A Nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyve 44. (Nyíregyháza, 2002)

Régészet - Zsolt Székely: Ethnocultural interferences and interpenetrations in South-Eastern Transylvania in the Bronze Age

Ethnocultural interferences and interpenetrations in South-Eastern Transylvania in the Bronze Age Zsolt Székely The depression zone of South-Eastern Transylvania, situated in the central part of the country and surrounded by the arc of the Carpathian Mountains, connects the neighbouring regions of Moldavia and Wallachia and always constituted a geographical area of ethnocultural interference and interpenetration. During the Bronze Age, beyond the Carpathians towards east and south, in the period between the Cotofeni Culture and the Early Iron Age (Hallstatt), represented by the Gáva Culture (SZÉKELY 1994.) in relative chronology, - we record the development of some material cultures or intense penetrations from one direction to another; cultures which had their centre of development to the south or east from the Carpathians. In some cases we establish penetrations westwards too, but generally this area is much more linked in its historical development to the neighbouring regions than to the central and western parts of Transylvania. The archaeological research of the second half of the last century studying the development of human society in the Bronze Age has shown (even though these researches are at some point lacunose) that on the basis of attested series of cultures a synthesis can be made which reflects the continuity of human life in this area. In South-Eastern Transylvania we observe a very strong eneolithic local basis, represented by the late phase of the Ariusd (B) Culture, and the penetrations of Tiszapolgár and Bodrogkeresztur Culture (NESTOR 1933. 76; SZÉKELY 1964. 125; SZÉKELY 1999., SZÉKELY 2000A. 161-168) and the presence of Cucuteni-Ariusd A-B and B pottery in the settlements of Bodrogkeresztur type. These communities maintained in spite of North Pontic influences their local heritage (ROMAN 1986. 34). The transition period is represented by the late Cotofeni I communities. The natural evolution of the communities from the transition period, represented by Cotofeni I. Culture final phase, is interrupted by a shock caused by a southern penetration of Zimnicea (ALEXANDRESCU 1974.), Mlajet (ROMAN 1986.), Smeieni (SIMACHE-TEODORESCU 1962.) type attested at Sänzieni (SZÉKELY 1980.) and Turia (SZÉKELY 1983.). In this way, the early Bronze Age begins much earlier compared to the central and western part of Transylvania, where phases II and III of the Cotofeni Culture are attested. The penetration of shepherds of Zimnicea-Mläjet-Sänzieni-Turia type has economical reasons: the existence of a zone abundant in ore in South-Eastern Transylvania. The grave with a skeleton situated in crouched position, found in a stone-cist recently in Sänmartin-Ciuc, (Harghita county) (SZÉKELY 2000B.) represents the first and the only proof