A Nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyve 36. - 1994 (Nyíregyháza, 1995)

Elisabetta Starnini: Typological and technological analysis of the Körös Culture stone assemblages of Méhtelek-Nádas and Tiszacsege (North-East Hungary). A Preliminary report

Elisabetta STARNINI Their distribution in the structures was as follows: Structure Total ÖSSZ. Obsidian: N. Obszidián: Szám (%) (%) Non obs.: N. Nem obs.: N. (%) (%) Pit 1-3/a 415 291 (70,1) 124 (29,9) Pit 4-5/a 330 228 (69,1) 102 (30,9) Pit 6/a 50 27 (54,0) 23 (46,0) Pit I/o. 130 73 (56,2) 57 (43,8) Pit II 25 20 (80,0) 5 (20,0) Pit III 651 331 (50,8) 320 (49,2) Pit IV 75 40 (53,3) 35 (46,7) Dam trench 6 34 19 (55,9) 15 (44,1) Totals Összesen 1710 1029 (60,2) 681 (39,8) Table 1 Distribution of the chipped stone artifacts 1. tábla A pattintott kőeszközök megoszlása There is some difference in the total number of pieces counted by CHAPMAN (1986. Tab. 3) from the various structures and the collection actually in Budapest, ranging between a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 46 artifacts (as in the case of pit III). The artifacts have been subdivided into the following categories: retouched pieces, and unretouched pieces and cores. The maximum length, width and thickness of the unretouched (blanks) complete pieces have been recorded and plotted separately for the obsidian (OB) and non-obsidian (NO) artifacts, with the intention of building up diagrams and histograms of the lithotechnic and lithometric distribution, according to Bagolini's system (BAGOLINI 1968.). As shown in Fig. 2, the main values are those of the flat microliths, represented by bladelets and flakelets. The scatterplots of the obsidian and nonobsidian elements and the relative histograms are very similar, suggesting an identical production system. The cores are also similar from a typological point of view. They are almost all small in size, and subcorneal with one striking platform (Fig. 3: 12, 13, 16). They all look very worn. Only one pyramidal obsidian specimen from pit 1-3/oc, is exceptional for its size and for the regularity of its preparation (Fig. 3: 17); it does not seem to be a worn and discarded piece. Some cores of limnic quartzite are worn out for re-use as hammers. As already observed by CFIAPMAN (1986.) a considerable core reduction activity is testified at the site. There are several technical pieces connected with this activity such as core trimming flakes, striking platforms rejuvenation flakes, decortication flakes, and core-tip rejuvenation flakes. In addition, most of the blanks, unretouched flakes and blades, often of an irregular shape or 'outrepassé' (TDÜER-INIZANROCHE 1980.95.), should be considered as having been discarded during the core reduction process. There are in total 173 retouched pieces and instruments. They represent a small percentage (10%) of the total assemblage. Almost 75% of them are from obsidian; the rest are chipped from other raw materials, mainly limnic quartzite. The tool-kit is characterized by endscrapers (Fig. 3: 1-2), truncations (Fig. 3: 3-5), trapezoidal geometries (Fig. 3: 6-9) (obtained without the microburin technique) and bladelets with a simple retouch (Fig. 3: 10) In a few cases slight polish can be observed along the edges of retouched and unretouched artifacts, but it does not seem always to be a true sickle gloss (Fig. 3: 3, 11). As mentioned above, the most common raw material from Méhtelek is obsidian. Neutron activation analysis of 34 samples of obsidian has indicated the utilization of the Carpathian 1 source of the TokajPresov Mountains (slovakian side) (Williams THORPE 1978.). Obsidian is followed by the limnic quartzite of various colours from the Tokaj Mountains. A very low percentage of obsidian of the Carpathian 2 variety (Erdőbénye type) is also present. The obsidian seems to have been collected in small corticated nodules, two of which were recovered intact from pit 7/oc. The identification of the raw material was conducted with the aid of the Lithotheca, the raw material collection of the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest (BÍRÓ-DOBOSI 1991.) and with the help of K.T. Bíró and V.T. Dobosi. The groups of raw materials so far identified are considerably less numerous than those of CHAPMAN (1986.32-33.). Other raw materials utilized at Méhtelek, but represented in very small quantities are radiolarite of Carpathian origin, and „Banat" flint. They testify to the existence of long-distance exchange of goods. A small flakelet from pit 1-3/oc is manufactured from red radiolarite, absolutely identical to that of the SzentgálTűzköveshegy source north of Lake Balaton (BÍRÓ-REGENYE 1991.). It can be considered the first imported find that indicates contacts with Transdanubia. The polished stone tools are represented by some complete axes or adzes of small size, and butt or cutting-edge fragments of bigger specimens (Fig. 4). Some of them show resharpening attempts and in one case it has been possible to refit a flake (Fig. 4: 3). A considerable number of flakes indicate the preparation and the resharpening of the tools at the site. The polished tool was first shaped, probably from a pebble, with a flaking technique to obtain the shape and then polished with abrasive rocks. The raw materials utilized are very fine grained, homogeneous and relatively soft rocks, not yet identified. In any case the assemblage seems to reflect more a domestic wood-working activity rather than woodland clearance. Some fragments of fine grained rock (sandstone) with flattened or saddled surfaces are probably connected with edged tools preparation 102 Jósa András Múzeum Évkönyve 1994