Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 1. (2019)

Sándor Berecki, Attila Nándor Hágó: A neolithic Settlement from Tărgu Mureş. I. The Courtyard of the Fortress

A Neolithic Settlement from Tärgu Mure?. I. The Courtyard of the Fortress

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(PI. III/10; V/5-14, 24-25; VI/8; VII/3; X/20- 21, 24-26, 29-32, 34, 39, 41-42; XI/2, 4, 7-10), incised lines (Pl. V/l-2, 21, 23; XI/17), incised lines in networks (Pl. V/4, 15, 22; VI/2), simple cuts (Pi. V/17; XI/13—14), impressions (Pl. V/16, 26; XI/5; XIII/23—24), nail and finger impressions (Pl. VII/1, 6, 11; IX/1; X/8, 27, 37-38, 40), impressions on the upper part of the rim (PI. VII/19; VIII/7; X/19), plastic ornaments (PL IV/16; VII/4; XI/3, 5-6), barbotine (Pi. III/l, 7; IV/17- 18; VI/4; XII/16), impressed cordons (Pi. VIII/27; XI/16), and perforation, probably with a decoration role (Pl. X/12).

The rims of the vessels are of Y, A, J, Z, Q, T, H, V, G, U, I, P, К and W type according to the typology of Z. Maxim. The most frequent are the Y, A and J types, while in the case of the bottoms all twenty types defined for the Transylvanian Cri? culture pottery are represented.19 The small and medium sized, simple or double, oval, circular or elongated knobs were applied on the body and neck of the vessels (Pl. III/9; VI/7; VII/26; IX/18; XII/5). In one case a double knob was vertically attached (PI. VII/26). Short impressed cordons were applied either vertically (Pi. VIII/27) or horizontally (PL XI/16). Present since the pre-Cri? period in Transylvania20 applied handles appear frequently on the pottery from the Tärgu Mure? settlement. In the case of the large vessels (pots and storage vessels) handles were placed on the maximum diameter, while in the case of bowls they appear also on the upper part of the vessel, close to the mouth. Regarding their shape, most frequent are the circular and round-shaped handles (PL XI/21-26, 29-31; XII/1 —4, 6-7) but flat or elongated handles exist, too (PL XI/27). In Z. Maxim’s typology for Transylvania they are included in types X, Y, V and W.21

From the Neolithic site in Tärgu Mure? three weights were also unearthed. One of them was circular (55 mm in diameter and 34 mm thick), with a perforation, brownish-grey colour, reducing firing, tempered with coarse sand and smoothened surface (PL XIV/6). Another weight was preserved fragmentary, it was made from the body of a brick-red vessel, tempered with chaff and coarse sand, with oxidizing firing and smoothened surface. Its section is slightly convex and it was perforated in the middle (Pi. XIV/5). A third massive, conical clay weight (110 mm high, 52 mm thick, diameter of the base 110 mm, diameter of the top 56 mm) had a coarse surface, oxidizing firing and brick-red colour with white spots (PL XIV/8). These objects are frequent in all Cri? culture settlements22 and they were assigned varies functions, such as firedogs, supports, weapons, roof weights, fishing net weights, disks, tokens, spindle-whorls, objects used in magic etc.23

Having a functional or magic role24 and a welldefined typology25 the clay altars, characteristic recipients for the Cri? culture, are represented at Tärgu Mure? only by a fragment of a foot (PL XIV/3). The surface of the 40 mm long and 17 mm in diameter, semi-fine foot is smoothened, brownish-red, tempered with fine sand and crushed sherds; it probably came from a three-legged altar similar to the ones found in Transylvania at Gura Baciului, Оспа Sibiului, Suplacul de Barcäu and Le( or in Banat and eastern Hungary.26

Another fragment from a cylindrical clay object probably comes from a zoomorphic figurine, portraying presumably a bovine (PL XIV/4). The semi-fine piece was made from a good quality clay, brownish-red, its surface was smoothened and polished, tempered with fine sand (length: 50 mm, width: 25 mm, thickness: 28mm). A second

19 Maxim 1999, fig. 29, 31.

20 Ciutä 2005, 87, pl. XXXIX/2-8.

21 Maxim 1999, fig. 30.

22 Kutzian 1944, pi. 1/12; 11/11-12; XLV/1-20; Lazarovici 1979, 31; Maxim 1999, 49; Makkay-Starnini 2008, fig. 121-122; Starnini 2014, fig. 121-122.

23 Lazarovici-Maxim 1995, fig. 31/6-8; 32; Ierco?an 1995, fig. 9/2; Makkay-Starnini 2008, fig. 143/1-8; 358/17-18; Mazäre 2013, 27-67.

24 Maxim 1999,61.

25 Maxim 2000, 121-130.

26 Lazarovici 1979, 34-35; Lazarovici-Maxim 1995, 148; Maxim 1999, 61; Makkay-Starnini 2008, fig. 69-88; Starnini 2014, fig. 69-88.