Cristian, Virag (szerk.): Neolithic cultural phenomena in the Upper Tisa Basin (Satu Mare, 2015)
Katalin Kovács: The Role of Bodrogzsadány int he Late Neolithic Evolution of the Bodrog Valley
Katalin Kovács had been dug. The dating of the daub layer cannot be determined on the basis of the recorded excavation material. Beside the daub layer, partly above it, stood a rectangular, stone-based kiln with rounded corners, which had been renewed once. A stratum from the Bükk culture was found below the Late Neolithic layers, into which the Late Neolithic pit was dug (Feature III). Excavation conducted by Emilia Risztics in 1955 Emilia Risztics opened three trenches near to one another on the eastern side of the mound in 1955 (PI. 2: 1). Thiree pits were excavated, and no cultural layers had been localized in the two 3x5 m (Trenches A and B) and one 3x4 m (Trench C) surfaces (Pi. 2: 4). Bronze Age pottery sherds were unearthed from the pit in Trench C, and sherds of the Bükk culture were found in Trench B; while the pit in Trench A contained no ceramic material. Scattered Neolithic material, mostly from the Bükk culture, appeared in the trench fills. Farther from the three trenches, on the western side of the mound, a further 4x2 m area was also excavated, where a 120 cm cultural layer could be observed; however, data referring to the characteristics and dating of the layers were not known. The records of the excavations at Templomdomb are, unfortunately, rather incomplete. All we know is that the excavations were carried out in minor trenches at different parts of the mound revealing traces of settlement layers, pits, kilns and house structures with burnt debris. According to the testimony of the records and the ceramic assemblages, several settlements of different archaeological cultures can be found on the mound. The earliest phase is indicated by the Bükk culture, several pits of which were uncovered. From the Late Neolithic period, pits and kilns were discovered, and also a relatively thin, generally half a metre thick cultural layer was observed in a few trenches. A detail of a building structure with burnt debris can also be dated to this period. The settling in the Late Neolithic period did not cease with the end of the era; further inhabitance is indicated by an Early Copper Age pit dated to the early phase of the Tiszapolgár culture. After the Early Copper Age the mound was settled again in the Bronze Age, this period was marked out by pits and a relatively thin settlement layer in the trenches. Pottery finds Within the Late Neolithic pottery finds, it is typical that the biconical shapes dominate instead of the globular vessel forms. In accordance with that, among the cups and bowls the globular types with narrow mouth appear in a small amount (Pi. 6: 10, 12-15), but the most frequent pottery forms are represented by the biconical types with straight or everted rims (PL 5: 1-10; PL 6: 4, 7, 11). Among the biconical forms, variants are known to have a concave upper and a convex lower part (PL 5: 5, 7; PL 7: 4, 7), as well as a convex upper and a straight or slightly concave lower part (PL 5; 1-2, 6, 9-10; PL 7: 9-10, 18). The line where the two cones meet is marked by a sharp break. They are decorated without exception with eight knobs: four knobs are placed under the rim and four are rotated, under the break. Besides the cups and bowls, fragments of three-parted vessels are also present in the ceramic assemblage (PL 6: 1-2, PL 7: 14). This form is characteristic of the I phase of the Lengyel Culture13 and appears in Zalkod,14 Veiké Raskovce15 and Cicarovce16 as well. Only a few storage vessels were preserved, these belong to the cylindrical (PL 8: 6) and to the biconical forms (PL 8: 8, 11). The hollow-pedestalled vessels are represented by only a few sherds within the ceramic assemblage (PL 8: 2-4). 13 Pavúk 1981, 292; Kalicz 1985, 47. 14 Kalicz 1994, Abb. 9: 1. 15 Vizdal 1986b, Orb. 5: 6. 16 Vizdal 1980, Tab. XIV. 1. 232
