Marta, Liviu: The Late Bronze Age Settlements of Petea-Csengersima (Satu Mare, 2009)
III. Habitation of te Suciu de Sus Archaeological Culture
numerous settlements had the cultural layer of 15-40 cm19 thick, similar with the ones of the setdement at Petea—Csengersima. The layer of the setdement at Sâncraiul Silvaniei was a litde thicker (60 cm), and the one that belonged to the Suciu de Sus culture from Oarţa de Jos— Vâlceaua Rusului exceeded 1 m (until 1,20 m)20. The surfaces of the Suciu de Sus setdements varied a lot. Some setdements had very small or small surfaces: Boineşti—Coasta Boineştilor (0,25-0,35 hectares), Culciu Mare-Kendervető (0,3-0,4 hectares), Culciu Mic (1—1,2 hectares), Medieşu Aurit—Şuculeu (0,9—2,4 hectares). The setdement at Culciu de Sus was larger (2—3 hectares). The surface of the Suciu de Sus (Stanovo) setdements in Ukraine had 0,5-2 hectares21. Among these sites, the setdement at Petea—Csengersima of the Suciu de Sus period is the largest, covering 15—17 hectares. It is surpassed only by the setdement of Bicaz— Igoaie, estimated to have a surface of 40 hectares22. III.2. Archaeological Complexes There were 145 archaeological complexes with specific ceramics to the Suciu de Sus archaeological culture. Out of the 114 pits of the settlement with Bronze Age materials, which could not be assigned to an archaeological culture, 50 of them could be assigned to the Suciu de Sus culture, as they were present in the setdement with archaeological features of the Suciu de Sus culture (areas II, III, V). In the inventory of seven complexes there were ceramic fragments specific both to Suciu de Sus culture and Lăpuş II—Gáva I cultural horizon23. Dwellings The archaeological research carried out so far in the Suciu de Sus area concluded that this culture had two specific types of dwellings: dwellings that were deepened into the ground and surface dwellings. A large surface in the archaeological site at Petea—Csengersima revealed fragments of fired clay, originating from the walls of burnt constructions existing in the cultural layer or pits. They were preserved as platforms in several areas, enabling us to assume them as traces of burnt constructions. Two of these buildings were only partially uncovered (S23 complex 1 — Fig. 7, S26 complex 2 - Fig. 8). The surface of the site had many post holes. Some of them might originate from the dwellings of the Suciu de Sus culture (Fig. 28/A). Most of them could not be assigned to a period or culture. The presence of the Bronze Age ceramic fragments only, was not always relevant for their assignment to a period and culture, as they often came to be in secondary position in the late pits, reaching the cultural layer by earth. This was demonstrated by many ceramic fragments of the Bronze Age within the Roman Age complexes. When assigning the post holes, it should have been considered that the Roman Age dwellings and constructions often made use of posts. The assignment to the Suciu de Sus culture was more certain in the case of the post holes in the zones II and III (Fig. 7, 8). These zones registered a low habitation as compared to other ages. To start with the disposal of the post holes in four situations at the Petea—Csengersima 19 Medieşu Aurit Şuculeu, Culciu Mare — Sub Grădini; Culciu Mare - Kendervető (Bader 1978, p. 64-65), Oarţa de Sus - Oul Făgetului (Kacsó 1980, p. 39), Bicaz — Igoaie (Kacsó 2005, p. 52), Lazuri — Lubi tag (Stanciu 1999, p. 116) and Lazuri — Drumul Dorolţului (Marta et al. 2000, nr. 102). Most setdements in Ukraine have the cultural layer of 15-20 cm thick (Balahuri 2001, p. 245). 20 Kacsó 1980, p. 37, 39. 21 Balahuri 2001, p. 245; Kobal' 2007, p. 584-585. “Kacsó 2005, p. 51. 23 S8 complex 2, S9 complex 5, S33 complex 1, S34 complex 4, S34 compex 4, S34 complex 11, S34 complex 15, S34 comlex 15, complex 506. 14
