Garam Éva szerk.: Between East and West - History of the peoples living in hungarian lands (Guide to the Archaeological Exhibition of the Hungarian National Museum; Budapest, 2005)

HALL 5 - The Iron Age: The Scythians and the Hallstatt culture (800-450 B.C.) (Tibor Kemenczei)

50. Bronze statuette from Nyergesújfalu. 6th century B.C. genisation with the western culture province continued in the wake of the Celtic invasion in the 5th century B.C. 9. SETTLEMENTS AND CEMETERIES, POTTERY The most important settlement centres of this period have been identified at Sopron-Varhely, Süttő-Földvár and SzázhalombattaFöldvár. These settlements were protected with ramparts constructed from earth, wood and stone. The excavations have brought to light the remains of the timber-framed houses on these sites. The archaeological investigations at Sopron-Krautacker, an unfortified village, brought to light the remains of several workshops, where gold, bronze and iron artefacts were made, as well as a series of pottery kilns. Tumulus cemeteries for members of the elite were opened beside the power and economic centres in the hillforts. The deceased were first cremated on a funeral pyre and their remains and possessions were then placed inside a burial chamber over which a burial mound was erected. The structure of these burial mounds can be reconstructed from the observations made during their excavation. The burial chamber made from oak beams was covered with boulders and an earthen mound was then raised over it. Clay urns, bronze jewellery and iron weapons were placed into the chamber. The burial mounds at Süttő and Százhalombatta were erected over slightly different types of funerary structures. A passage led to the burial chamber constructed of wood or ashlars. Burial chambers of this type in the eastern Hall statt province were modelled on the Etruscan funerary structures in Italy. The craftsmen of the eastern Hall statt culture did not simply adopt the forms and the ornamental repertoire of pottery and metalwork from the west, but transformed these wares to suit their own taste. The grave pottery from the burial mounds of the elite was decorated with geometric patterns made up of spirals and meanders. The urns and bowls covered with graphitic patterns on a red or greyish ground are among the loveliest pieces of this pottery (Süttő, Nagyberki-Szalacska; Fig. 49). Relief decoration and smoothed-in motifs arranged into elegant designs were also very popular. Depictions of bulls abound on Hallstatt pottery, no doubt owing to their prominence in religious beliefs. Bulls were a symbol of fertility and power. An um brought to light at Szob has bull heads set on its shoulder.