srgszeti Tanulmnyok / Prehistoric Studies

Moments in Time

srgszeti Tanulmnyok / Prehistoric Studies

Series Editors
Alexandra Anders, Gbor Kalla, Viktria Kiss,
Gabriella Kulcsr and Gbor V. Szab

Moments in Time
Papers Presented to Pl Raczky
on His 60th Birthday

Edited by
Alexandra Anders and Gabriella Kulcsr
with
Gbor Kalla, Viktria Kiss and Gbor V. Szab

srgszeti Trsasg / Prehistoric Society

Etvs Lornd University
LHarmattan
Budapest 2013

English and German text revised by

Lszl Bartosiewicz, Alice M. Choyke, Judith A. Rasson and Magdalna Seleanu (English)
Ulf Morche and va Pvai (German)

The publication of this volume was generously supported by

Etvs Lornd University, Faculty of Humanities
Deutsches Archologisches Institut, Eurasien-Abteilung
srgszeti Trsasg / Prehistoric Society
Nra 97 Kft.
Archeodata 1998 Bt.
satrs Kft.

The Authors, 2013

LHarmattan Kiad, 2013

ISBN 978-963-236-346-2
ISSN 2063-8930

Typography by
Zsolt Gembela
Cover design
Gbor Vczi and Zsolt Gembela
Printed in Hungary by Robinco Kft.
Director: Pter Kecskemthy

Contents
Editorial / A szerkesztk elszava...................................................................................................................14
Publications of Pl Raczky . ............................................................................................................................16
Walter Meier-Arendt
Pl Raczky zum 60. Geburtstag. Ein Vor- und Gruwort......................................................................... 27

The Early Neolithic The First Moments

Krum Bacvarov
Malak Preslavets Revisited: The Early Neolithic Burials...................................................................... 29
Eszter Bnffy
On Neolithic Frontiers in the Carpathian Basin................................................................................... 35
Paolo Biagi Elisabetta Starnini
Pre-Balkan Platform Flint in the Early Neolithic Sites
of the Carpathian Basin: Its Occurrence and Significance.................................................................. 47
Mihael Budja
Potters and Pots in the MesolithicNeolithic Transformation
in Southeastern Europe..............................................................................................................................61
Ivan Gatsov
Lithic Assemblages from the Area of the North-Western Pontic
from the 9th7th Millennia......................................................................................................................... 85

The Middle Neolithic The Time of the LBK

Piroska Csengeri
Figural Representations from the Initial Phase of the Alfld Linear
Pottery Culture from Novajidrny (Hernd Valley, Northeast Hungary).........................................91
Ferenc Horvth Florin Draovean
Remarks on the Connections between the Banat and the Great
Hungarian Plain at the Beginning of the Middle Neolithic
(SatchinezAlfld Linear PotteryEsztrVina).................................................................................113
Gbor Ilon
The Transdanubian Linear Pottery Culture in County Vas:
Recent Finds and Findings.......................................................................................................................133
Eva Lenneis
Beobachtungen zu frhneolithischen Schlitzgruben...........................................................................147

Contents
Tibor Marton
LBK Households in Transdanubia: A Case Study............................................................................... 159
Zsolt Mester Jacques Tixier
Pot lames: The Neolithic Blade Depot from Boldogkvralja
(Northeast Hungary)................................................................................................................................173
Krisztin Oross
Regional Traits in the LBK Architecture of Transdanubia.................................................................187
Tibor Paluch
Maroslele-Panaht, Legel: Data to the Middle Neolithic
Anthropomorphic Vessel........................................................................................................................ 203
Juraj Pavk Zdenk Farka
Beitrag zur Gliederung der lteren Linearkeramik .............................................................................213
Jrg Petrasch
Standardisierung versus Individualitt?
Das Wesen der jungsteinzeitlichen Bestattungssitten......................................................................... 237
Katalin Sebk
Two Ceramic-Covered Burials from the Middle Neolithic
of the Carpathian Basin........................................................................................................................... 249
Peter Stadler Nadezdha Kotova
The Early LBK Site at Brunn am Gebirge, Wolfholz (56705100 BC):
Locally Established or Founded by Immigrants from the Starevo Territory?............................... 259
Gerhard Trnka
Ein bemerkenswerter Klingenkern aus Szentgl-Radiolarit
von Gro-Schollach im westlichen Niedersterreich ........................................................................ 277
Zsuzsanna M. Virg
On the Anthropomorphic Representations of TLPC in Connection
with Some Recent Finds from Budapest (Figurines and Vessels with Facial
Representations)....................................................................................................................................... 289

The Late Neolithic Polgr-Csszhalom and Its World

Judit P. Barna
A Miniature Anthropomorphic Vessel from the Early Lengyel Culture
Site at Sorms-Trk-fldek in Southwestern Hungary......................................................................311
John Chapman
From Varna to Brittany via Csszhalom Was There a Varna Effect? . .................................... 323
Alice M. Choyke Zsuzsanna Tth
Practice Makes Perfect: Quartered Metapodial Awls
in the Late Neolithic of Hungary........................................................................................................... 337

Contents
Magorzata Kaczanowska Janusz K. Kozowski
The Transition from the Neolithic to the Copper Age Lithic Industries
in the Northern Carpathian Basin......................................................................................................... 353
Nndor Kalicz
Siedlungsstruktur und Bestattungen mit Prestigeobjekten
des Fundplatzes Tp-Leb (sdliches Theigebiet, Ungarn)............................................................ 365
Katalin Kovcs
Late Neolithic Exchange Networks in the Carpathian Basin............................................................ 385
Kitti Khler
Ergebnisse der anthropologischen Untersuchungen zweier
sptneolithischer Bestattungen in Alsnyk........................................................................................ 401
Johannes Mller Robert Hofmann Nils Mller-Scheeel Knut Rassmann
Neolithische Arbeitsteilung: Spezialisierung in einem Tell um 4900 v. Chr................................... 407
Zsuzsanna Siklsi
Traces of Social Inequality and Ritual in the Late Neolithic
of the Great Hungarian Plain................................................................................................................. 421
Krisztina Somogyi Zsolt Gallina
Besonderes anthropomorphes Gef der Lengyel-Kultur mit doppelter
Gesichts- und Menschendarstellung in Alsnyk (SW-Ungarn)...................................................... 437
Alasdair Whittle
Enclosures in the Making: Knowledge, Creativity and Temporality................................................ 457
Istvn Zalai-Gal
Totenhaltung als Indikator relativer Chronologie
im transdanubischen Sptneolithikum?............................................................................................... 467

Neolithic Spiritual Life

Lszl Domborczki
Neolithic Cult Objects and Their Symbolism ..................................................................................... 487
Gheorghe Lazarovici Cornelia-Magda Lazarovici
Sacred house and Their Importance for the Reconstruction
of Architecture, Inner Furnishings and Spiritual Life........................................................................ 503

The Early Copper Age Between Change and Tradition

Attila Gyucha William A. Parkinson
Archaeological Cultures and the Study of Social Interaction:
The Emergence of the Early Copper Age Tiszapolgr Culture...........................................................521

Contents
Svend Hansen
Figurinen aus Stein und Bein in der sdosteuropischen Kupferzeit . ............................................ 539
Judit Regenye
Surviving Neolithic The Early Copper Age in Transdanubia,
North of Lake Balaton............................................................................................................................. 557
Wolfram Schier
An Antiquarians Grave? Early Tiszapolgr Burials
in the Late Vina Tell Site of Uivar (Romania) ................................................................................... 569

The Middle Copper Age Time of Axes

Attila Lszl Sndor Jzsef Sztncsuj
Vessels with Handles with Discoid Attachments Discovered
in the AriudCucuteni Area and Some Problems in the Development and
Chronology of the Ariud (Ersd) Culture in Southeastern Transylvania...................................... 579
Ildik Szathmri
Kupferhammeraxt mit Spuren eines Holzschaftrestes
vom Donauufer bei Szentendre ............................................................................................................. 595

From the Late Copper Age to the Beginning of the Bronze Age Transitions
Mria Bondr
Utilitarian, Artistic, Ritual or Prestige Articles? The Possible Function
of an Enigmatic Artefact ........................................................................................................................ 605
Szilvia Fbin
A Preliminary Analysis of Intrasite Patterns at Balatonkeresztr-Rti-dl,
a Late Copper Age Site on the Southern Shore of Lake Balaton in Hungary...................................613
Lszl Gyrgy
Late Copper Age Animal Burials in the Carpathian Basin .............................................................. 627
Gabriella Kulcsr
Glimpses of the Third Millenium BC in the Carpathian Basin ....................................................... 643
Vajk Szevernyi
The Earliest Copper Shaft-Hole Axes in the Carpathian Basin:
Interaction, Chronology and Transformations of Meaning ............................................................. 661

The Early Bronze Age The Rise of a New Age

Jnos Dani Viktria Kisjuhsz
Bestattungen der Mak-Kultur in Berettyjfalu, Nagy Bcs-dl................................................. 671

Contents
Anna Endrdi
Recent Data on the Settlement History and Contact System of the Bell
BeakerCsepel group............................................................................................................................... 693

The Middle Bronze Age Tells and Metals

Marietta Csnyi Judit Trnoki
A Dinner Set from a Bronze Age House
in Level 2 of the Trkeve-Terehalom Settlement................................................................................. 707
Klra P. Fischl Lszl Remnyi
Interpretation Possibilites of the Bronze Age Tell Sites
in the Carpathian Basin.......................................................................................................................... 725
Szilvia Honti Viktria Kiss
The Bronze Hoard from Zalaszabar. New Data on the Study
of the Tolnanmedi Horizon Part 2.................................................................................................... 739
Magdolna Vicze
Middle Bronze Age Households at Szzhalombatta-Fldvr............................................................. 757

The Late Bronze Age Rituals of Power

Judit Kos
Sptbronzezeitliche Grube mit besonderer Bestimmung
aus Oszlr-Nyrfaszg (Nordostungarn).............................................................................................. 771
Gbor V. Szab
Late Bronze Age Stolen. New Data on the Illegal Acquisition
and Trade of Bronze Age Artefacts in the Carpathian Basin............................................................ 793
Gbor Vczi
Burial of the Late TumulusEarly Urnfield Period
from the Vicinity of Nadap, Hungary....................................................................................................817

The Iron Age End of the (Pre)history

Istvn Fodor
A Scythian Mirror from Hajdnns, Hungary...................................................................................831
Mikls Szab
Livre celte de la puszta hongroise......................................................................................................... 839

Contents

Interdisciplinary Archaeology
Lszl Bartosiewicz Erika Gl Zsfia Eszter Kovcs
Domesticating Mathematics: Taxonomic Diversity
in Archaeozoological Assemblages........................................................................................................ 853
Katalin T. Bir
More on How Much?............................................................................................................................ 863
Zoltn Czajlik Andrs Bdcs
The Effectiveness of Aerial Archaeological Research
An Approach from the GIS Perspective................................................................................................ 873
Ferenc Gyulai
Archaeobotanical Research of the Neolithic Sites in the Polgr Area.............................................. 885
Pl Smegi Sndor Gulys Gerg Persaits
The Geoarchaeological Evolution of the Loess-Covered Alluvial Island
of Polgr and Its Role in Shaping Human Settlement Strategies....................................................... 901
Zsuzsanna K. Zoffmann
Significant Biostatistical Connections between Late Neolithic
Ethnic Groups from the Carpathian Basin and Bronze Age Populations
from Territories beyond the Carpathians..............................................................................................913

10

Maroslele-Panaht, Legel: Data to the Middle

Neolithic Anthropomorphic Vessel
Tibor Paluch

Mra Ferenc Museum

H-6720 Szeged, Roosevelt tr 13.
paluch.tibor@gmail.com

The Mra Ferenc Museum in Szeged, Hungary, conducted a salvage excavation in 2008, at Maroslele-Panaht, Site 2 of Road 43, then under construction. The site lies approximately 3 km northwest of Maroslele and
10 km northeast of the mouth of the TiszaMaros rivers. The area has long been the subject of archaeological
research; Ott Trogmayer excavated settlement features and objects of the Early Neolithic Krs culture in
this area. The real size of the site is 15 ha, based on the excavation of 1963, the present excavation, the ground
survey, and topographical relationships. We excavated altogether 231 archaeological features. In addition to
the Neolithic, occupation traces of the Tiszapolgr culture, the Sarmatians, and the late Middle Ages were
also found. We excavated a total of about fifteen thousand square meters of the former settlement and found
traces of a short-lived, temporary site from the period.
Analogies to the finds from the Maroslele-Panaht site can be quoted from the sites lying south of the
Maros River in Serbia and Romania dating to the Vina A2A3 period, and from sites dating to the close
of the early ALPC and the classical ALPC. The chronology established on the basis of the artefacts was confirmed by the results of the 14C dates. The settlement was abandoned sometime at the close of the classical
ALPC 2 phase (corresponding to the close of the Vina 3 period), marking the rise of the Szaklht culture
and the initial occupation phase of the earliest Szaklht settlements on the left bank of the River Tisza north
of the River Maros (Tp-Leb A, Hdmezvsrhely-Szaklht).
The specimen from Maroslele belongs to a few female anthropomorphic vessels group with feet (Figs 89).
Indeed, it may represent an intermediate step to the late Neolithic, where vessels in the shape of a female sitting on a throne played an important role in the cult in everyday life.
A szegedi Mra Ferenc Mzeum 2008-ban megelz rgszeti feltrst vgzett az pl M43-as autplya
2. szm lelhelyn, Maroslele-Panahton. A lelhely Marosleltl Ny-ra kb. 3 km-re, a TiszaMaros torkolattl 10 km-re K-re helyezkedik el. A terlet rgta ismert a rgszeti kutats szmra. 1963 tavaszn
Trogmayer Ott a kora neolitikus Krs-kultra teleprszlett, objektumait trta fel ezen a terleten. A
lelhely mrete az 1963-as s a jelenlegi sats, valamint a helyszni terepbejrsok s a domborzati viszonyok alapjn kb. 15 ha-ra tehet. A mostani feltrs sorn sszesen 231 rgszeti jelensg kerlt napvilgra,
amelynek jelents rsze a kzps jkkor korai idszakra tehet. Ezen idszakban egy rvid let, egyszeri
megtelepeds nyomait sikerlt megtallnunk mintegy 15 000 m2-en.
A rgszeti leletanyag legjobb prhuzamai a Vina-kultra A2A3 idszaknak a Marostl dlre a mai
Szerbia s Romnia terletn lv lelhelyein, az alfldi vonaldszes kermia kultrja korai szakasznak
vgn, illetve klasszikus szakasznak leletanyagaiban tallhatk meg. A rgszeti mdszerekkel kialaktott
idrendet megersteni ltszik a 14C vizsglatok eredmnye is. A telepls letnek vge valamikor az AVK 2
fzisnak, illetve a Vina-kultra A3 idszaknak vgn kvetkezik be, amely a szaklhti kultra s a Marostl szakra a Tisza bal partjn lv legkorbbi szaklhti teleplsek (Tp-Leb A, HdmezvsrhelySzaklht) kezdett jelenti.
Az sats sorn kerlt el egy nagymret, reges test, kt lbon ll, antropomorf edny tredke (Figs.
89). Az edny a kt lbon ll, reges test nalak ednyek ritka csoportjba tartozik. A vizsglt trgy a
kora neolitikus Krs-kultra kt lbon ll, nt brzol szobrai s a ks neolitikum trnuson l, nalak
ednyei kztti kzbens lpcst kpviseli.

Moments in Time Budapest 2013

203

Tibor Paluch
In the life of prehistoric men, death and the various beliefs connected to it played an important
role. This may be primarily attributed to the fact
that these people were confronted with the shortness of life day by day. The expiration of life, as
well as its start, is hard to perceive, therefore, numerous beliefs were coupled to it at all times. These
notions are always generated by the society, surrounding the individual; it is especially difficult to
examine such notions, as drawing the conclusions
with regard to the onetime intellectual culture
from the archeological findings is rather riskful.
The site
The Mra Ferenc Museum in Szeged, Hungary,
conducted a salvage excavation between August
15 and October 15, 2008, at Maroslele-Panaht,
Site 2 of Road 43, then under construction (Fig. 1).
The area has long been the subject of archaeological research; Ott Trogmayer excavated settlement
features and objects of the Krs culture in this
area (Trogmayer 1964). The site belong to the
late period of the Krs culture so-called Proto
Vina phase, Jnos Makkay has given the fullest
summary of the period, also assigned additional
sites in this group in addition to Maroslele-Pana1
(Makkay 1990).2
The site lies approximately 3 km northwest of
Maroslele and 10 km northeast of the mouth of
the TiszaMaros, on a dune ridge by the confluence of the Szraz and Porgny streams (Fig. 2).
The loess hill rises an average 1.5 m above the surrounding floodplain, to around the altitude of 79
meters above sea level. O. Trogmayer excavated
on the highest point in 1963 (Trogmayer 1964).
The planned route of the motorway lies some
100 metres to the south, avoiding higher ground,
and follows lower-lying areas. The real size of the
site is 15 ha, based on the excavation of 1963, the
present excavation, the ground survey, and topographical relationships. The hydrology and terrain
of the broader area are dominated by the channels of former watercourses that run more or less
north to south. Six hills oriented northsouth
were observed in the 34,000 square-meter area
1
E.g., Dvavnya-Atyaszeg, csd-Kirit, Endrd 119, FurtaCst, etc.
2
To the clarification of the terminology, chronological questions see: Schier 1997.

204

Fig. 1. Location of Maroslele

initially designated for excavation. The former hydrographic relations are demonstrated well on the
map of Joseph IIs military survey of Pana and its
surroundings. This clearly shows that, except for
the higher hills (Pana, Leb, Kingc), the whole
area may have been under water for a considerable
part of the year (Fig. 3). Archaeological objects
were found not only on the highest hills, but on
the deeper, water-covered parts as well, which indicates that a drier climate prevailed in the area
in certain periods. It is necessary to examine the
hydrographic relations of the area because the
special microclimate of the TiszaMaros confluence resulted in the unique environmental conditions of the settlement. It is still debated where
the course of the former ancient Maros was, and
whether todays Maros can be taken into account
as a boundary for the archaeological cultures or
groups. The Maros, just like the Tisza, did not
have a stable riverbed before the 19th century
river controls. For example, there were four me-

Fig. 2. Maroslele-Panaht, Legel the excavation trench

on a 1:10,000 map

Maroslele-Panaht, Legel: Data to the Middle Neolithic Anthropomorphic Vessel

Fig. 3. Pana and his neighbourhood on the map of Joseph IIs

military survey

andering branches of the river in the Pleistocene

(And 2002, 96). Due to the sloping topography
of the Krs region in the Holocene, an essential
change took place along the plains section of the
Maros. The Tisza, with vigourous meandering,
withdrew to the northwest, and different Maros
beds followed on the fan-like stream deposit. The
river followed the Szrazr line after todays Mak
(And 2002, 9192). The natural scenery of the
Great Hungarian Plain showed large variations
at the time, with alternating marshes, grasslands,
and forests. Floodplain forests grew along the rivers and in the marshy areas, while oak groves grew
on the drier areas of the TiszaMaros region.
The excavation work was extremely difficult, as
small, very hard pieces of the soil adhered to each
other. We excavated altogether 231 archaeological
features. In addition to the Neolithic, occupation
traces of the Tiszapolgr culture, the Sarmatians,
and the late Middle Ages were also found.
Finds of the Middle Neolithic
period
We found traces of a short-lived, temporary site
from the period of the Middle Neolithic. There was
no superpositioning among the Neolithic features.
The assemblage covers a relatively short period;
150 objects were found belonging to this period.
Most of the Neolithic settlement features were not

located on the slopes, but in the slightly lower-lying

areas. Archaeological researchers have long been
aware of the fact that, in contrast to Early Neolithic settlement sites, the settlements of the Alfld
Linear Pottery Culture (ALPC) were smaller, more
numerous, and usually located in lower-lying areas
farther from watercourses (Kalicz 1957, 8688).
The route of the motorway touched the edge of the
site. Most of the Neolithic objects were found on
the northern section of the motorway. The distance
between the two most distant Neolithic features was
about 250 metres. We found diverse object types of
the period (wells, pits, surface building, ditch) and
excavated a total of about fifteen thousand square
meters of the former settlement.
Already appeared in the excavation, which has
been further strengthened during the conservation of ceramic materials, that can be observed
ALPC and the Vina culture exceptionally strong
him affecting each other at the site.3 Emphasizing
only two examples:
The equivalents of the arrowhead design element (Fig. 4) appear on classic ALPC sites (Kalicz
Makkay 1977, Taf. 21. 16);
The very high-quality, biconical pot is a
unique piece with his light polishing. On the
shoulder can be seen fine, oblique direction, channeling decoration (Fig. 5). Dated to Vina A3 in
the Banat (Lazarovici 1979, Pl. XV).
Chronology
The technological features of the period characterize the coarse ware over a wider region, making a
classification to culture difficult. The fine ceramics
can be divided into two main groups based on the
vessel forms and decoration. One part can be assigned to the ALPC, the other to the Vina culture.
Analogies to the finds from the Maroslele-Panaht
site can be quoted from the sites lying south of the
Maros River in Serbia and Romania dating to the
Vina A2A3 period, and from sites dating to the
close of the early ALPC and the classical ALPC
(Paluch 2009). The chronology established on the
basis of the artefacts was confirmed by the results
of the 14C dates: the settlement can be dated after
the great changes of the early Middle Neolithic
3
All this well appears in the decoration peculiarities and the
manufacturing technology of the ceramics.

205

Tibor Paluch
Laboratory
code

Feature
number

Archaeological age
(BP)

Standard
deflection

Calibrated date
1 (BC)

Calibrated date
2 (BC)

Poz-28644

85

6200

50

52205194

53005027

Poz-28645

102

6280

40

53035279

53595207

Poz-28646

103

6280

40

53035279

53595207

Poz-28647

119

6290

40

53095283

53675208

Table 1. Radiocarbon results from the 2008 excavation at Maroslele-Panaht, Legel 4

Fig. 4. Incised arrowhead motif of the classical ALPC period

(Table 1). By the time when the site was habited,

the process which led to the development of the
Linear Pottery Cultures (ALPC, TLPC) and the
early Vina culture had ended. The sites5 of socalled Protovina 1 and 2 phase contemporaneous
with Vina A1 period. On the northern part of the
Great Hungarian Plain the Vina A1 period is simultaneity to a ALPC I = Szatmr II period (Racz
ky 1988, 29; Horvth 1991, 265; Draovean
2006, 94). The ALPC, from its formation period,
expanded to the south (Raczky 1988, 29), and
according to some views, it conquered the Great
Hungarian Plain to the Maros River at the same
time when the Vina culture appeared (Makkay
1982, 29). According to another view, the ALPC
appeared in the southern areas of the Krs culture in the Vina A period, but only in the classical phase of ALPCs development (Horvth
1989, 21). Later this opinion was modified to the
view that the ALPC reached the Maros in the latest
phase of the Krs culture and at the same time
smaller Vina groups crossed the Maros River
from the south (Horvth 2006, 313). This matter

is further complicated by the fact that the ALPC 1

phase cannot be separated sharply from the classical or ALPC 2 phase; there had to be a significant
overlap between them.
The most intriguing question is whether the
population of the Vina A culture migrated to
the areas north of the Maros River and blended
with the late ALPC 1 and the early ALPC 2 groups
(Horvth 1994b, 6), resulting in this singular
corpus of finds, or whether the unusually strong
southern impacts can be attributed to the fact that
the TiszaMaros triangle acted as a frontier zone
between the two cultures. Presumably the base
population of the area consisted of a Krs culture
population6 living on in the Middle Neolithic (also
confirmed by the survival of traditions), which,
complemented by Vina and ALPC elements,
formed the specific population of this area.7 The
settlement was abandoned sometime at the close
of the classic ALPC 2 phase (corresponding to the
close of the Vina 3 period), marking the rise of the
Szaklht culture and the initial occupation phase
of the earliest Szaklht settlements on the left
bank of the Tisza River north of the Maros River
(Tp-Leb A, Hdmezvsrhely-Szaklht).
Anthropomorphic vessel in the
form of a woman
The mention of the bone spoon has already raised
the survival of early Neolithic traditions (Fig. 6),
than in the case of chaff-tempered pottery. The
most obvious legacy of the Krs culture is the
O. Trogmayer found the assemblage of this group in 1963.
In 1994, Ferenc Horvth defined the Middle Neolithic Trepart group of ALPC as a unique group in the TiszaMaros triangle
with a number of sites (Gorzsa-Kingchalom, Gorzsa-Kovcstanya, Szeged-Srhalom, Hdmezvsrhely-Barci-rt, etc.) (Horvth 1994a). Probably due to the small surface excavated only a
smaller Vina influence was detected in the assemblage.
6
7

4
The radiocarbon dates from Pozna (Poland) Laboratory were
calibrated using OxCal 4.1.1 program.
5
Maroslele-Pana pit 4, Deszk-Olajkt pit 8, Endrd 119, Maroslele-Pana pit 3, Deszk-Olajkt pit 15, csd pit 1 (Horvth
1994b, 5).

206

Maroslele-Panaht, Legel: Data to the Middle Neolithic Anthropomorphic Vessel

Fig. 5. Maroslele-Panaht, Legel the fine oblique channelling on the vessel shoulder is an unusual decorative technique
in this region

symbolism of its cultic and

religious objects, which only
changed slowly (Fig. 7). There
was some reason for keeping
these traditions; Neolithic
communities were peasant communities, and these
have common characteristics which are independent
of ages and geographical areas. From among these the
most important is respect for
traditions and for community principles. Traditions of
community behaviours are
not hereditary, but acquired
through learning. Insisting
Fig. 6. Maroslele-Paon
tradition is peasant comnaht, Legel the
bone spoon of the munities most visible characteristic, which yields the
Krs culture
result that peasant culture
changes less quickly in its structural construction
and form of appearance (Ortutay 1981, 184).
On the Maroslele-Panaht, Legel from the
northern half of the excavation block a statue
fragment was recovered from a feature extending under the section wall: a large, hollow body,
standing, fragment of an anthropomorphic vessel (Fig. 8). Grey with black mottling, worn surface, tempered with chaff. For the statue presented only the underwear were because of a
waist downwards being this part turned up in the
course of the excavation. The statue was fragmentary, but more of it turned up during the excava-

10cm

Fig. 7. Maroslele-Panaht, Legel Early Neolithic lamp set

on four feet during excavation

207

Tibor Paluch

Fig. 8. Maroslele-Panaht, Legel Middle Neolithic cult statue from ahead (a) and from behind (b)

tion. The statue was an anthropomorphic figure,

standing on two relatively short (ca. 8 cm), robust
feet; the shape is schematic and simple. None of
the recovered parts are finely worked, so it can
be assumed that the role of these parts must have
been secondary to the function of the vessel. The
feet are attached to a vessel modelling a bottom
and a female genital organ, with two anterior and
two posterior bulges. The female genital organ is
emphasized by a V-shaped cut between the two
anterior bulges. The total height of the fragment
is 17.7 cm (Fig. 9).
Undamaged anthropomorphic vessels of unknown function have been unearthed at three
different Early Neolithic sites in Hungary: Hdmezvsrhely-Gorzsa (Gazdapusztai 1957, 11;
TrogmayerKonczPaluch 2006, 13, Cat. 1),
csd (Kutzin 1944, Tab. 12. 10), Rkczijfalu (Kalicz 1970, Pl. 4).8 Apart from these, four
additional fragments of feet have been recovered at
Hdmezvsrhely-Kotacpart-Vata-tanya (Banner
1935, Abb. 18. 19; TrogmayerKonczPaluch
8
They are related to the bird-shaped vessel from Tmrknyjmajor (earlier Felgy-jmajor) (Csalog 1957; Trogmayer
KonczPaluch 2006, 13, Cat. 2).

208

2006, 14, Cat. 3), Rkczijfalu-Cseber-r (Raczky 1980, Fig. 10. 7ac), Kistke-Karcsonytelke
(Fogas 2003, Fig. 3. 2ac); and one fragment from
a site that dates after the Starevo culture but still to
the earliest phase of TLPC (Transdanubian Linear
Pottery Culture), the Szentgyrgyvlgy-Pityerdomb
site west of the Danube (Bnffy 2003, Abb. 3; 2004,
270). Eszter Bnffy collected the similar foot fragments from the human shaped vessel with the publication of the Pityerdomb piece and looking out
the South-Eastern-European contacts (Bnffy
2004, 271272). J. Makkay has proved the existence of anthropomorphic vessels throughout the
Balkan to the Aegean Territory (Makkay 1974,
150). These vessels must have played an important
role during rituals in the Early Neolithic, which
is implied by the fact that they do not occur very
frequently and their shapes are rather restricted
(Raczky 1980, 19).
The analysis of bone pieces found inside socalled Venus from Gorzsa manifested that they
burned there would be skull pieces. Because burnt
human bones had been unearthed from the pits
at several sites: Endrd 119 (Makkay 1992, 133),
Szajol-Felsfld (Raczky 1988, 21), on the basis

Maroslele-Panaht, Legel: Data to the Middle Neolithic Anthropomorphic Vessel

Fig. 9. Maroslele-Panaht, Legel Middle Neolithic anthropomorphic vessel in the form of a woman with
hollow body (Drawing by M. Koncz)

209

Tibor Paluch
of which the question that they might indicate
traces of cremation was raised in the Early Neolithic.9 We have one single example onto placing
the body inside the vessel from the spreading area
of a KrsStarevo culture, in grave 33 from Anzabegovo, where a newborn infant was buried like
this (LengyelNemeskri 1976, 416).
Female statuettes standing on two feet were
frequent in the Balkans and the Carpathian Basin during the earliest Neolithic. Suffice it here to
note the Krs culture's steatopygous statuettes.
According to one idea there is a size difference
among statuettes with different functions (Makkay 2005, 87) and, based on this, from among
the statuettes of the Krs culture only the Donja
Branjevina goddess with a red head (Karmanski 2005, 83, Pl. 1) can be classified as a cult statue
that was used for community ceremonies. Another
characteristic feature of the anthropomorphic vessels in the form of a woman is that they are spread
universally in the Carpathian Basin as early as the
end of the Early Neolithic. Undoubtedly the most
beautiful specimens were made at the end of the
Middle Neolithic and the beginning of the Late
Neolithic.10 Interestingly, however, there are few
female anthropomorphic vessels (not statues!)
with feet. South-Eastern Europe has been known
since the Early Neolithic (see Toptepe: Hansen
2007, Teil I, 177, Abb. 82). Instead of the standing statues, a significant role in the late Neolithic
was played by vessels in the form of a female (from
time to time sitting on a throne) (Makkay 2005,
88). So a type of female cult figurine existed, we
may call it an idol or goddess, not as statues (solid
or hollow), but as vessels in the form of a female
sitting on a throne (Makkay 2005, 88).
ALPC ceramic statues or fragments of anthropomorphic vessel feet are known from the sites
of Md-Galambos-dl (KaliczMakkay 1977,
Taf. 107. 6) and Mezkvesd (KaliczMakkay
1977, Taf. 107. 8). These specimens belong to the
ALPC 2 period. Outside the area of todays Hun9
More recently suggested Venus from Gorzsa did not preserve the trace of cremation burial just like the rest of the early
Neolithic human shape vessel but the specific souvenir of the
early Neolithic skull cult (Trogmayer 2005, 11).
10
Shortly referring to the rich Hungarian assemblages: Banner 1959; Csalog 1959; Idole 1972; KaliczRaczky 1987;
M. Virg 1998; 2000; Raczky 2000; HorvthH. Simon 2003;
RaczkyAnders 2003; with further literature.

210

gary, but of similar size to that from Maroslele,

is the foot fragment of an anthropomorphic vessel from Crcea (Romania) (Hansen 2007, Teil
II, Taf. 13. 3, 5), which is not hollow but solid
and has been interpreted as part of a male statue.
Rather the Krs culture female shaped vessels
similar to the foot fragment of this vessels from
Aleksandrovac foot fragment, which known from
Vina area (Tomi 1988, 106). The best parallel of
the Maroslele anthropomorphic vessel, from the
area of the Vina culture, although from its later
period, comes from Orlavat/Orld (Vojvodina,
Serbia)11 (Gimbutas 1989, 48, 83). The anthropomorphic vessels in the form of a woman of the
Krs culture depict some kind of female being
(deity, ghost, believer, etc.) in a small size. There
is no single uniform point of view for interpreting
prehistoric anthropomorphic figurines. Most interpretations consider them the product of social
rites, magic, and religion. In this manner the figurines are interpreted as priests, priestesses, demigods, gods, and goddesses and they have a ritual
function. This approach of many archaeologists is
considered to have neither philosophical nor archaeological support (Bailey 1994, 321). Regarding the survival of Krs characteristics during
the ALPC period, they are practically absent from
ALPC sites, and this testifies against the direct impact of Krs elements. ALPC society developed a
new type: the vessel decorated with a stylized human face, mainly large storage vessels (Makkay
2005, 90). It is doubtful whether these vessels in
form of a human face, which are genetically related in the Szaklht and early Tisza cultures, can
be traced back to the anthropomorphic vessels of
the Krs culture. In the ALPC even vessels which
were partially formed in the shape of a female are
rare (see Kenzl-Fazekaszug: KaliczMakkay
1977, Taf. 107. 7).
The specimen from Maroslele, based on the
size, was a cult statue or cult object. Indeed, it may
represent an intermediate step to the late Neolithic, where vessels in the shape of a female sitting
on a throne played an important role in the cult in
everyday life.
11
Interestingly, neither the site and the object is not included in
the work history of Vojvodina: TasiBeli 1971; Medovi 1984;
Brukner 1988; Srejovi 1988; Medovi 2006. Only two publications can be found: Giovanni 1999; Naumov 2006, Tab. I. 6.

Maroslele-Panaht, Legel: Data to the Middle Neolithic Anthropomorphic Vessel

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