Marta, Liviu: The Late Bronze Age Settlements of Petea-Csengersima (Satu Mare, 2009)
II. Excavations
II. Excavations Archaeological traces in the customs area from Petea—Csengersima were confirmed on the 8th of April 1998, when archaeologists E. Istvánovits and K. Almássy had conducted a field research to investigate the area where the customs point would extend. The archaeologists from the Museum of Nyíregyháza have immediately informed the Museum of Satu Mare about the traces of habitation in the western area of the site on the Hungarian territory as well as about the expansion of the site on the Romanian territory. A field research was made subsequently, but there was no material culture pointing to vestiges of ancient civilizations. The lack of material culture remains on the trial surface was due to the fact that the great quantity of clay that was excavated from the canal that crossed the site from north to south was scattered and it covered the vegetal layer. Thus the traces of habitation could no longer be identified. The lack of habitation traces was 'confirmed' by two control sections made in the eastern part of the site, when the road between Petea village and the customs point was widened. The archaeological excavations on the Hungarian territory began on the 24th of September, when the area along the frontier line was laid bare. The mechanized excavation was made at a depth of 35-50 cm, down to the base of the agricultural layer. In time, as a result of deep ploughing, the cultural layer disappeared in that area and the agricultural layer lowered to the upper limit of the sterile soil. Many archaeological complexes occurred at this level, therefore the systematic excavation of the surface began. It was a mechanized excavation, shaping parallel ditches of 10-20 m wide. After the research of the archaeological complexes had been completed, new trenches of research were opened next to them, and the excavated earth was laid on the previously investigated areas. Work continued intensively until November 18, when the investigation was stopped after several days of snow and frost. The presence of a large number of archaeological complexes on the Hungarian territory, near the frontier line, decided for a new check on the Romanian area of the site during the month of October. As archaeological materials were revealed in the excavated earth after the work carried out at the construction of the customs point, the archaeological excavations started in October 1998. Six survey trenches (SA, SB and S1-S4) were made at first. The presence of the prehistoric cultural layer at a depth of 35-45 cm, as well as the lack in mechanical equipment forced us to continue to dig the site manually. The sector S5 was opened, where an annex to the headquarters of the customs was to be built. With the winter coming we decided to interrupt the excavations at the end of November. Work was resumed in March, 1999. Next, it was conducted as two distinct sites, but the exchange of information on the evolution of research was kept permanendy. On the site researched by the Museum of Nyíregyháza was completed the excavation of the triangular area of approximately 1 ha placed between the state frontier and the eastern branch of the Erge brook bank. West of it, the swampy, uninhabited area of the Erge brook was not excavated on a width of 30-50 m. West of the latter surface, a large area was researched in the ample meander of the Erge brook towards the south (Fig. 1). This research was made by successively excavating from south to north some long ditches oriented east-west. The archaeological research on the site of Hungary continued until the 9th of July 1999. A surface of 32.384 m2 was researched throughout the excavation period, and a number of 1867 archaeological complexes have been investigated. They were represented by dwellings, stoves, fireplaces, wells, large and small post holes. If an archaeological complex revealed several parts of it during its excavation, the archaeological materials were collected separately, and each part was added the logo of a letter, besides the number given at first when it occurred (eg 465a, 465b, etc.). The logo consisting of letters was also given to materials at the 10
