Gyöngyössy Márton (szerk.): Perspectives on the Past. Major Excavations in County Pest (Szentendre, 2008)

The Middle Bronze Age

(1700-1400 BC)

■■i

(6100-4500 ВС)

(4500-2700 ВС)

BRONZE AGE

(2700/2500-800 ВС)

©ollowing the decline of the Nagyrév culture, the Great Hungarian Plain and eastern Transdanubia were occupied by the Vatya culture. Dotting the Vatya distribution are impressive hillforts, whose deposits are made up of successive occupation levels spanning several hundred years. The settlements were often protected with ramparts surmounted by a timber palisade. Vatya settlements form a dense network in County Pest. The sandy hills of the Danube-Tisza Interfluve were colonised for the first time during this period. The dynamism of the Vatya culture is reflected by the retreat of the Hatvan population in the north-east and the occupation of their hillforts by Vatya groups.

The many thousand urn burials in the cemeteries beside the settlements bear witness to a large population. Deposited in the urn burials were many bronze artefacts, reflecting the widespread use of bronze compared to the preceding period. Burials lavishly furnished with bronze weapons and elaborate bronze and gold jewellery from the late phase of this period testify to the emergence of a wealthy elite.

• András Czene

1. Gold disc from Budakalász

2. Bronze bracelets from an inurned burial at Biatorbágy

3. Lime encrusted cup from Érd

4. Small cups of the Middle Bronze Age from Érd