Budapest Régiségei 36. (2002) – In memoriam Rózsa Kalicz-Schreiber (1929-2001)

M. Virág Zsuzsanna: Data on the middle copper age archaeological topography of Budapest environs : sites of the Ludanice Culture = Adatok Budapest középső rézkorának topográfiájához : a Ludanice kultúra lelőhelyei 93-113

DATA ON THE MIDDLE COPPER AGE ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOPOGRAPHY OF BUDAPEST ENVIRONS quately known. On the basis of the current data, the occurrence of shallow bee-hive form pits with a diameter of cca. 100-130 cm seems to be general. Provided the dating of the Budafoki street house given by G. Alföldy is correct, this is the first and only house, with wooden bar structure so far on the territory of Budapest, which can be dated to the first half of the Middle Copper Age. Its occurrence however is not without parallels as several versions of large houses with wooden posts are known on the sites of coeval age from the territory of Transdanubia and SW Slovakia, respectively.

65 Burials Burials were found in identical geographical environment as the settlements. In those cases where it could be ascertained, single (Budapest-Budafoki street; Budapest-Csabai street) or a small group of burials close to each other (Budapest-Békásmegyer) were found. On the basis of large surface excavations as well as the authenticating surveys following the discovery of single burials we can not hypothèse the occurrence of large cemeteries on the territory of the capital. Due to small surface excavations the relation of burials to settlements can only be deduced from indirect data.

66 It should be noted that settlement finds were never found near the graves which can also be a result of small scale excavations. It is though believed that settlements and cemeteries were separated which seems to be corroborated by experiences at Békásmegyer where features of settlement were separated from the graves by a distance of 800 m. The observations made at the site of Budafoki street where burials were found in the vicinity of settlement units denote a rather irregular burial into pits on the settlement. The special features of this burials were also stressed by the double burial. From the sites of comparable age, there are further instances of special burials known as well from the vicinity of settlement features.

67 The graves observed so far contained skeletons in contracted position. The deceased were lain on their left sides (Budapest-Békásmegyer

68

; Budapest-Budafoki street

69

). Their orientation cannot be ascertained yet, due to the low number of instances known. Skeletons oriented approx. W-E were observed at Békásmegyer (SW-NE) and others oriented in opposite direction (at Budafoki street: E-W). The graves contained 1-2 pieces of pottery as grave-goods placed close to the head or the upper part of the body 65 E.g.: LICHAKDUS-VLADÁR 1968; VIRÁG 1990; PAVÚK-BÁTORA 1995. NÉMETH 1994. tó

NEVizÁNSKY 1985. 60; VIRÁG 1992. 27. 67 VIRÁG 1992. 25-29. with further references 68 CSÁNK 1964. 211. 69 ALFÖLDY HNM Archives, 565. B.x. (Budapest-Békásmegyer

70

; Budapest-Budafoki street

71

) Apart from placing vessels in the grave

, we have data on putting copper knife and obsidian blade into the grave as well. In one of the Békásmegyer graves, an long obsidian blade of 6 cm was found at the left shoulder of the skeleton.

72 Copper knife is know from Rákoscsaba-Újtelep, but no data are available on its position within the grave.

73 The finds Pottery technology The characteristic pottery of the period is typically of good quality carefully tempered, the surface often polished or pressed. The ratio of pottery with rough surface is insignificant. Even the surface of large vessels is often pressed or superficially polished. The temper used comprise mixed sand, small pottery grit, rarely small pebbles or stone grit. The colour of the pottery is typically brownish, frequently of a light brown shade. Types of vessels. The types found on settlements and in the burials show no differences. Bowls with retracted rim and biconical form are frequently occurring on most localities. Several versions are known from strongly inverted rim to ones with almost straight-cut rim. The profile of their body is typically rounded, but pieces with a sharp fraction line are also occurring. The characteristic form of the upper part is low, the lower part is deep and of conical form, sometimes slightly concave. Bowls with conical lower part occur also with low cylindrical upper part as well. The low upper part can be concave or convexly arched. The only element of ornamentation applied on the bowls is a variety of knots, placed mainly on the shoulders of the vessels. The type bowl with handle, in the form of a spherical segment or truncated cone is also frequent. The rising rim at the starting point of the bulky handle starting from the rim is very characteristic. Pieces with straight-cut rim appear as well less frequently. The handle placed at the shoulder of the vessel is less frequent (Fig. 8 3). On the basis of the complete handled bowls have found so far, the most frequent type has two handles placed on the opposite sides of the vessel (Fig. 11. 2, 4). Sherds of bowls, mainly those with retracted rims and biconical form might also belong to hollow-pedestalled bowls as well. This type is represented in the material of the sites in the capital by several pedestal fragments comprising bell-form (Fig. 4. 9., Fig. 8. 5., Fig. 10. 7) and conical form (Fig. 7. 10) items 70 CSÁNK 1964. 210. 71 ALFÖLDI HNM Archives, 565. B. x. 72 CSÁNK 1964. 211. 7

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