Zalai Múzeum 12. 50 éves a Nagykanizsai Thúry György Múzeum (Zalaegerszeg, 2003)

P. Barna Judit: Késő rézkori település Nagykanizsa–Billa lelőhelyen

Késő rézkori település Nagykanizsa — Billa lelőhelyen 117 Late Copper Age Settlement in Nagykanizsa-Billa In the site called Nagykanizsa - Billa during the course of a rescue excavation that covered an area of about 1,500 m

2 a total amount of 41 objects from the late Copper Age and two objects from the Árpád Age were unearthed. In two small pits (objects 2. and 14) no finds were found (pictures 1-2.). Although the purpose of this study is to publish the material, due to volume restrictions it is impossible to present the whole material. The forms that can be reconstructed from the vessel fragments are as follows: Bowls: conical bowls with funnel-shaped neck or without neck, bowls with semispherical body and inverted rim, two-partitioned dish, spherical section-shaped bowls and pedestalled bowls. Mugs, goblets, cups. Flower potike and small mortarlike vessels. Gauges. Jugs. A string-pedestalled chalice. Amphorae and amphora-like vessels. A fishbarqueshaped vessel. Pots. Storage vessels. Extraordinary forms. Clay spoons. Spindle buttons. Weights. Roll. Besides the ceramics stone tools (see T. Katalin Biro's work), the fragment of a casting mould (?) carved from stone, bone tools, a small amount of animal bones as well as remains of shellfish and snail shells were also found. Until now research has not been completed on the generally accepted, detailed and comprehensive typological analysis of the middle, classical phase of the Baden Culture (BONDÁR 1987, 42 1990-91, 34). From the works that examine the classical phase of the culture in a chronological respect (distinguishing phases and sub-phases) a rather disputed picture emerges, which caused obvious difficulties with the analysis of the finds, with parallels and with „synchronisation". The transitional character of our finds further aggravates the problems. The detailed analysis of the ceramics indicate that the finds bear many ties to the material of Nevidzany that represents the younger period of the older, classical phase, at the same time however, significant and by all means chronological differences also occur. There are parallels of the finds from sites which represent the younger classical phase (Uny type finds), the finds are also rather similar to finds from the youngest, late classical period of the Baden Culture (Keszthely - Apátdomb, Pécs Vasas, Palotabozsok, Hódmezővásárhely, Bodzáspart, Ossarn II, Szigetszentmiklós - Üdülősor, Szigetcsép, Esztergom - Diósvölgy). The joint presence of characteristics of the ceramic finds dates the Nagykanizsa - Billa settlement to the turn of Neustupny С and D phases, for the beginning of Dl phase. Besides the findings some archaeological observations (the objects do not cut each other, they indicate slow continuous sedimentation, there is no layer of destruction) also indicate that the settlement functioned for a longer period of time. During undisturbed development the change between the younger and the late classical periods within the Baden Culture took place unnoticed, which is not reflected in the form of any noticeable break in the finds. The fact that no dwelling houses were found in spite of the fact that the great number of excavated pits indicates the presence of a large community does not contradict the assumption that the settlement functioned for a long period of time. The absence of remains of dwelling houses is almost a usual phenomenon in the case of settlements belonging to the Baden Culture, and raises questions that cannot be answered fully at the present level of research. Most of the objects proved to be common refuse pits, which might have also been used for various different purposes (container pits or pits where clay, sand, e.g. was dug). Such are the circular pits with steep walls and the ones with a wide and flat bottom (objects 13, 18, 20, 24, 25, 43, 44 and 46). Traces of burning were found in some of the pits. Ovens or remains of ovens were not found on the site. The finds are registered under registration number 99. 1. 1-99.55.4. in the archaeological collection of the Thúry György Museum in Nagykanizsa.