Marta, Livius et al.: The Late Bronze Age Settlement of Nyíregyháza-Oros „Úr Csere” (Satu Mare, 2010)
III. Dan V. Sana: Archaeological Complexes and Surface Management int he Settlement
- Complex no. 245 - Large size pit, with circular ground-plan and irregular profile. An almost complete cup was discovered on the western side, in the lower part of the pit, placed in a natural position, with the mouth upwards33 (Figure 16, drawing and photograph).- Complex no. 263 - Large size pit, with an approximately circular ground-plan and irregular profile. Its main inventory consists of a cup almost complete, lacking only the handle.- Complex no. 268 - Large size pit, with circular ground-plan and approximately cone-shaped profile. Its unique inventory consisted of a pair of cervidae horns, deposited on the bottom of the pit, in its north-western side (Figure 17, drawing and photograph).- Complex no. 286 - Pit with a large diameter and reduced depth, its main inventory consisting of a cup almost complete, with the handle partially broken, deposited on the bottom of the pit, in the southern half, in a dense layer of charcoal and ash. Complex 277 could add to these, with more osteological remains of animal origin, deposited on the bottom of the pit, in its southern half (Figure 17, photograph). As can be easily noticed, in five of ten cases the inventory is deposited in the southern half of the complexes, in other four cases being deposited to their west or northwest side. With one exception (Complex 34), the layout on the bottom clearly dominates. Another constant is the large size and the irregular/bag-shaped profile of most of the pits, as well as the predilection for the depositing of pottery, cups being the dominant type. We could also underline that all the pits have a single layer of filling, which suggests that they were made in one single stage. We believe that the three categories of offerings (pottery, animal bones and the two grinders) served different purposes, impossible to say today with certainty which such purpose was. They could serve to get something, to fulfill a magical function, rather than a religious one, as Eliade states when speaking about the lithic kratophanies34. The presence of the vessels used for storing or consuming liquids (cups, mugs, amphorae) is remarked, which makes us think about practicing libations. These, together with the offerings of meat, were probably meant to draw the benevolence of certain agricultural deities that would have influenced positively the fertility of the plants and animals that provided food for the community. 33 Unfortunately, as it was left there for making a detailed drawing and some photographs after opening the northern half, the cup was stolen from the site after the working hours and it was no longer recovered. 34 Eliade 2008, p. 229-230. 19
