Tálas László szerk.: The late neolithic of the Tisza region (1987)

Öcsöd-Kováshalom (P. Raczky)

ÖCSÖD-KOVASHALOM Om 1m 2m I I Section oí trench I showing the main levels and phases of the settlement [2] Department of Archaeological Studies of the Eötvös Loránd University, the Archaeological Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the Hungarian National Museum and the Ministry of Culture and Education. The broader environment of the site was surveyed in 1982-1983 that involved the mapping of an approximately 35 ha area and the statistical evaluation of the finds retrieved in the course of systematic surface collections. The Late Neolithic finds and settlement features were found to be scattered over an area of 21 ha, a figure that was conspicuously high compared to the extent of other Tisza settlements (RACZKY et al. 1985, 264-265). The subsurface extent of the site and its stratigraphy were determined with 188 subsurface probings over this 21 ha area (RACZKY et al. 1985, 252-264) that revealed that this Tisza settlement can in fact be divided into 3 larger and 2 smaller discrete residential foci. The area covered by these smaller settlement nuclei only totalled about 3-5 ha; the finds were probably displaced over the 21 ha area by subsequent erosion and agricultural activity. This observation would suggest that the data collected in the course of field surveys must be treated with extreme caution and that the present-day surface scatter of artefacts cannot be automatically correlated with the former extent of a prehistoric site; and, furthermore, that socio-economic analyses and population estimates based on data from topographical surveys alone can be grossly misleading also in terms of the Tisza culture (RACZKY et al. 1985, 251-253). The subsurface probings indicated that the central and permanent settlement nuclei on the 3 smaller elevations had been separated by seasonal watercourses. A similar settlement layout was noted at Kökénydomb (KOREK 1972,125-129; RACZKY et al. 1985, 267). This central settlement nucleus had from time to time been surrounded by smaller house clusters. The subsurface probings also revealed that the layer thickness of the three residential foci forming the central part of the settlement ranged between 40 to 150 cm, whilst in other areas it rarely exceeded 30-50 cm. The occupation patterns observed on this site indicated a yet unknown settlement form of the Tisza culture since the Öcsöd site suggested a pattern of settlement showing a loose cluster of discrete settlement nuclei rather than a large contiguous settlement or a smaller, hamlet-like site (MAKKAY 1982, 111-163). The stratigraphical data from Öcsöd at the same time indicated the coexistence of tell-like and single-layer settlement parts that complemented each other. The thickest accumulation of occuptaion deposits was noted in the southern part of the site on an elevation rising directly beside the former watercourse. Subsurface probings reaching to a depth of 120 to 150 cm revealed yellow clay floor levels and burnt debris as well as thick accumulations of refuse in this area. The 1980 sounding opened in this area also indicated a 130-160 cm thick accumulation that could be divided into 2 superimposed layers with several occupation levels. The data yielded by the subsurface probings suggested that this mound, covering less than 1 ha, had been the central part of the Öcsöd settlement and had also been of the longest duration. It also became clear that the different residential foci covering a total of 3-5 ha had not been occupied simultaneously and that this figure can be attributed to the horizontal shift of the settlement around the permanent settlement centre(s). It would appear that the area occupied contemporaneously had never exceeded 2 to 3 ha, an area that is considerably smaller than the extent of settlements in the southern part of the Tisza distribution territory - although it should be borne in mind that presently available estimates of settlement size are mostly based on survey data and are thus probably overestimated. (This appears to be especially true of the Szegvár-Tűzköves settlement whose extent has been determined as 10-11 ha with suggestions that this area had been occupied simultaneously and the underlying implications that this site had been a special, central settlement.) The area to be excavated on the small mound was chosen in the light of the information furnished by preliminary topographic investigations and the subsurface probings. Work was begun in 1983; an area of 1023 m

2 was opened and excavated to the virgin soil in three successive campaigns (trenches HI and V). Two smaller trenches (III and IV) were opened on the other elevations to investigate the other settlement nuclei. The trenches were divided into 5 by 5 m squares, and the various levels and deposits were cleared according to these. It soon became clear that excavation would be fairly difficult for the settlement had not burnt down and most house remains were 63