Csengeri Piroska - Tóth Arnold (szerk.): A Herman Ottó Múzeum évkönyve 54. (Miskolc, 2015)
Régészet - Kósa Polett: Meggyasszó-Halom-oldal dűlő: New data int he Tumulus culture research from North-eastern Hungary
Megyaszó-Halom-oldal dűlő: New data in the Tumulus culture research... 193 ANALYSIS OF THE GRAVES BURIAL RITES In Megyaszó-Halom-oldal dűlő’s partial burial site, only cremated graves were found. It is possible that the burial ground may have contained more graves, but without information, it cannot be determined that only cremation rite was practiced. When comparing present known larger cemeteries, some tendencies can be observed among them. Reviewing the burial sites in the Great Hungarian Plain, it can be noticed that by heading north, the proportion of cremation graves are constantly growing (CSÁNYI 1980,154-155). Tápé is one of the largest cemeteries and also the southernmost. A total of 680 graves were found that belonged to the Tumulus culture, of which 575 were inhumation and 22 were cremation burials, consequently inhumation dominates in almost 85% (TROGMAYER et al. 1975,148). The cemetery of Rákóczifalva is situated in the central part of the Great Hungarian Plain, and has a majority of urn graves. T. Kovács published 78 graves overall, of which 48 were urn burial and 22 were inhumation, i.e. urn ritual prevails in 62% (KOVÁCS 1981, 90). Jánoshida has a rather equalized depiction, as there are 278 graves, of which 135 belongs to the cremation rite with 103 urn burials. Besides, 132 graves can be classified as inhumation. Approximately 48% belongs to cremation rite and 47% to inhumation, so there is an even proportion of both rites (CSÁNYI 1980,153-154). Tiszafüred is also a biritual burial ground. A total of 132 inhumation burials were documented beside 111 cremations, while 122 burials were uncertain (KOVÁCS 1975,41). According to some observations, this amount may have a majority of cremation. Considering the unspecified graves, cremation ritual begins to dominate. Mezőcsát is an exception within the tendency. The cemetery has 37 graves that belong to the Tumulus culture, as well as two additional uncertain burials that may correlate with this period (HÄNSEL—KALICZ 1987, 9). However, all of these graves are inhumations (HÄNSEL-KALICZ 1987, 44). It may be either the result of an incomplete excavation, or the influence of other neighbouring cultures. Emőd-Istvánmajor is located approx. 40 km apart from Megyaszó-Halom-oldal dűlő. The burial site is considered to be fully excavated, and it involves 115 cremation and 5 inhumation burials (HELLEBRANDT 2004, 190). Based on Emőd-Istvánmajor, Megyaszó might also hide some additional inhumation burials, although this is merely a hypothesis. The two closest cemeteries are Halmaj and Detek. In both cases, some graves were destroyed before excavation works could begin. Halmaj is less than 10 km apart, while Detek is approx. 20 km far from Megyaszó. 16 graves remained in Halmaj (KEMENCZEI 1968,171), and 19 graves were found in Detek (KEMENCZEI 1968,166). All the burials belonged to the cremation rite. Jobbágyi is the latest and northernmost example for cremation cemeteries. 207 graves were found, each of them cremated (except small children, who were inhumed), out of which a large part of the burials were scattered cremation (FÜLÖP—VÁCZI 2014, 413-416). According to Marietta Csányi, the burial rite practiced by the Tumulus culture was effected by neighbouring cultures, as Tumulus people usually adopted adjacent funerary customs (CSÁNYI 1980,155). It is certain that Tumulus culture applied both cremation and inhumation rituals at the same time and side by side, and there was no commitment to only one kind of rite (KALICZ 1958, 58-59; KOVÁCS 1966,188-189). The proportion of rituals were influenced by the neighbouring and previous Middle Bronze Age cultures. Proceeding farther north in the Great Hungarian Plain, an increasing number of cremation graves are noticable. Since the northern Füzesabony and Gyulavarsánd- Otomani cultures and Bodrogszerdahely group (KEMENCZEI 1984, 9) preceded the Tumulus expansion and the northern lying Piiiny culture, it appears that cultures in the North-Hungarian region, both previous and new, preferred cremation. Therefore, funerary rite was continuous during the Middle and Late Bronze Age (KEMENCZEI 1963,177). Cremation graves can be further categorized in Megyaszó-Halom-oldal dűlő. In nine cases, large containers or bowls were used to store the ashes, while a scattered burial was also found. There is no absolute certainty about the absence of an urn, but the few poorly preserved pottery fragments suggest that. The function of feature S10 is uncertain, as it contained a sole mug without any human ashes. T. Kemenczei remarked some lone mugs described as burials, which makes its determination uncertain (KEMENCZEI 1968, 171). Moreover latest excavations confirm that these sporadic, separate mugs might be related to some kind of secondary burial rites or feastings (FÜLÖP— VÁCZI 2014, 416).
