Paluch Tibor: Egy középső neolitikus lelőhely a kultúrák határvidékén. A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve: Monographia Archeologica 2. (Szeged, 2011)

Maroslele-Pana: A Middle Neolithic Site at the Frontier of Cultures

PALUCH Tibor • MAROSLELE-PANA: EG Y KÖZÉPSŐ NEOLITIKUS LELŐHEL Y A KULTÚRÁK HA TÁR VIDÉKÉN 75 Cups: Small vessels of well-fired, well-washed material, with thin walls and both internal and external polish were identified as cups. They have high cylindrical necks, cylindrical mouths, and not-well-articulated rims. They are usually ornamented with incised decoration. Cover lids: This is a typical object for the Vinca culture (Fig. 89. 8). The incised field on the lid is filled with characteristic Vinca furrow-stitch decoration that is clearly distinguishable from the later methods used for this type of ornamentation. The object has parallels in the Vinca A/2 and A/3 cultural complexes. Decoration Decorated pieces represent a relatively high proportion of the pottery finds, 14% (Table 5). Due to the geographical and chronological position of the site the ornaments are varied and served as a basis for establishing a relative chronology within the excavation site (Table 6). Painting: Only a relatively few painted pieces were discovered during the excavation; reddish paint was found mostly on the altars. During the processing of the ceramics, however, a large number of fragments was found that had a thin paint coating which easily flaked off. The coating was usually of dark brownish, brown, grey or khaki color, sometimes yellow or white. The chemical analysis of the fragments proved that this type of coating was mainly made of ochre paint (SÁNDORNÉ 2011). On some fragments quartz and lime were found in a higher proportion in addition to ochre. Thumb- and nail-impressed decoration: Pottery with thumb- and nail-impressed decoration is typical for the Early Neolithic (KUTZIÁN 1944, Tab. 6, 10, XXIII. t. 3, XXIV. t. 4, XLI. t. 9). Both ornamentation types are interpreted at our site as a remnant of Körös practices (Table 6). Motifs impressed on the surface with this method usually run perpendicular to the surface itself. Pinching: Pinching was one of the most typical decoration types of the Körös culture. Of its two main variations pinched decoration scattered all over the surface and the so-called "wheat ear" decoration - only the latter is present in the assemblage, on 4 fragments altogether (Fig. 74. 1; Fig. 94. 10). Pinched decoration in lines or in certain motifs appears only at Körös sites. Barbotine decoration: Along with the incised decorations, barbotine is also one of the chronological indicators at the site. Barbotine decorations form the most significant group of appliqué ornamentation in the Körös culture. Two main types can be distinguished: a. Real appliqué barbotine: small amounts of clay were placed onto the almost-dry surface of the vessel. In most cases this applique had only a solely decorative function. In the Pana assemblage this type was represented in a small number, only around 3%. b. Another type of barbotine decoration is the sprinkled version. In this case, a liquid clay slip was put onto the unfired surface of the vessel. When this slip is embellished with wide, channeled-line decoration, it is called Schlickwurf. This decoration type is predominant in the assemblage; almost one third of all decorated fragments display some variation of this technique. The Schlickwurf technique was used with finger-impressed lines at various angles. Vertical, horizontal and oblique lines are all present in the decoration. Incised decoration: Like the barbotine ornamentation, incised decoration also helped to establish the chronology of the material. This decoration form appeared on less than 10% of the pottery assemblage. Appliqué decoration: Apart from knobbed vessels, almost no appliqué decoration was found. A number of pots in this category were embellished with finger-impressed, grooved decoration on the shoulders. Knobs: Round knobs of various sizes appear often in the assemblage; they are sometimes further shaped by finger impressions. Carinated, biconical bowls constitute a special subcategory among the vessels decorated with knobs. Other decoration types: Some forms of decoration appear only on a small number of fragments. One of these is a deep groove, another type consists of small, short incisions that cover the whole surface. The refined, oblique, plait-like decorations on the shoulder of some of the biconical bowls testify to a high level of technical skill. Cultic objects Neolithic communities can be interpreted as rural farming comunities, and farming communities have certain characteristics independent of the time period they live in and their geographical location. The most important trait is a respect for tradition and community conventions. A strong attachment to their traditions is the most conspicuous trait of a rural farming community. Consequently, the structures and forms of these communities only change very slowly (ORTUTAY 1981, 184). Cultic objects testifying to the religious life of the inhabitants were found in large number at our site, among them altars, oil lamps, figurines, and a statuette of a woman. Anthropomorphic vessel in the shape of a woman: In the northern half of the trench, from feature 73 OBNR/77 SNR, a fragment of a large, hollow, standing, anthropomorphic vessel was discovered (Fig. 53). Only the lower part of the statuette was recovered during the excavation, up to the figure's waist. The statuette had two short legs; the features are schematic and simple. None of the parts is fully articulated, therefore the vessel's function must only have been secondary. Not a proper body, but a hollow "vessel" is attached to the legs; two knobs emphasize the buttocks and the female genitals on the front and back sides. The genitals are also marked by a V-shaped incision between the two front knobs. Only three complete anthropomorphic vessels are known from the Hungarian Early Neolithic — HódmezővásárhelyGorzsa (GAZDAPUSZTAI 1957, 11; TROGMAYER-KONCZ-PALUCH 2006, 1. t. 1), Öcsöd (KUTZIÁN 1944, Tab. 12, 10), Rákóczifalva (KALICZ 1970, 4. kép) —, and their function is still unknown. Apart from these, four leg fragments have been registered from the area of present-day Hungary. These anthropomorphic vessels must have played a crucial role in Early Neolithic rituals as is signified by their rare occurrence and standardized shape (RACZKY 1980, 19). Two-legged statuettes in the shape of a woman are known from the earliest period of the Neolithic in the Balkans as well as in the Carpathian Basin, such as the steatopygian statuettes of the Körös culture. Vessels in the shape of a female figure are widespread in the Carpathian Basin from the beginning of the Early Neolithic. The most spectacular pieces were made at the end of the Middle and the beginning of the Late Neolithic Era. It is interesting, however, that vessels (not statuettes) in the shape of a woman standing on legs are quite few in number. Instead of the standing figures, vessels in the shape of a sitting woman (sometimes on a "throne") became significant in the Late Neolithic period. Thus, a female idol or image of a goddess existed, not in the form of (hollow or solid) statuettes, but as a vessel in the shape of a sitting woman (MAKKAY 2005, 88). The woman-shaped vessels of the Körös culture represent female figures, goddesses, spirits or believers. There are, indubitably, many interpretations for the prehistoric anthropo-