Marta, Liviu: The Late Bronze Age Settlements of Petea-Csengersima (Satu Mare, 2009)

III. Habitation of te Suciu de Sus Archaeological Culture

impressions in various arrangements will be maintained also within the Lăpuş group* 214,

continuing to appear within the habitation that follows the Suciu de Sus culture in the

settlement at Petea — Csengersima. The ornaments comprising triangular impressions (motifs

DF, DG and DH) are relatively rare. These seem to have a low frequency also in other

settlements from the last phase of the Suciu de Sus culture215 216 *. At Boineşti, in an earlier phase

of the culture, triangular impressions are already present, but they are made in a different 216manner .

Striated/ Brushed decoration (the E group of ornaments — Typ. pl. 3). Based on the aspect and the technique used the following types can be distinguished: linear striations with spaces between them (EA), superficial striations (EB), deep striations (EC).

The first of the motifs (EA) is obtained by using an instrument with teeth (probably a comb), while the other two seem to be made by bundles of vegetable fibres or sticks (probably a broom). At Petea-Csengersima striations are present on a low number of vessels made from semi fine or coarse clay (pots, cooking vessels and a few bowls). The remarkable, reduced presence of striations on the vessels from the archaeological complexes at Petea — Csengersima (only on 42 vessels) separates the general aspect of the potter)' in the settlement from the pottery of the late Suciu de Sus sites in the eastern and southern regions of the culture. In the sites of this region, striations are present on a great number of vessels made from coarse clay2 . The custom is forwarded in this region on the pottery of the Lăpuş group where striation continues to be intensely used becoming the most frequent ornament218. On one hand, within the Lăpuş II-Gáva I habitation at Petea, striation continues to be used on a low number of vessels, maintaining the tradition of the late Suciu de Sud pottery from the Plain of Satu Mare. The different functions of striations already appear during the first stage of the Suciu de Sus culture. On the other hand we know that in the eastern and southern areas of the Suciu de Sus culture all settlements belonging to the first phase widely use striated/brushed decoration 219. However in the Plain of Satu Mare striations are found massively present only in earlier sites220, while in Halmeu221 and Medieşu Aurit—Tagul lui Schweitzer its occurrence is outstandingly low. This site can be dated as belonging to the end of the Middle Bronze Age, several cups of Otomani III type or Wietenberg III imports being present in the material found here. In conclusion, the way in which striations are used in the Suciu de Sus culture suggest that the differences visible at the level of coarse pottery in various areas from the Upper Tisa Basin and the north of Transylvania are the result of a tradition that appears already during the Middle Bronze Age. As it will be seen, these traditions passed on also to the channeled pottery from these areas.

Channelled decoration (the Fgroup of ornaments — Typ. pl. 3). Even if their employment is considered as being average within the Suciu pottery of the settlement, a great variety of ornamental motifs is noticeable. These were made using two different methods. Rare channels placed at a distance (motifs FA, FB, FC) were obtained by means of pushing a palette knife/spatula into the soft clay. This created slightly deepened areas separated by ribs

2,3 Kemenczei 1984, taf. 1/8, 22, 26 etc.

214 Kacsó 1981a, p. 59-60.

2,5 Kalicz 1960, pl. VII/1; Bader 1978, pi. LII/2,9; Kacsó 2003, pl. III/8.

216 Bader 1978, pl. XLVII/28-29.

2.7 Kacsó 1995, p.94-95.

2.8 Kacsó 1981, p. 52; Kacsó 1990, p. 81; Kacsó 1993, p. 30; Kacsó 1994, p. 12.

2.9 Giuleşti, Seini, Bârsana, Sarasău (Kacsó 1987), Solotvino (Kobak 1997, Vasiliev et al. 2002, p. 36), Lăpuşel (Kacsó 1995).

220 Medieşul Aurit- Ciuncaş (Bader - Dumitraşcu 1970, p. 130-131; Kacsó 1995, p. 97). Striations are relatively numerous also in the Middle Bronze Age habitation at Petea-Csengersima (information from Dan Pop).

221 Marta 2004, p. 41.

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