Savaria - A Vas Megyei Múzeumok értesítője 24/3. (1997) (Szombathely, 1997)

Jancz Dular: Rézkori magaslati telepek Közép-Szlovéniában

SAVARIA 24/3 (1998-1999) PARS ARCHAEOLOGICA A CHRONOLOGICAL DETERMINATION OF THE SETTLEMENTS A chronological determination of the settlements is a difficult task. First and foremost, it is of some significance that none of the above mentioned highland settlements has yet been systematically excavated; only individual surface finds are available from select sites. Sample trenching was carried out at some of the settlements, although almost all attested to poorly preserved Copper Age remains, in particular, which were also largely restricted to modest cultural layers. The other problem rendering difficulties in establishing the chronologies of the settlements is the lack of a comprehensible chronological scheme. Attempts have been made in the past, although only modest results were achieved (BUDJA 1983,33 ff.). It could hardly be excessive if it were once again emphasised that the south-eastern Alpine region still lacks a useful chronology for the Late Stone Age and Copper Age that is based upon well excavated and stratigraphically legible demarcated layers. It was only with Parzinger's efforts that some organisation and systematism was introduced into these particular issues, although nor was he able to support his analyses upon stratigraphically legible demarcated complexes and published material finds. A good chronological scheme remains to be established and presents one of the priority tasks in Slovene Prehistoric archaeology. Much is anticipated from the publication of Moverna vas, where thick layers measuring several metres and with a legible stratigraphy were discovered (BUDJA 1992, 103, Fig. 4). Parzinger's chronological scheme, which was established initially for the Ljubljana moor (PARZINGER 1984) and then later also for the Dolenjska region and Bela krajina (PARZINGER 1993), will continue to prevail until a thorough analysis of this site is carried out. Parzinger relied upon the results from the excavations at Gradée near Mirna when establishing his own chronology (PARZINGER 1993, 17). A relatively perceptible stratigraphy enabling the layers to be delimited into three phases was discerned at this site (DULAR et al. 1991, 140 ff.). Considering that this is precisely the type of settlement that is under discussion in this article the contents of the individual phases shall be presented in a brief summary. Gradée I contains relatively uniform material finds (DULAR et al. 1991, Tab. 22-23). These include bowls with a sharply angled rim and bowls upon a hollow foot, often painted red, as well as fragments of the rims and bodies of bowls and vessels, often decorated with finger imprints and sheaves of incisions, and clay spoons. The Gradée II phase, which was also stratigraphically legible, presented select older forms in addition to the predominant new ornamental elements: incisions and piercing (DULAR et al. 1991, Tab. 25). The Gradée III phase presents new methods of ornamentation on pottery vessels (DULAR et al. 1991, Tab. 26-27): ribbed rims of vessels, plastic ribs separated by finger imprints, brush ornamentation, furrowed incisions and incisions in the form of a fish bone. Sporadic fragments are ornamented with carvings and incrustation. The main difference lies in the technical manner of fabrication of the vessels which during this phase are primarily oxidised in a reductive atmosphere and often are quite porous. Parzinger included the developments at Gradée near Mirna into his chronological scheme such that he associated the Gradée I phase with the horizons 6 and 7, the Gradée II phase with the horizon 9 (Lasinja) and the Gradée III phase with the horizon 10 (Boleraz) (PARZINGER 1993, 43 ff., App. 1). Such a classification presents some ambiguities in itself. In particular, his classification of the Gradée II phase, which according to its contents could also be parallel with Parzinger's horizon 7, is disputable. In this instance, the Gradée III phase, also containing characteristic Lasinja material finds, would then need to be stretched through to the horizons 9 and 10. The question is certainly quite interesting, however a satisfactory explanation cannot be established prior to the publication of the material from Moverna vas. And what is the chronological relationship between Gradée near Mirna and the remaining highland settlements in Central Slovenia? A full comparison is rather complicated due to the fact that only individual chance finds are known of from most of the settlements. As relatively little material finds were yielded from the systematic sample trenches, a comparison of chronological spans will have to remain merely on the level of the first sample tests. An analysis of the material finds revealed that all three phases are reliably documented only at a few of the settlements. However it should be taken into account that this representation is certainly a reflection of the stance of current investigations. Primarily surface finds discovered during field surveillance efforts are known of from the majority of sites, thus suggesting that our current conception has yet to be fulfilled by further investigations. At the moment it seems that the determination that two types of settlement are occurring at the end of the Neolithic as well as during the Early and Middle Eneolithic at the edges of the south-eastern Alps is significant enough. The first type of settlements are those situated in the lowlands, usually in the meanders of a river, and which have access to an excellent agrarian hinterland. The second type of settlement are those situated in the 68