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

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

while the link between the amphorae from the two habitation horizons is weakly attested405. The origin of the amphorae from the first phase of the Gáva culture is supposed to be found within the pottery of the cultural groups from the Upper Tisa Basin, alongside an important part played by an influence from Banat from the Pecica (Cruceni)—Belegis environment406. Based on the common elements of the amphorae from the two phases of the necropolis at Lăpuş it is considered that these inherit a few elements from the Suciu culture. The common amphorae to the Lăpuş II phase and the Gáva I phase could have appeared due to a mutual taking over of elements, more precisely the form is specific of the Lăpuş group while the decoration (wide channels) and bi-chrome firing belong to the Gáva culture407. The discoveries, geographically positioned between the two cultural environments and contemporary with both of them strengthen the idea that the means by which different cultural elements spread in the BzD/ HaA period in the Tisa Basin and the north of Transylvania manifests itself under the form of transmitting (or enforcing) of some cultural and technological elements and not by means of population movement which would have lead to the spread of certain objects. The preservation of local traditions in pottery is encountered in the Plain of Carei and in the Plain of Satu Mare408 409 *. New pottery elements that appear in these areas are at the same time common to the neighbouring regions to the north and south, the Upper Tisa Basin and the north of Transylvania respectively. Common elements of the pottery from these regions are encountered in the case of nicely decorated serving vessels, amphorae being one of the vessel types with identical form and decoration in all these regions.

Type 2 comprises amphorae with arched necks. In the case of these vessels the transition from the neck to the body is very much smoother than in the case of the preceding type, lacking in strongly emphasized shoulder characteristic of type 1 (Typ. pl 5, Pl. 16/2, 18/1,2,3). Vessels of this type usually have smaller dimensions than the preceding one and their rims are narrow in most cases. The decoration of amphorae with arched necks comprises wide channelled decoration and rib decoration as is that of the preceding amphorae type. The discovery of type 1 and 2 within the same archaeological complex (SI 4 complex 5) indicates a simultaneous use of the two. Type 2, in form and decoration, are similar to some vessels from the necropolis at Lăpuş400 or to vessels from Gáva I type finds from the Plain of Carei4 . The origin of such vessels may be found in the Suciu de Sus culture (type 2B amphorae) as well as in other neighbouring cultures.

Tjpe 3 includes amphorae formed from two conical parts whose line of contact is found at the middle of the vessel’s height (Typ. pl. 5). The rim of these vessels is out curved and narrow, while underneath it some examples have two (PL 14/5, 26/10) or four small handles (PL 16/3). The good quality clay from which these were made, the careful finishing applied to the surfaces and the bi-chrome firing of some of the vessels (PL 12/1, 16/3) determines the inclusion of this type into the category of serving vessels. The type is illustrated by four vessels two of which were discovered within vessel deposits. This is the case of a vessel deposited in vertical position (its mouth was damaged by a plough), which asserts its inclusion into the “single amphorae deposit” category (PL 12/1). Another vessel was found among the objects of the vessel deposit from S14 complex 5 (PL 16/ 3), where from among a great number of amphorae only this and another two had black-red surfaces.

405 One can mention the cylindrical neck and wide rim of Suciu type B amphorae. Compared to the examples described here, an amphorae with small protuberances surrounded by arched channelled decoration was discovered in the setdement at Lazuri by C. Kacsó (2001, p. 241).

406 László 1973, p. 595-605, Kemenczei 1984, p. 64-65.

4(17 Kacsó 1971, p. 44; Kacsó 1975, p. 62; Kacsó 1990a, p. 47-48; Kacsó 2001, p. 241.

408 In the Plain of Carei the Cehăluţ — Hajdúbagos pottery tradition is present (Németi 1990, p. 46)

409 Kacsó 1975, p.12/1; Kacsó 1981, p. 33 (type IIA).

4111 Németi 1990, fig. 2/2 (Berveni), 12/7 (Carei).

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