A Herman Ottó Múzeum évkönyve 53. (2014)

Régészet - Csengeri Piroska: Újabb középső neolitikus arcos edények Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén megyéből

Újabb középső neolitikus arcos edények Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén megyéből

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4, 1—3, Fig. 5, 2—3, Fig. 6, 2—3, Fig. 7, 4, Fig. 8, 1—3, Fig. 9, 3—4). Among the finds of Encs-Kelecsény also has been found a new vessel form with face representation: a middle-sized, pot-like one with broader mouth and pierced rim (Fig. 9, 5).

The face usually was fashioned by a shape of a reversed triangle on the cylindrical-necked vessels and was framed by a plastic rib or was taken out from the plane of the vessel (“Me^o^ombortype”, Fig. 6,1, Fig. 7,1—3). In the case of bowls and bomb-shaped vessels, “the reversed triangles” were formed by incised, curved lines (Fig. 5, 2, Fig. 8, 2) or weren’t triangleshaped (Fig. 4, 1—2, Fig. 5, 3, Fig. 8, 3). The face of the item No. 5 in the catalogue (from Encs-Kelecsény) was fashioned in a panel of a panel-like surface decoration (Fig. 4,1). On the back side of this vessel (also in a panel) has been appeared the curved “double band motif” of the ALP culture (Fig. 4, 2). Face decoration of the sherd No. 15 in the catalogue (from Fancsal) was closed into an under-the-rim decoration (Fig. 8, 3).

The more intact finds refer to the fact that the marking of the eyes and the nose wasn’t an obligation on the face depiction (Fig. 5, 1, Fig. 8, 1). In contrast to the earlier observations (Kalicz-Koós 2000, 20), the marking of the mouth also wasn’t essential, because the arched symbolic sign could express the whole face in itself (Fig. 5, 2—3).

These introduced items provide further confirmation for the usual composition of the arched sign of the “northern” face-decorated vessels: two angular parts positioned symmetrically at the sides of the face and a central, asymmetrical part in the shape of a “sickle” (Csengeri 2011a, 79). The outermost sign-parts mostly have been a reversed U- or lying V-formed (Fig. 5, 1—3, Fig. 6, 1, Fig. 7, 1—4 and 9, Fig. 8, 1—4). The symmetry hasn’t been always perfect, but the similarity of the opposite sign-parts has been striking (Fig. 8, 2). The end of the asymmetric arched sign has usually been separated into two branches (Fig. 5, 1 and 3, Fig. 6, 2—4, Fig. 8, 1-2, Fig. 9, 4—5).

At 10 pieces shown in the study, the central “sickle motif” starts from the right side of the face (Fig. 5, 1 and 3, Fig. 6, 3-4, Fig. 7, 4, Fig. 8, 1—2 and 4, Fig. 9, 4—5) while at one fragment from the left side (Fig. 6, 2). At the Garadna finds, it could be observed a “right-sided” asymmetrical sign in 7 cases while a “left-sided sickle” in one case (Csf.ngeri 2011a, 79). At the face-decorated sherds of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County that were published earlier, only “sickle motif” starts from the right side of the face can be found (in 10 cases: Kalicz—Koós 2000, Fig. 9, 4, Fig. 10, 1—2 and 5, Fig. 11, 1—3, Fig. 13, 1; Csengeri 2002, Fig. 1—2). A “sickle motif” starts from the left side of the face on a vessel was only mentioned from Szelevény-Felsőföldek (Raczky-Anders 2003, 164). P. Raczky and A. Anders connected the signs that were started from the right side of the face (on vessels or on figurines) to an important symbolic woman of the sacral sphere while the scarcer “left-sided” asymmetrical signs to a supposed symbolic man (Raczky-Anders 2003, 163 and 166). But on the base of the new finds of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County and the face-decorated items of Garadna another idea can be suggested. It’s possible that the vessels with “left-sided sickle” had been made by left-handed persons.

In connection with the meaning of the chevron (zigzag) decoration of the face-decorated vessels with an arched sign, L. Domboróczki supposed recendy that they might be described a labour woman as like as the M-signs of the facedecorated vessels of the Szakálhát culture (Domboróczki 2013, 499).

The author agrees with that part of his opinion that the “northern” zigzag motif and the “southern” M-sign might be in relationship and possibly their meaning was similar. Perhaps this parallelism can prove common roots of the mental traditions of the northern regional groups of the ALP culture and the “southern” Szakálhát culture. On the other hand, the author thinks that the meaning of the “northern” zigzag decoration had been more profane. It could be represent the lower closing of the face (they might be instead of the reversed triangle fashioning of the face), as like as Gy. Goldman thought in connection with the meaning of the M-sign of face-decorated vessels of Szakálhát culture (Goldman 1978, 38).

On the basis of the new finds, it seems to be that the formation of the head on “northern” vessels with face representation had changed a lot from the early stage of ALP culture to the end of the Middle Neolithic. Plastic heads arising from the rim of the vessels of the 1SI phase of ALP culture (for example at Mezőkövesd-Mocsolyás, without symbolic arched sign, Kalicz-Koós 2014, No 33/1 sherd, Table 11, 5) or the reversed triangle-shaped heads protruding from the vessel sides (e.g. Tiszavasvári-Paptelekhát, Kaucz-Makkay 1972a, Abb. 9,1, Taf. 11,1; 1977, Abb. 3b, Taf. 83, 2; Kalicz-Koós 2000, 9. kép 2), merged to the surface to the end of the Middle Neolithic. “Mep)\ombor type” face-decorated vessels might represent a transitional state. Face depictions on the spouts (or on false spouts) of the vessels have been particular. Examples of them have been known from Sajószentpéter-Kövecses (Bükk culture; Csengeri 2002, 11 and Fig. 1; 2003, 35 and Fig. 4, 2; 2013a, 120 /No. 1/, 127-129, Fig. 74, 2) and the new Hejőkürt pieces, introduced here (Fig. 9,

1-2).

It’s possible that storage was the everyday function of the “northern” face-decorated vessels, but they might be connected to the world of believes by the supposed guarding role of their depictions. They could also have a ritual use: could be items of festive rites, sacrificial ceremonies. Finding contexts of several vessels refer to the latter purpose (e.g. vessels No. 1 and No. 2 from Garadna, Csengeri 2011a, 75 and 84—85; Füzesabony-Kettőshalom, Kalicz—Makkay 1972a, 15; 1977, 61, 129, Kat. Nr. 108; Kalicz-Koós 2000, 17; Mezőzombor-Temető, Kalicz-Koós 2000, 17; Polgár- Kenderföldek, Polgár-Ferenci-hát, Hajdú Zs. 2007).