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... 197 To sum it up, pits contained a wide range of household waste. It can be carefully presumed that a smaller settlement could have stood here, although no post- holes were found (SÁNTA 2010, 516). Post-holes do not always appear in each Tumulus site, either because Tumulus houses might have been built on the surface (SÁNTA 2010, 517), or the excavation only disturbed the pits near the edge of the settlement (KISS 2007, 220—221).38 It must be pointed out that the excavated area is very small, so it is rather difficult to reach any conclusions based on a few pits and a small amount of finds. Comparing the finds of the pits, they can be placed to the same time horizon, and the identical soil from pits S14 and S15 associates them there as well. Burials might also help with periodization, since a large proportion of graves were dug into pit S8, which might suggest that pits are older than graves. Although this observation is unconfirmed, since the edges of the pit were not identified. Most of the finds are classic in all periods, such as grinding and chipped stones and animal bones. Dating can be set up on ceramic fragments, which can be categorised by the above mentioned typological groups. Mugs and bowls were in use for a long time that can be placed between Rei. Br. Bl-D thus the whole Tumulus period. However, by taking the graves into account, pits can be further refined between the Rei. Br. Bl-C phase. Their quantity is less significant, but they are typical to the settled Tumulus culture phase (KEMENCZEI 1968,181), so the pits might be dated to the Rei. Br. B2 or the beginning of C period. It is difficult to find analogous Tumulus settlements in this zone, as settlement research is rather underdeveloped in the region. So far, settlements were mainly studied in Transdanubia (ILON 2007,136; 2. kép) and in the Southern Great Hungarian Plain, especially in Csongrád County (SÁNTA 2004, 66—68; 2009, 266; 2. kép). Nowadays, motorway excavations bring major new information (M3: RACZKY-KOVÁCS—ANDERS 1997; M7: BELÉNYESY-HONTI-KISS 2007). One slightly younger settlement was found near to Oszlár village (KALICZ-KOÓS 1997, 66-67). Oszlár- Nyárfaszög was discovered as part of the M3 motorway excavation. Late Bronze Age features were dated to Rei. Br. B2-D, but a small idol puts the settlement to the 38 Pits located on the edge of the settlement are from e.g.: Ordacsehi-Bugaszeg. Rei. Br. C-D phase (KOÓS 2002, 79). These pits may be somewhat younger than the pits of Megyaszó, with some features that belong to the Tumulus culture.39 * 1 ANALYSIS OF THE DITCH During excavation a rather large, V-shaped ditch has appeared (S6). Due to lack of time complete transection was impossible. The full depth and the diameter are not definite. The subsoil was undetectable and the investment level discontinued beyond 3 m, so a minimum depth of 3.3 m can be predicted. The eastern edge unlike the western one, was found, so width can exceed 3.5 m. Finds are similar to the material of pit S4. 14 ceramic fragments were restored but unidentified, since only three pieces could be emphasized and reconstructed. All three have thick walls, so they are probably parts of some storage vessels. The rim fragment (Table 5. 1/12) and the side fragment (Table 5. 12/3) do not include any more information, while the handle piece (Table 5. 12/2) may have run from the rim to the shoulder line. A fragmentary grinding stone has also been found (Table 5. 12/1), which is similar to the ones from pit S4 and S8 based on their raw material, colour and the traces of use on the surface. A total of 12 daub pieces were also detected. They are similar to the ones from the much smaller pits. Their surface is rather scrubbed, so plant species cannot be determined. There are 2 pieces with compacted surface, which might have been plasters or parts of a wall. 4 animal bone pieces were found. 3 of them could have belonged to some bovine species and 1 is probably the broken shell of a snail (Table 9. 18/1—4). Their size does not allow for any exact identification. The partly explored ditch can be paralleled with the one from the above mentioned Oszlár-Nyárfaszög, as two similarly V-shaped, sharply sloping ditches were found there (KOÓS 2002, 79). The ditches were also circa 3 m wide and 3 m deep, intersected with 2 m wide trenches on several points. The findings are also from the Late Bronze Age (KOÓS 2002, 79), so from the later period of Tumulus culture. The position of the two sites are similar. Oszlár- Nyárfaszög is located between the river Tisza and the Hejő-főcsatorna a rather prominent area some 90 m above sea level (KOÓS 1998, 501), Megyaszó-Halom39 Further Tumulus culture settlements are in: SÁNTA 2010, Fig. 1. 28.
