles

THE COTOFENI SITE FROM §INCAI-CETATEA PAGAN ILOR (MURE§ COUNTY).

THE 1996-1997 CAMPAIGNS*

ÁLDOR CSABA BALÁZS

“1 Decembrie 1918” University, Alba Iulia

Keywords: Eneolithic, Cotofeni Culture, settlements, pottery

The Transylvanian Plateau is the zone with the highest density of Cotofeni communities. In this area is located also the site which makes the subject of this study, Cetatea Pägänilor (Pagan Fortress) near §incai, Mure§ county (Pl. 1). Already mentioned in the second half of the 19th century by Károly Benkő,1 Balázs Orbán2 and then by Gábor Téglás, the site was investigated first time by Endre Orosz in 1895. He is the first who considers the finds (among witch a cross-shaped copper axe) coming from the Eneolithic.3 J. Könyöki and G. Nagy, I. Martian, B. Posta, M. Roska, H. Schroller,

I. Nestor, Al. Vulpe, Petre Roman are also referring to the artefacts found at Cetatea Pägänilor.4

Many artefacts that have appeared on the surface as a result of works carried out here by locals and those collected after several non-systematic, random excavations, by I. Gorjan (the principal of the school from $incai), gradually formed a school collection.5 After some field work and studying the finds from the school’s collection, the late Valeriu Lazár carries out systematic excavations here in 1974-19776 and then in 1996-1997,7 to establish the stratigraphy, structure, and cultural content of this important archaeological objective. He wanted to find the limits of the settlement, and to see if this occupied also the secondary hillock, stretched towards SE, to study the stratigraphic traces of the Eneolithic dwellings and to confirm their horizontal expansion. A suspected third terrace of the settlement also had to be confirmed.8

Before discussing the last campaigns, we consider its necessary to clarify a few details about the earlier ones (1974-1977), as we have identified some inconsistencies and deficiencies

* The site was researched by Valeriu Lazár. The archaeological materials from these campaigns are in the deposit of the Mures County Museum. We would like to thank to Dr. Sándor Berecki for offering the material for study.

1 Benkő 1869, 348.

2 Orbán 1870, 201.

3 Orosz 1898, 322-330.

4 Könyöki-Nagy 1905, 287; Martian 1920,1, nr. 452; II. nr. 215; Posta 1903,11; Roska 1929, 271; Schroller 1933, 74; Nestor 1933, 94, fig. 20; Vulpe 1973, 224, 227; Roman 1976, 85.

5 Lazar 1977, 21.

6 Lazar 1977; 1978; 1995.

7 The 1989 campaign mentioned by V. Lazar in the Mure§ County archaeological repertory is not enumerated in the chronicle from 1996.

8 Lazar 1995, 251-252.

MARISIA XXX, p. 7-24