Marta, Liviu: The Late Bronze Age Settlements of Petea-Csengersima (Satu Mare, 2009)
IV. Habitation of the Lăpuş II-Gáva I Archaeological Culture
IV.4. Ceramics The ceramic material from the Lăpuş II-Gáva I habitation at Petea—Csengersima is present in a lower quantity than that of the Suciu de Sus habitation. However, its importance is given by the fact that it enabled the identification of a new habitation horizon in the Plain of Satu Mare which evolved within the Late Bronze Age between the end of the Suciu de Sus culture and the Gáva culture having complexes that were characteristic of the 2nd phase. The identification of this cultural horizon was made possible by the numerous common elements that its pottery shares with that of the Lăpuş II phase and the Gáva I phase from the neighbouring areas. The analysis of the pottery of the Lăpuş II-Gáva I habitation aimed at comparing it with that of the neighbouring cultural environments, but also attempted to identify possible links with the Suciu de Sus type pottery present in the settlement. The existence of habitations chronologically close to each other within the settlement, whose pottery had several common elements, determined me to take into account only the pottery from the archaeological complexes for the statistical analysis. 375 vessels with determined form or with distinct decoration were identified within the archaeological complexes of the Lăpuş II—Gáva I habitation. As part of the analysis of the vessel type I were also taken into account the vessels from the stratum whose cultural affiliation with the Lăpuş II—Gáva I habitation was certain. Technological considerations. Lăpuş II-Gáva I type pottery was made from three clay categories: coarse, semi fine and fine clay. Coarse pottery has in its composition large gained tempering material, gravel or crushed shards. As a result of this kind of tempering material the walls of some vessels are uneven although the surface of these was smoothed. Vessels made from coarse clay belong to pottery forms with thick walls: pots, storage vessels, portable cooking vessels and some bowls or amphorae. This category represents 30,17% of the pottery discovered in the complexes of the setdement. Vessels made from semi fine clay contain fine grained tempering material (sand, fine gravel, finely crushed shards). Semi fine clay was used in almost all vessel forms. It is the best represented category, present in a proportion of 40,33% in the settlement at Petea—Csengersima. Vessels made from fine clay have a very fine tempering material. This kind of clay was used in making vessels with very thin walls used for serving meals (especially cups, bowls and dishes). Rarely was it used for cooking vessels (some pots or other vessels). The proportion of fine pottery (29,50%) is close to that of coarse pottery. Concerning the firing method used, pottery fired in oxidizing atmosphere predominates having brick-red overtones. Vessels fired in reducing atmosphere are also present in great numbers, having dark, grey-black overtone walls. Within this category a few cups (three) with thin walls are remarkable because they were fired in a manner that gave deposited, as the vessels found during research. The edge of the settlement is indicated by the rarity of pits nearby although in the central area the cultural stratum of the settlements reaches a thickness 80-100 cm (Mozsolics - Hegedűs 1963, p. 252; Kemenczei 1982, p. 73-78, abb. 2). 377 The bronze deposit from Carei - Spitz Farm was discovered at the edge of the settlement and the bank ridge on which it is situated (Németi 1990, p.32, fig. 10). 378 Two bronze deposits (at a distance of 40 m one from the other) had been discovered at a small distance from the settlement at Oarţa de Sus - Oul Făgetului and in the proximity of the necropolis at Bicaz (Kacsó 1990a, p. 48). 379 At the western edge of the settlement at Kvasovo two bronze deposits had been discovered (Kobak 2007, p. 592-599, ris. I). 60
