A Nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyve 37-38. - 1995-1996 (Nyíregyháza, 1997)

Régészet - Ivan Popovich: Periodization and chronology of Kushtanovica type sites in the Transcarpathian region

Periodization and chronology of Kushtanovica type sites... appeared in the Kushtanovica ceramics under the influence of the Getic tradition. In the cemetery, Ferigile dippers with such an ornament belong to phase IIIA determined on the basis of stratigraphy and can be dated to the end of the 5th century B.C. (VULPE 1967.83.fig.29.1.). A quite numerous group of ceramics is represented by miniature vessels (Pl.XVI.2,5, XVII.2,3, XVIII.2,9,13) that have ritual significance. A mug with a side handle is represented by a single piece (PI. XVI.

11). Summarizing the results of the ceramic analysis we may conclude that the wide majority of the forms derive from Kushtanovica traditions, some were influenced by the Thraco-Illyric cultural circle, mainly Geto-Dacian ceramics, the special character of which started to form from the middle of the 5th century B.C. (CRISAN 1969.93-94., VASILIEV 1980.133.). We think that even as late as the 5th century B.C., relations with the Luzice population of Southwest Poland do not come to an end. However, by that time the latter developes a two-sided character. However, the described changes happen inside one ethnic community and possibly have chronological significance as well. They also point to the fact that from the middle of the 5th century B.C., during the weakening of the eastern impulses from the Scythian culture of the Ukrainian forest-steppe (although they are not significant in the Transcarpathian region), the contacts with the Thraco-Illyric world became stronger. Metal finds have a special value in the dating of the barrow, among them a bronze fitting with an openwork ornament from grave 3. It is round with a diameter of 4 cm. The decoration consists of concentric circles including open-work rings and two rows of triangles. There is a small protuberance in the centre and a loop on the other side for attachment to clothing (Pi. XVI. 10). A similar bronze plate served as a disc to which an iron fibula was attached in grave 125 of Szentes-Vekerzug (PÁRDUCZ 1955.20.Fig.V.4,12; XIV.3a,3). The fibula was identified as belonging to the Dux horizon (PÁRDUCZ 1955.20.), although it is difficult to date it chronologically. However, J.Chochorowski dated a fibula of the same type with a bronze, open-work disc to the second half of the 5th century B.C. He took into consideration the gravearticles from grave 30 in the same cemetery (CHOCHOROWSKI 1985.73.Abb.

17.1.,47,3.). T. Bader dated Roumanian pieces to the same period (BADER 1983-38.). The earliest decorations with open-work ornament come from Yugoslavia, where they are dated to the 6th-5th centuries B.C. (COVIC 196l.Taf.22,27,6.). Most researchers think they are of Illyrian origin. Two iron bit-rings from grave 1 should be dated to a slightly later time (Pi. XVI.

7,8). As is known, iron bits with a psalion attached by a rivet were used in the Carpathian-Danubian region in the 6th - 5th centuries B.C. Recently such pieces have also come to light in the Transcarpathian region (PI. XII.

4). The appearance of additional rings is connected with the evolution of the horse bridle (IL'INSKAIA 1968.110., MELIUKOVA 1979.212-214.). Starting from the 4th century B.C., bits with a psalion with two holes and outer rings for reins spread over the Thracian world. The use of reins is supported for our territory not only by the recently published finds, but by the iron psalion from GallisLovacska (LEHOCZKY 1912.63.). However, it is doubtful whether the find from Munkács/Mukachevo can be dated to the Late La Téne period in the 2nd-lst centuries B.C. V.l. Bidzilia examined the C-shaped psalion with two holes and knobs on the ends, from the La Téne oppidum of Manching. He found that it was similar to the piece from Mukachevo and concluded that it could be dated to a late period (BIDZILIA 1971.109.). We should emphasize that V.Kramer (a famous researcher at this oppidum), after studying the Omega-shaped sets from horse harnesses coming from the the 2nd - 1st centuries B.C. level at the oppidum of Manching also published a C-shaped psalion from the lower layer at this site that has nothing to do with the layer of the oppidum s period and underlines its more ancient dating. As illustration and comparison, he cites an analogy: a bridle from Dobrosloveni (KRAMER 1964.250-257.). The latter is closely related to the bridle found casually at Sopot/§opotu Vechi (NICOLÄESCUPLOPSOR 1945-1947.29.P1.IV/13.). A.I.Meliukova denies the Celtic identity of the bits from Sopot and dates them to the 4th century B.C. (MELIUKOVA 1979.213.). We would date bit-rings from our barrow to the same time. The psalion from Mukachevo may come from a somewhat later time, taking into consideration the set of La Téne objects from the treasure found by T.Lehoczky at Gallis-Lovacska. It may be dated to the end of the 4th - beginning of the 3rd century B.C. Iron objects are also represented by a closed bracelet made of round section wire, its ends covering each other (Pi. XVIII.

10). Bracelets of this type are commonly encountered in the Kushtanovica barrows and undoubtedly are local forms that originate from the Early Hallstatt. They belong to type 5 among the bronze bracelets of the Ferigile cemetery (VULPE 1967.Fig. XXV.5.), and type 24 of the Vekerzug Culture (CHOCHOROWSKI 1985.6l.Abb.24

.). In the latter, they comprise the majority of ornamentation: 31.6% of all known metal bracelets. Among the grave-articles from female graves glasspaste, glass and amber beads dominate. Unfortunately, most were badly damaged during the burial ritual. Only small deformed pieces of amber where left to remind us of the amber beads, so that their form can hardly be determined. In an urn (grave 10) where the remains of a young woman and child were placed, we found a necklace consisting of 65 whole and 55 fragments of short cylindrical beads. They are very fragile and break even from a slight touch. We also found significant numbers of amber pieces of 0.3-0.1. cm (Pl. XVIII.7). On the basis of forms and morphological features, short cylindrical beads are products of Egyptian faience, that represent type 9 within the classification of E.M. Alekseieva. Decorations of this type are found in the graves from the 6th - 5th centuries B.C. in the North Pontic region. They continue to be used in the 3rd 1st centuries B.C. and even in the first centuries A.D. (ALEKSEIEVA 1975.32.). Summarizing the results of the analysis of the finds we should emphasize that they are not rich. However, taking into account the fact of having grave-articles in some of the graves and not in others suggests that people buried under the barrow had differing social positions. The date of the site has been determined as A Jósa András Múzeum Évkönyve 1997 89