Marta, Liviu: The Late Bronze Age Settlements of Petea-Csengersima (Satu Mare, 2009)
III. Habitation of te Suciu de Sus Archaeological Culture
represented the surface comprised between the excavated areas of the site. Accepting the two groups of complexes (of the zones I-V and VI) as parts of the same setdement, the area covered with dwellings and pits of the Suciu de Sus habitation should have extended along the brook over a surface of approximately 11—12 hectares if the overall surface was 16-17 hectares. This estimation is based on the fact that the width of the inhabited area in the south-western bank remained the same, and on the hypothesis that the rare complexes in the northern bank of the brook suggested that the area was already on the western part of the setdement. The site was 650 m long, oriented east-west, and had three areas with various stratigraphy on that direction: the areas east of the Erge brook (zones I—IV, Fig. 2) had the cultural layer dating from the Late Bronze Age, the west side of the site contained a layer of the Middle Bronze Age (the western part of the zone VI), and the surface between the previous two areas lacked in the prehistoric archaeological cultural layer (in the eastern part of the zone VI). The upper level of the eastern margin of the site (zones I and IV) was represented by a yellow layer of clay drown out from the Erge brook canal and laid smooth over the surface of the settlement (the upper layer (1), of Fig. 4, 5, 12). It was 0,20—0,40 m thick, but nearby the main building of the customs it reached even 1,20 m, as a result of the works of increasing the level of the soil. The level grew narrower as it advanced towards the state border until it disappeared (Fig. 7). A thin layer of dark-brown arable soil, only 0,20— 0,25 m, laid under the clay layer. A dark layer of 0,15—0,35 m thick, which was actually the remnant of the prehistoric agricultural soil and of the cultural layer, laid under the arable soil. It uncovered daub platforms and vessel depositions. The upper part of the cultural layer was destroyed by ploughing, which constituted the main reason why the daub platforms were only partially preserved. Judging by the great quantity of daub fragments that spread throughout the site and by comparing with the existing situation in the site of Culciu Mare, the number of dwellings should have been larger. The few vessels were found cut by their neck with the plough (Fig. 8, S10 complex 4) showing that the trampled surface in the Late Bronze Age was at least 10—15 cm above the upper limit of the preserved cultural layer. It is possible that the upper part of the layer had several trampled surfaces that corresponded to the habitation horizons from Petea. In case they existed, they were destroyed by ploughing. The preserved layer did not show differences in colour that could mark the existence of some layers of the Suciu de Sus or Lăpuş II—Gáva I habitation. The two surface dwellings of the Suciu de Sus culture were observed in the lower part of the cultural layer, and most of the dwellings of the type Lăpuş II-Gáva I were below the arable soil (except two of them). The sterile soil in archaeological sense was represented by the yellow clay that changed its composition into sand as it went deeper. The stratigraphy of the north-western site at Petea—Csengersima (area VI, Fig. 25) was particular because it lacked in the Late Bronze Age cultural layer. There was no trace of prehistoric layers over a distance of 100 — 200 m towards the west, only a few isolated pits of the Suciu de Sus culture. But, in the south-western margin of the uncovered area, over a surface of 120 x 90 m, a cultural layer dating from the Middle Bronze Age was revealed. The layer reached even 25 cm and contained materials of the Suciu de Sus I type. A layer of clay, lacking in archaeological materials, and 8—15 cm thick, superimposed the cultural layer. It is believed it attested a flood in the Middle Bronze Age settlement18. There was a concentration of archaeological complexes of the Suciu de Sus type on the eastern side of the brook. There were no elements to indicate the chronological differences among the Suciu de Sus groups of complexes on both banks of the brook. It is possible that they joined in the area situated south of the excavated surface (south of zones V and VI, Fig. 2). The surface of the settlements of the Suciu de Sus culture and the thickness of their cultural layer that varies significantly attested various intensities of habitation. The most 18 Information provided by K. Almássy and E. Istvánovits. 13
