KOVÁCS TIBOR: TUMULUS CULTURE CEMETERIES OF TISZAFÜRED / Régészeti Füzetek II/17. (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum Budapest, 1975)
III.Some considerations on the cemeteries
marked, traces of these can be found, and very few graves cut into each other. This was probably done by some organic material, since no stone cover or stone tombstone was found in our cemetery. 4 3 2. ASPECTS FOR DETERMINING THE RELATIVE CHRONOLOGY We can summerize the most important points of chronology from four aspects: A) The superimposed graves of the cemetery; B) Traditions of metalware and pottery of the native inhabitants; C) The chronological situation of some characteristic finds of the Central European Tumulus Culture; D) The expression of the inevitable processes in the regions conquered by the Tumulus Culture. x A) Only eight of the excavated 365 graves showed a superimposed position, thus we have very few direct data concerning the relative chronology of the cemetery. Two of these graves do not provide any data, because grave 112 on top of grave 121 contained no finds at all. Next to the disturbed grave 175, and partially above it, came the dish of the confused grave 21 to light. Two of the objects of grave 175, the horse-shoe-shaped pendent (PI. 17—175/20—25) and one of the bracelets (PI. 17-175/19) are typical for the Koszider type metal work, thus they are the oldest finds of c*ur cemetery. The cup of grave 21 is decorated with vertical scoring and this motive is noticed mainly on the younger finds of the Tumulus Culture. 4 4 The chronological value derived of these finds is lessened by the fact that both graves are disturbed. A similar situation is represented by graves 104 and 110, both are disturbed. A cup (PI. 10—104/2) from grave 104 is noticable though, which came to light above grave 110 containing bracelets with scored line piles (PI. 10—110/2—3). We found cups similar to this in graves where bronze tweezers were next to the body (for example grave 74 and grave A). Since bracelets with scored linepiles were common among the Carpathian Tumulus Culture jewelry, according to the above grave relations the bronze tweezers had to be representative of the younger finds of the culture. The cup and pitcher in situ at the feet of the skeleton in the also disturbed grave 325 (PI. 30-325/1—2) preserves the traditions of the natives both is their shapes and decorations. At the same time we found fashionable jewelry in grave 323 lying above grave 325: a bracelet of circular wire scored line piles, rings ending in spiral discs (PI. 30—323/1—3). Thus these two burials do not provide us with reliable chronological data. B) From this brief report on the superimposed graves it becomes clear that the investigation of relative chronology can only be built upon the analysis of the pottery and metalware, their simultaneous occurrance, and their variations. The difference between the metallurgy of the Middle Bronze Age people (so called Koszider metallurgy) and the metallurgy of the Late Bronze Age Tumulus Culture provides a starting point. The metal workshops produced very similar or identical bronze utensils, weapons, and jewelry during the latest period of our Middle Bronze Age in the Carpathian basin area (Koszider period). These are the objects we find in small numbers at the settlements and cemeteries of the period, and in larger numbers during the conquest of the Tumulus Culture, in the treasures hidden by the local inhabitants. The best picture is given by the objects of the treasures, called Koszider types, after the most important site, Dunaújváros—Koszider, of the bronze industry of the last century of the Hungarian Middle Bronze Age, even today 4 6 Those bronze objects which were found in the graves of the Carpathian Tumulus Culture which are unknown among the treasures of the Koszider type, could have only got to Hungary by the conquerors under the given historical frame. These are the following: sword with a hilt extension (so called Boiu type), arrowhead with a sheath, so called seal-headed pin, bracelet with rhomboid diameter, ribbed ring, closed-heart-shaped pendent. The appearance of these, until now unknown, metal objects is the most convincing sign of the settling of the Tumulus grave culture in the Carpathian basin 4 7 It is true though, that the basic shapes of metal objects do not change for centuries and for instance the metallurgy of the domestic Later Bronze Age shows the traditions of the Middle Bronze Age 4* , we believe that the earliest graves of our cemetery can be found among those where bronze objects of the Koszider type were found. To investigate this aspect we must examine the following burials: graves 27, 56, 66, 143, 160-161, 163, 172, 176, 177, 181-182, 188, 220, 247, 253, 256, 258, 308, 341, 342. From theses listed, in some cases the majority of the bronze objects found in the graves represent the Koszider type metallurgy, and only a few characteristic finds of the Tumulus Culture indicate that the burial took place already after the conquest. Like the buttons (PI. 17-176/1-16), commonly used during the Bronze Age, among the finds of grave 176 and the bracelet found among the Koszider type treasures (PI. 17-176/19) and next to the horse shoe-shaped pendents (PI. 17-176/20-25) only a ribbed ring (PI. 17-176/17) gives any support for determining the date of the burial. The clay of the jug, its workmanship, and the decoration of its 43
