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

Ferenc Horváth–Ede Hertelendi: Contribution to the 14C based absolute chronology of the Early and Middle Neolithic Tisza region

Contribution to the 14C based absolute chronology of the Early and Middle Neolithic Tisza region * Ferenc HORVÁTH - Ede HERTELENDI JL^/uring the last decade efforts have been made to establish a reliable absolute dating for the Late Neolithic of the Southern Tisza Region (BENKŐHORVÁTH-HORVATINCIC-OBELIC 1989., HORVÁTH 1991-, HERTELENDI-HORVATH 1992.). The aim of our paper is, as a first step to extend the investigation of the Middle Neolithic Tisza region by means of the available data and contrast it with the existing knowledge on the traditional relative chronology based on cross-dating. Naturally, this evaluation can not be done without considering the preceding Early Neolithic period, so as a preliminary step a global view is necessary. The second step will be to establish a 14C cross-dating method, based on the new dating of levels achieved by measuring authentic samples which are recovered by a level-by-level method of excavation. By means of 14C cross-dating we are going to compare levels of different sites in different regions as well as comparing artifact with artifact in terms of typology. Needless to say we are just at the beginning of this work. The method In the course of our investigation data was used which was in accordance with the archaeological definition of the sample. If there were older examples, we referred them to an earlier phase of the site, if there was such a period which archeologically was demonstrable. The upper limit of our observation is the end of the Vinca A period, defined on the basis of a significant analysis by J. Chapman (CHAPMAN 1981. I.17-31-). We did not use the data which is inevitably later than the period of the upper horizon of our investigation, because it dates a later archaeological feature. We arranged the groups of data according to great cultural units, and where possible, into more detailed archaeological subdivisions. The categories of Körös-„Protovinca", Vinca A, Alföld Linear Pottery Culture (ALPC), Banat, and Szakáihát Culture will represent the y-axis. The starting and ending dates of the great cultural units of South-Eastern Europe, namely Starcevo, Karanovo, Vinca will represent the x-axis. Each of the dates has been calibrated by the same method (PEARSON et al. 1993-, LINICK et al. 1986.). The only exception is the Anza-sequence for which the average calibrated values of the inner periods have been available (GIMBUTAS 1976.74.). Eollowing that the average values of clusters within one cultural unit were calculated in an attempt to draw parallels between them and those of the great South-Eastern European units. When we have a greater series of data, the average values of different clusters will contribute to a more precise absolute chronological arrangement of future subdivisions. The borders of the clusters on the figure do not necessarily mean the archaeological subperiods of a given culture. In the case of few dates they represent only the period of the culture which has been measured from 14C until the present time (Eig. 1). In the course of this trial the main difficulties were the following: 1. The series of data regarding the given units is small. Erom a total of 44 dates the maximum, from Körös-„Protovinca" is 21 and the minimum, from the Banat Group of the Vinca Culture is 5. 2. We do not have a single 14C date from the Early Szatmár II Group, which would be a key for the chronological connection between both the turn of the Early and Middle Neolithic of the Central Tisza Region, and the parallelism between ALPC and Vinca. Similarly the lack of the series of Esztár data means a chronological gap in the absolute time connections of the archaeological units in question. 3. The samples measured have been collected mainly from excavations which were carried out by traditional methods, rather than the fine stratigraphic level-by-level techniques, with the exception of Tápé-LebőA. 1987 (HORVÁTH 1991. Eigs. 1-2), Anza 1969-70 (GIMBUTAS 1976.), Divostin 1968-74 (McPHERRON-SREJOVIC 1988.). The overwhelming majority of the samples have been collected from pits or depths (spead-depths), which in most cases means secondary, disturbed sites. Consequently the second stage of our goal can not be applied with the present level of research. 4. The samples of dating measured in four different laboratories were mainly of charcoal, with some * The preparation and publishing of this study has been supportef by OTKA.