A Nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyve 43. (Nyíregyháza, 2001)

Régészet - János Makkay: Archaeological contacts between the Mycenean world and the Carpathian Basin

Makkay János Archaeological contacts between the Mycenean world and the Carpathian Basin This study represents a more comprehensive variant of Makkay 1999. Several objects concerning the topic, found in the Carpathian Basin are published here additionally. The first part deals with the history of the research: objects representing the relations between the Bronze Age of the Mycenean world and that of the Carpathian Basin. Types of finds evidencing such relations are listed. There are weapons among them (swords and daggers), depictions and clay double axes, clay vessels (mainly their decoration), discoidal bits, jewellery and beads, certain types of the spiral decoration on bone discs and plates, altar tables/fireplaces, imitations of linear B and even A writing, a helmet made of boar's tusk plates, horns of consecrations etc. The closing part of the study deals with a characteristic type of finds. These are roof-shaped clay objects the function of which is unknown. These finds come from Early Bronze Age sites, e.g. from Tószeg and several other places on the territory of East Hungary and West Transylvania: Tuzsér, Gáborján (East Hungary), Berea/Bere and Ciume§ti/Csomakoz (West Roumania). A fragment found in Szeghalom-Kovácshalom may also belong to this group. The function and use of these objects is unknown. On the basis of depictions from Mycene and Crete we can suggest that these were horns of consecration, into the holes of which plants or perhaps double-axes were placed. Translated by Valeria Kulcsár János MAKKAY Hungarian Academy of Science Archeological Institut Budapest H-1250 Pf. 14. e-mail: makkay@uze.net 94