Agria 33. (Az Egri Múzeum Évkönyve - Annales Musei Agriensis, 1997)

Fűköh Levente: A malakológiai vizsgálatok szerepe a régészetben

Levente Füköh The role of Malacological Examinations in Archeology This study tries to give a comprihensive picture about those methods which can be carried out with the help of the Quaternary mollusc fauna at archeological sites. Malacological material found in the sediment could have information content which help us to trace the circumstances of sedimentation; the one-time vegetation of the locality and its environ; the biostratigraphical position of the sediments; and the role of people in the transformation of environment. Application of results of so called interdisciplinary sciences encreased in Hungarian archeology in the last few years. Earlier experts were contented with studying classical anthropogenous findings (e.g.: personal belongings, wearings, cultic articles, anthropological and mammal osteological findings) in the case of archeological excavations. Nowdays the development of science requires more and more complex examinations. Basic requirement the instrumental study of archeological materials. Archeologists attempt to get wide range of information about the environ of findings. They try to expose the information content of the deposits. Archeological examination of malacological materials was made possible by the investigations of last few years. On the following pages I try to propound the results of Holocene malacology and its applicability in archeology. In the case of faunistical examinations always arises the question of time factor. Todays circumstances are only a phase of development. Dinamical faunal evaluation can be applied in the case of animals which fossil remains abundant in different sedimentary formations and can be collected in great quantity. Gastropods have great importance from this point of view. Their shell is excellent for fossilisation, they occur in enormous masses. It is why this animal group is used in the case of faunistical evaluation, studying relative abundance, palaeoecological and biostratigraphical examinations. According to the examinations important chages took place during the Quaternary age. The purpose of the investigation of Quaternary formations is to know the development of our recent fauna. We need great number of data to this type of examinations. Hungary is in excellent position from this point of view because faunistical investigations carried out more than hundred years ago in the country (Füköh,L. - Krolopp,E. - Siimegi,P. 1995). As a result of the investigations of the last decades characteristic features of the Quaternary mollusc fauna is well-known. The next task is to carry out the chronological and biostratigraphical ranking on the base of malacological data. Gastropod fauna reflecting climatical changes the best can be found in cave deposits, at subsided areas and at archeological sites. The localities of these gastropod faunas generally rich in vertebrate and archeological findings. These materials complete excellently those conclusions which can be won during the evaluation of malacological data. Different fields of science can develop helping each other in this way. Archeological examinations gave the possibility to carry on environmental, biostratigraphical, geological examinations which provides new data to the knowledge of the Late Quaternary development of the territory (M3 motorway, N-Hungary). The examined territories (eleven archeological sites: Nagyfiiged, Kál, Kompolt, Nagyút, Füzesabony, Mezőszemere) are situated at the southern foreland of Mátra and Bükk Mountains, along 122