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

IV. Habitation of the Lăpuş II-Gáva I Archaeological Culture

refuse, but for depositing products or objects.

The smallest of the pits (S29 complex 1, 50 cm in diameter and 29 cm deep - Fig. 6), did not appear to be a post hole because it revealed two fragments of a large bowl (PI. 26/1) and a layer of ashes at the base. The other pits had the diameters very close to 1 m long, or even 2—3 m long. They went down 43—66 cm into the sterile soil, and from the trampled surface they went down from 75 to 100 cm. Pit S20 complex 1 at Petea—Csengersima (with the smallest diameter) was not very deep. Pit S8 complex 1 had the largest dimensions, pardally excavated on an arched surface with 340 x 220 cm in diameter (Fig. 4). Except four cases that will be discussed later, the inventory of the cylindrical pits was poor, it contained only a few ceramic fragments and objects remained from the time they had been used or after they had been abandoned. Three cylindrical pits — S36 complex 22, S36 complex 29, S36 complex 30 (Fig. 11, 15) - were close to each other, being located in an area with two beehive shaped pits. The dense presence of conical and cylindrical pits in a small area, some of them of large dimensions, proved that the cylindrical pits functioned as storage pits. Except for cereals which required air-lock366, varied products were deposited: fodder, vegetables, nuts and fruits36'. It is likely people preserved food (dry or brined), which was suggested by the fragments of some large sized vessels on the base of two pits368. Pit S20 complex 2 (Fig. 6) was special for its depth. The pit had vertical walls, and it was researched down to 3,04 m (3,94 m from the present surface). Although it continued to go down, its excavation was interrupted because of water infiltrations. The unusual depth and the precise cylindrical form of the walls led to the assumption that it used to be a well. The pit contained 22 prehistoric ceramic fragments, it was not assigned to an archaeological culture, but it partially superimposed pit S20 complex 3, which contained Suciu de Sus pottery. A well assembly dating from the Roman Age was found in the west side, at a distance of 100—150 m. It is possible that S20 complex 2 dated from the same period. However, the presence of the prehistoric complexes 100 m around the area offered the possibility to date the well in the Late Bronze Age369. Pit S8 complex 1 had a very rich inventory. It was situated under S8 complex la (Fig. 4), but if the pit was part of the dwelling, it was an aspect that lacked in documentation. Although the pit was partially excavated, it contained — besides other objects — 348 ceramic fragments originating from at least 63 vessels (PI. 8, 9). The varied inventory represented by fragments of many vessels, as well as the presence of some thin layers of clay in the fill (Fig. 4), showed that the pit was used for depositing refuse in its last period of use. The other two pits with rich inventory seemed to have another purpose. Pits SI4 complex 5 (Fig. 12, PL 16-20) and 589 (Fig. 24, PI. 61, 62/1 - 3, 6, 8) had several common elements that offered them a special character (Typ. pl. 8). Their inventory comprised a great number of ceramic fragments that restored entirely or partially a small number of vessels. These, together with other pieces were laid on the base of the pits, some of them were laid with accuracy in the pit. The inventory of the two pits was fragmented and secondary fired on purpose, either they were clay objects or stone objects. Besides the specific elements there was a common complex in the inventory given by the presence of storage vessels (large-sized storage vessels) and of the vessels for serving liquids (cups, ladle-cups and amphorae). Another common complex of the two pits was the fact that both were situated at the margin of the settlement (Fig. 2, 11, 25). Pit 589 was located outside the settlement, and pit S15 complex 5 was inside the settlement, but close to the bank of the Erge brook that represented the northern limit of the settlement Lăpuş II—Gáva I. The common elements of

366 Wood 2000, p. 89-111.

367 Stapel 1999, p. 136.

368 The base of the pit S20 complex 1 revealed fragments of a bowl (PI. 26/1) together with a fragment of a long obsidian blade.

369 Two wells dating from the Late Bronze Age were uncovered in the Tisa Plain. One well, which was found at Beregovo was assigned to the Suciu de Sus culture (Balahuri 2001, p. 247), and the well at Polgár was assigned to a dwelling of a pre-Gáva habitation of the BzD/ HaAl (V. Szabó 2004, p. 140, 4. kep 2).

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