Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 30/1. (2010)
Articles
The Cotofeni Site from §incai-Cetatea Pägänilor. The 1996-1997 Campaigns 11 and without having any clear stratigraphic data,22 we have to take into consideration also the possibility of the layers being disturbed in the past. The archaeological material mostly consists of fragmentary pottery, out of which we have analyzed the well-defined forms, and the fragments with characteristic decorations (about 20% of the total number of potshards). Regarding the composition of the paste and surface treatment, they can be classified in coarse ware (common use vessels, the highest number of potshards belongs to this category), and fine pottery (just a few fragments). The coarse ware (Pi. 4/1, 3; 6/13; 9/7-9; etc.) represents the most common type. Their surface is poor or medium smoothed, made of a coarse, porous, unevenly burned paste, tempered with gravel, chaff, crushed shard, chopped straw, mica and rarely crushed shells. Their colour is sometimes uneven, resulting from the poor quality burning. Most of them are red (brick coloured), brick-greyish, and a few black, black-greyish, grey, or brown. The fine quality ceramics are rare (Fig. 3), only a few shards found, all dark-coloured (PI. 6/4-6). Only two large vessels could be restored: one amphora,23 Vb-Roman,24 Vb-Ciugudean (PI. 3/1), Ic-Lazar type, with analogies from Boarta,25 §eu§a-Gorgan,26 Pe^tera Moanei;27 and one large vessel for supplies, of XIII-Roman type28 (Pi. 3/2), both found in the pit near the dwelling. This amphora type is characteristic for the third phase of evolution of the Cotofeni culture.29 There is also one restorable vessel, a jar (PI. 4/4), XIIb-Roman, Ilb-Ciugudean type, with analogies from Bratei-Msiparie.30 The potshards belong to amphorae (Pi. 5/1-2), storage vessels (PI. 5/4), pots (Pi. 4/1-3; 5/3, 6/8, 11-12), shallow bowls (6/9; 9/4, 8, 12), deep bowls (Pi. 7/12; 8/2; 9/10, 13), jugs (Pi. 9/1, 3) and cups (Pi. 6/1, 4-6; 8/6, 10). We have a VIIc-Roman, VHc-Ciugudean or VB-Méder type cup fragment (PI. 6/4), with analogies from Ogra,31 Deva32 33 34 or Turia-Cimitirul romano-catolicP This form appears in the second period of evolution of the culture. The Ia4-Roman, Ia2-Ciugudean type bowl (PI. 8/2) has good analogies from Sebц-Räpa Relief4 The decorated, В1-Roman, wide flat handle (Pi. 6/10) found on the platform of the dwelling belongs to a large pot or storage vessel, with a close analogy from Basarabi.35 For the amphorae fragments we have analogies from Unirea-Dealul Cämärii,36 The most common decoration type is made by incision. There are “deepened triangles” (Pi. 4/3; 5/4; 6/1,9; 8/3,12), incised bands (PI. 3/1; 6/10; 8/1; 9/2), incised “fish skeleton” motives (9/3), incised “trestle” motives. The Af-Roman type motive of “deepened triangles” in Central Transylvania is specific to all three periods of the culture, with analogies from Boc§a Montanä-Co/fim,37 Gornea 22 We have no diary for the 1996-1997 campaigns, no plans, the only information we could work with, come from the few notes of the findings stored in the Mure? County Museum. 23 Two amphorae of this type were found at §incai also in the 1974-1977 campaigns. 24 Roman 1976, 21, pi. 23/3; 85/2. 25 Roman 1976, pi. 85/2. 26 Ciutä-Gligor 2004, pi. 31. 27 Ghemi?-Sava 2006, pl. V/2 28 Roman 1976, 23, pi. 31/1. 29 Ciugudean 2000, pi. 146. 30 Roman 1976, pi. 55/4. 31 Berecki 2006, pi. 2/2. 32 Roman 1976, pi. 26/8; 46/9. 33 Méder 2004, 38, pl. 1/10-11; 2/5-6. 34 Roman 1976, pi. 12/16. 35 Roman 1976, pi. 49/2. 36 Ciugudean 2000, pi. 53/1-2. 37 Ciugudean 2000, pi. 100/4-5.
