Istvánovits Eszter: International Connections... (Jósa András Múzeum Kiadványai 47. Aszód-Nyíregyháza, 2001)
Katalin Almássy: New data on the Celto-Dacian relationship in the Upper Tisza Region
New data on the Celto-Dacian relationship in the Upper Tisza Region Katalin Almássy This paper deals with the population of the Upper Tisza Region in the 1 st c. B.C. - 2 nd c. A.D. On the basis of the archaeological material and literary evidence, this population seems to have been formed by two peoples: the Celts and the Dacians. I must emphasise at the outset that the relationship between the Celts and Dacians in the Upper Tisza region (and in the Great Hungarian Plain as a whole) is still a poorly researched topic. To be able to analyse it, we would need a series of sites, but these have yet to be examined. The following is an attempt to evaluate one of the first sites of relevance to this issue. Needless to say, it cannot lead to final results. Most of the questions remain without an answer, so my main goal in this work is to suggest some ideas in connection with the excavation itself. It is a well-known fact that rivers play both a dividing and a connecting role in the life of peoples. Judging from the archaeological material from the period around Christ's birth, the upper part of the Tisza played mainly a dividing role: its opposite banks were inhabited by two different ethnic groups. (This can be traced over a wider interval of time as well: the same had also been true during the entire Late Iron Age). Due to communication difficulties, the situation was more peaceful on the left bank - or more precisely, south of the Tisza - where it was more difficult for conquering armies to advance; for offensives to the north-northeast, they probably chose the area on the right bank of the river. This period is still considered to be a dark spot in the history of the region. Datable LT finds are dated not later than the end of the 2 nd c. B.C. (for example Cserepes-kenéz - ALMÁSSY 1996, 233). There are only a few exceptions: for example the mountainous settlement near Munkács/Mukachevo on the right bank of the Tisza, Gallis and Lovacska. Or we can mention the material of Bükkszentmiklós-Nagysánc, on the right bank as well, where finds representing the 1 st c. B.C. also appear. At the same time the earliest Sarmatian appearance can be dated to the end of the 2 nd c, the period of the Marcomannic-Sarmatian Wars (ISTVÁNOVITS 1998, 41). We cannot outline precisely the archaeological material for the period of 200-300 years between the two dates. On the basis of the Greek and Latin literary sources, we must assume a significant Dacian expansion. Nevertheless, traces of Dacian settlements or invasions have still not been found on the left bank of the upper reach of the Tisza. The only exceptions are three sites where a few Dacian finds have been unearthed. However, these finds seem to be from a later period than the one in question: they come from a settlement of the Sarmatian Age and thus can be dated to the time after the 2 nd c. Pottery of Dacian character was found accompanied by Sarmatian pottery or in burials oriented south-north (Érpatak). Besides this, there is only one site in Tiszavasvári where a clean Dacian assemblage was found and in which no material of character
