Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 1. (2019)

Sándor Berecki, Sándor József Sztáncsuj: A Neolithic Settlement from Ernei

34

S. Berecki - S. J. Sztáncsuj

VI. Milojcic’s system,30 the development of the Starcevo-Cri§ culture in Romania is divided into four phases, each of them having further subphases.31 While the initial stages (Starcevo-Cri§ I and II) are present mainly in the western part of Romania (especially in Banat, Oltenia and Western-Transylvania), starting with the IIIrd stage the culture expanded to the Eastern Carpathian region as well. This expansion is linked to the appearance of the early Vinca culture, the effect of which can be demonstrated also on the archaeological heritage of the Starcevo-Cri§ communities.32 Late Starcevo-Cri§ settlements, dated to phases III and IV, appeared along the upper course of Mure§ and Olt rivers (Eastern and North-Eastern Transylvania) as well as in Moldova, on the outer side of Eastern Carpathians.33 In terms of the absolute chronology, subphase IIIB is set between 5800-5500 BC, while the entire length of the late IV phase is estimated to cca. 5500-5100 BC.34 Most likely the small settlement of Ernei-Köles-kert could be established during these latter stages of development. Because of the small amount and often sporadic

nature of the material, as well as the lack of more precise dating the site cannot be accurately dated. Probably this settlement dates from the end of the IIIrd phase or the beginning of the IVth phase of the Cri§ culture. This dating is suggested by the biconical and carinated forms, the frequency of nail impressed and pinched decoration and the presence of sand in the clay used as tempering material. In the narrower geographic area most of the known settlements date from the same period.

From the Upper Mure§ region several - unfortunately usually only broadly investigated and published - Cri§ sites contemporaneous with the Emei-Köles-kert settlement are known, like the ones from Bato§-Gledinel,35 Cipäu- Dälma,36 lernut-Bide$cutul Mare,37 38 More^ti- PodePH or Tärgu Mure§-Forfress.39 According to the available data, these sites date from the late phases of the Cri§ culture. Thus, despite the low number and poor character of the finds, the Early Neolithic site from Ernei-Köles-kert brings new relevant data regarding both the geomorphology and the character of the settlements from this period on the upper course of the Mure§ River.

REFERENCES

Berecki et al. 2016

S. Berecki - K. László - R. E. Németh - В. Rezi - Z. Soós - S. J. Sztáncsuj - J. - B. Szász, Ernei- Köles-kert (Situi 7), CCA, Campania 2015 (Bucure§ti 2016) 166, 515-516.

Ciutä 1997

M. Ciutä, Contribujii la repertoriul arheologic al neoliticului timpuriu in Depresiunea Bra^ovului, Apulum 31, 1997, 5-35.

Ciutä 2005

M .Ciutä, Inceputurile neoliticului timpuriu in spafiul intracarpatic Transilvänean (Alba Iulia 2005) Kutziän 1944

I. Kutzián, A Körös-kultúra, DissPann, Ser. II, No. 23 (Budapest 1944)

30 Miloicic 1949.

31 For a general overview see Lazarovici 1993, 244-247; Luca et al. 2011, 7-16.

32 Ursulescu 2000, 15-18.

33 Lazarovici 1993, 245; Marinescu-Bílcu 1993, 192-194.

34 Luca et al. 2011,13-15.

35 Lazár 1995,65-66.

36 Vlassa 1959,450.

37 Vlassa 1966,17.

38 Lázár 1995, 264.

39 See in this volume.