Kiraly sm2012 PDF
Kiraly sm2012 PDF
Kiraly sm2012 PDF
SATU MARE
STUDII I COMUNICRI
seria
ARHEOLOGIE
XXVIII/I
2012
Refereni tiinifici:
Wolfgang DAVID (Manching, Germania)
Florin GOGLTAN (Cluj Napoca, Romnia)
Rspunderea pentru coninutul tiinific al studiilor, formulri i calitatea textelor n limbi strine revine,
n exclusivitate, autorilor.
The authors are responsible for the presentation of the facts contained in their articles, and for the ac-
curacy of the foreign languages texts.
ISSN 2067-6956
TIPOGRAFIA: KUMAR PRINT S.R.L.
THE GVA CULTURE IN THE TISA PLAIN AND
TRANSYLVANIA
SYMPOSIUM
Satu Mare 17-18 June/Juni 2011
Editor / Herausgeber
LIVIU MARTA
gnes Kirly
Keywords: Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age (LBA-EIA), Gva cemetery, funeral deficiency, normative/
deviant burials
Although the research on the settlements and metalworking of the Gva culture is greatly
evolved for these days, we are still in short of the most fundamental data about the burial customs of the
greatest LBA/EIA cultural complex in the Eastern Carpathian Basin. This means that in spite of being
well up in typological and chronological considerations, we know almost nothing about the people who
created the material culture. Not only information about the funerary practices and thus about the
anthropological characteristics of the ruling elite is absent, but data on the lower social strata is hardly
represented. Regarding all regional groups, we can establish that the number of known burial sites looks
extremely low compared to the quantity of the settlements.
During the last decades, scholars showed low-intensity interest in this funeral deficiency, only
some small-scale studies made attempt to evaluate the phenomenon. These explained the lack of graves
by special cultural traditions or insufficient research, but any of the appeared ideas had been verified.
Meanwhile working on my thesis dealing with this problem, there came to light a small biritual cemetery
of the complex in 2010 at the preliminary excavation of the Nagykunsg Water Reservoir (Great Hungar-
ian Plain) as an unexpected luck. Despite of its mere extension, this funerary site has a great significance
in the research of the burial customs of the Late Bronze Age Eastern Hungary. In the following chapters
find material and burial customs observed in the Tiszabura cemetery is discussed and further notes are
made on the entire issue of missing burials of the Gva culture.
Archaeological survey
Large-scale excavations preceding the building of the Nagykunsg Emergency Flood Reservoir
were carried out between 2009 and 2011. The archaeological survey at the planned embankment and
branch canal was lead in cooperation by the Authorithy of Museums of Jsz-Nagykun-Szolnok county
and the Institute of Archaeological Sciences of Etvs Lornd University, Budapest1.
From the LBA at site Nr. 6 an enormous, fortified settlement of the Reinecke BD-HA1 (or so-
called pre-Gva) period was excavated that extended northwards, through the Tiszabura-Abdszalk
road, to site Nr. 5 (Vczi 2010, 366). The NW-SE lying group of Gva graves was discovered in the west-
ernmost part of the investigated area (P2). The first pottery sherds and calcined human bone fragments
turned up in the course of mechanic soil removal, approximately at the depth of 25 cm (P3/A). From
1
Site Nr. 6 was excavated by Marietta Csnyi and Judit Trnoki of Jnos Damjanich Museum Szolnok to who I am greatly
beholden for letting me study in situ, evaluate and publish the find material of the Gva graves. Tiszabura Bnis-ht, site Nr. 5
was investigated under the direction of Gbor Vczi (ELTE Budapest).
that point, the complexes were excavated manually, and finally a group of 8 urn-graves and a crouched
skeleton of a child was unearthed (P3/B)2.
1. Cup (P7.1)5
a. Large cup with rounded, uneven rim, curved conical body with thin wall, omphalos base and
a strap handle starting under the rim.
b. Handmade of fine paste without tempering material added.
c. Oxidized, light brown-dark grey patchy on both faces of the wall.
d. R: 13 14 cm; F: 5 cm; H: 9 cm; W: 0,3 0,6 cm.
e. DJM 2011.3.1.1.
f. Widespread prehistoric vessel form, relatively common in the Gva culture. Similar, but with
a peak on the rim, above the handle are known from the cemetery of Taktabj (Graves 5, 8, 9,
10 and 16: Kemenczei 1984, Taf. CLVIII. 18; Taf. CLIX. 11, 15; Taf. CLX. 5.; Taf. CLXI. 8); from
VencsellKastlykert (Dani 1999, IV. tbla 1a-b), DebrecenNyulas (Kemenczei 1984, Taf.
CXXV. 6); Szegedthalom (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. CXXV. 7.); Szabolcs (Kemenczei 1984, Taf.
CXXXI. 22); Tiszatardos (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. CXXXIV. 16) and Prgy (Kemenczei 1984, Taf.
CLV. 7). Also known from the eastern territory of the Gva complex, eg. in Chiinu (Corlteni
Chiinu Group; Leviki 1994, Fig. 10, 9) and from other Late Bronze Age cultures of the
Alfld, even in the REI BD-HA1 cemetery of Csorva (Trogmayer 1963, Taf. XIV. 10). Piliny
culture: Patvarc (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. XI. 21); Szcsny (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. XIII. 14, 24);
Bodrogkeresztr (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. XXXIII. 12). Kyjatice culture: the cemetery of Szajla
(Kemenczei 1984, Taf. LXXIII. 5; Taf. LXXV. 12, 18, 22; Taf. LXXVII. 25; Taf. LXXVIII. 9, 16;
Taf. LXXXIII. 2, 24; Taf. LXXXV. 6, 11, 23; Taf. LXXXVI. 20; Taf. LXXXVII. 15) and zd
Kalja (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. XC. 13). The form is also common in the Lausitz culture and in
the whole Urnfield region.
2
During the preliminary field survey in 2006, greater amount of prehistoric sherds and broken human bones were found on the
sand-hill (reported by Judit Trnoki; KH 600/272/2007.). As by the excavation in 2009 two early medieval inhumation burials
were brought to light close to the Gva graves, we cannot certainly assert to which cemetery the bones has originally belonged.
3
Stratigraphical numbers (in brackets) of the complexes were replaced with serial numbers from Grave 1 to 9 according to their
geographical position (N-S; W-E).
4
The anthropological determination was carried out by Zsuzsanna Zoffmann. See the detailed report in this volume.
5
Legend:
1. Name (Pl.)
a. Formal description
b. Technological description (material, shaping, surface treatment)
c. Firing, colour
d. Proportions (R: rim diameter, S: shoulder diameter, B: belly diameter, F: foot diameter, H: height, h: measurable hight,
W: wall thickness)
e. Inventory Nr. Main analogies
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A biritual cemetery of the Gva culture in the Middle Tisza Region...
2. Cup (P7.2)
a. Small cup with rounded, uneven rim, curved conical body, straight base and a loop handle
starting under the rim.
b. Handmade of fine paste without tempering material added.
c. Oxidized, light brown- red patchy on both faces of the wall.
d. R: 7,5 8 cm; F: 2,5 cm; H: 6cm; W: 0,2 0,5 cm.
e. DJM 2011.3.1.2.
f. As a smaller version of the cup described above, their distribution areas are similar. Some
examples from the Gva culture: Taktabj (Grave 16: Kemenczei 1984, Taf. CLXI. 11);
Gvavencsellrhegy (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. CXXIX. 4); Tiszaeszlr (Kemenczei 1984, Taf.
CXXXI. 25). This smaller type of handled cup appears in the cemetery of Csorva (Trogmayer
1963, Taf. XIV. 5), furthermore known from the Piliny culture at Szurdokpspki (Kemenczei
1984, Taf. XIII. 21) and from the Kyjatice culture at the cemetery of Szajla (Kemenczei 1984,
Taf. LXXXVI. 9, 10; Taf. LXXXVII. 6).
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gnes Kirly
culture are known from the settlements of DebrecenNyulas (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. CXXVI.
8.); PoroszlAponht (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. 7); NyregyhzaBujtos (Kemenczei 1984, Taf.
CXXX. 19); Krm (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. CXL. 3); Prgy (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. CLI. 1; Taf.
CLIII. 8, 12; Taf. CLIV. 2; Taf. CLVI. 14, 15; ); BaksTemetpart (V. Szab 1996, 14. kp, 1, 6,
9, 14); HdmezvsrhelyGorzsa (V. Szab 1996, 23. kp, 13); HdmezvsrhelySzaklht
(V. Szab 1996, 34. kp, 4); HdmezvsrhelySolt-Pal (V. Szab 1996, 39. kp, 10; 40. kp, 3,
4; 41, kp, 9;); Media (Pankau 2004, Taf. 8. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8; Taf. 25. 4; Taf. 40. 11); Ciceu -Corabia
(Vasiliev 1995, 115. Fig 8. 5); Teleac (Vasiliev/ Aldea/ Ciugudean 1991, Fig. 34. 12; Fig. 35. 8.
and further pieces with omphalos base). In the territory of the Corlteni Chiinu Group
from eg. Blbneti (Leviki 1994, Fig. 20. 6) and Mndreti (Leviki 1994, Fig. 24. 20). Bowls
with wrapped turban rim and with obliquely cut rim (as a simpler version) also appear spo-
radically in the material of the Piliny culture, eg. at nod (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. XXXIX. 9),
but they are known in very large numbers in the territory of the Kyjatice culture, eg. Szihalom
(Kemenczei 1984, Taf. LXIX. 15), Szajla (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. LXXXIII. 17), and the Urnfield
and Babadag cultures. The technique of forming the rims (size and shape) in the latter areas is
slightly different from that used in the Gva culture.
2. Bowl with wrapped turban rim and concentrically channelled base (P7.6.)
a. Bowl with wrapped turban rim, conical body, slight omphalos base that is concentrically
channelled inside.
b. Handmade of fine paste with some crushed ceramic added.
c. Oxidized, yellow-black patchy on the outer, reduced, black on the inner face of the wall.
d. R: 25 cm; F: 10,5 11cm; M: 8,7 cm; W: 0,62 0,98 cm.
e. DJM 2011.3.2.2.
f. Regarding the wrapped turban rim, this type is characterized by a distribution similar to the
previous bowl. Analogies of the slight omphalos base with concentrical channeling are known
from BerettyjfaluNagybcs-dl (Kirly 2009, 5. mellklet); Krm (Kemenczei 1984, Taf.
CXXXVII. 21; Taf. CXXXVIII. 17; Taf. CXLIV. 9; Taf. CXLVII. 18); Media (without omphalos:
Pankau 2004, Taf. 34. 22) and Teleac (Vasiliev/ Aldea/ Ciugudean 1991, Fig. 30. 8).
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A biritual cemetery of the Gva culture in the Middle Tisza Region...
a. Fragments of a small bowl with slightly outcurving, faceted rim and hemispherical body.
b. Handmade of fine paste with some crushed ceramic added.
c. Reduced, grey-brown patchy on the outer, black on the inner face of the wall.
d, R: 13cm; W: 0,56 0,75 cm; further proportions are immeasurable.
e. DJM 2011.3.9.2.
f. The faceted decoration of the rim occur often rather on cups with over raised handles of the
Gva culture (see details: V. Szab 2002, XIX. A. 1. tpus). However, similar bowls are known
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gnes Kirly
from e. g. Grniceti (Lszl 1994, Fig. 21. 6, 7, 9, 10; Fig. 23. 3, 5), and from the surrounding
area of Trinca, in the territory of the Corlteni Chiinu Group (Leviki 1994, Fig. 11, 12).
2. Mug (P8.2)
a. Almost complete profile of a mug (rim is missing) with slightly outcurving neck, pronounced
shoulder, vertically channelled, bulgy belly with definite carination, conical lower body, straight
base and a small loop handle starting in the middle of the neck and getting to the shoulder.
b. Handmade of fine paste with very few crushed ceramic added.
c. Reduced, black on the outer, oxidized, yellow on the inner face of the wall.
d. R: immeasurable; B: 12 cm; F: 4 5 cm; H: 0,3 0,94 cm.
e. DJM 2011.3.9.1.
f. Unfamiliar form to the Gva culture, pieces bearing similar attributes rather occur double-
handled or with one handle starting right under the rim (see details: V. Szab 2002, XXII. type
A). However, an almost identical mug only its conical neck differs was found in Grave 58.
of the Csorva cemetery (Trogmayer 1963, Taf. XIV. 11). Mugs with channelled belly but with
double or over raised handles are relatively common in the Lausitz culture (Veliaik 1983).
With different proportions, this vessel type is also general in the Urnfield complex.
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A biritual cemetery of the Gva culture in the Middle Tisza Region...
9.). Specialty of this piece is the unique incised decoration of the bottom that may be similar
with the vessel found at Siret (Lszl 1994, 272. Fig. 51. 7, 8; Fig. 52. 7), or to those known from
the Baradla (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. CIV. 11) and Szeleta caves (Kemenczei 1984, Taf. CIX. 16)
in the territory of the Kyjatice culture.
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gnes Kirly
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A biritual cemetery of the Gva culture in the Middle Tisza Region...
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Grave 8); sand added to the paste could be only be observed at vessel 2 of Grave 9. Great majority of the
vessels are double coloured: reduced on one side and oxidized on the other (Grave 2: 1; Grave 3: 1, 2;
Grave 4: 1; Grave 5: 2; Grave 6: 2; vessels of Grave 7, Grave 8 and Grave 9: 1, 2). However, pottery oxidized
(Grave 1: 1, 2; Grave 4: 2, 3) or reduced (Grave 2: 2; Grave 3: 3; Grave 4: 1; Grave 5: 1 and Grave 9: 3)
also occur. Secondary burning was only observed in the case of the two southernmost vessels of Grave 5
(3, 4). Regarding the shape, the repertory consists of pots/amphorae mainly with spherical or biconical
body and outcurving rim, bowls with wrapped turban rim, wavy rim or incised cup-like bowls and mugs.
Decoration of the vessels is dominated by smoothed, channelled and faceted surfaces, but incised zig-zag
motives or triangles open at the bottom, filled with diagonal lines are also common. Besides the whole
area of the Gva culture, the find material of the site can basically be linked to northern and western ter-
ritories (strong relations to the late Piliny Kyjatice, Lausitz and urnfield regions), and also can be traced
back to a strong local basis (so-called pre-Gva period, former Csorva Group).
6
Detailed results will be published by Gbor V. Szab and Gbor Vczi, to who I owe gratitude for letting me communicate this
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A biritual cemetery of the Gva culture in the Middle Tisza Region...
information.
7
As the cemetery has never been published sufficiently and its material seems to be very similar to finds of the Kyjatice culture,
the revaluation of the material is inevitable. The proper documentation of grave goods had already begun, the results will be
published soon.
8
The finds were discovered by workmen in the first half of the 20th century (see reference literature).
9
Cemeteries from Transylvania are excluded from this list as the statement of Pankau concerns only Northeastern Romania.
10
Inaccurate numbers are given as almost all sites need further revision. See details in following chapter.
119
gnes Kirly
jos-ht with 9 graves in Hungary (this article); Sanislu Livad with 8 graves (Bader 1971, 78; Nmeti
1984, 51-54) in Romania; Vojnatina with 50 graves (Budinsk/ Krika 1976, 147) in Slovakia and Sopit/
Sopot with 80 graves (Kruelnicka 1979) in Ukraine. Less documented or sufficiently published are the
assumable burials from VencsellKastlykert in Hungary (Dani 1999, 109-117); Boca RomnDealul
Mare in the Romanian Banat (Gum 1995, 112); Ocna Sibiului (Soroceanu 1981) and Media (Pankau
2004, 23-24) in Transylvania; Cucorni (Lszl 1994, 58), Cotu Morii (Leviki 1994, 68) and Kolodribka
(Budinsk/ Krika 1976, 139, note 34; Pankau 2004, 23) in Northeastern Romania. There are also some
single urn graves mentioned in the literature from several sites, but as most of them were found occasion-
ally, we lack the most crucial information on them (see details: Kirly 2011, 68). While the cemeteries
of Taktabj, Tiszabura11 and Sanislu could serve as a burial site of a household or a family, those at Vo-
jnatina and Sopit/Sopot were used by a larger community or for long time. The place of cremation within
the cemetery was found only at Sopit/Sopot (Kruelnicka 1979, 315). At this latest site, urns were found
arranged in groups, so it cannot be excluded completely that smaller cemeteries (each of them having
been excavated only in small-scale) are fractions of a larger one.
Burial mounds are known only from the territory of the Gva-Holihrady Group. A barrow
field consisting of 20 tumuli is known from Volov, Northeastern Romania (Lszl 1994, 58-62). A
single burial mound is published from Somotorska Hora, Southeastern Slovakia (Pleinerov/ Olmerov
1958, 109-110) and it is supposed that the four graves of Velykyj Bereznyj, Ukraine were also covered by
mounds (Budinsk/ Krika 1963, 28, note 14)12.
According to our present knowledge, at these sites remains of less than 300 individuals are
buried. Compared to the appraised order of magnitude of the settlements, sites with funerary domain
are truly underrepresented. Having seen this proportion, the further aim of my research was to find the
deceased by looking for human remains in non-funerary context13 as well, and to investigate all possible
explanations of the funeral deficiency of the Gva culture.
Hungary:
1. Balmazjvros Tmri Tanya, site II: a shallow, round pit with a threw-in, complete skeleton
of a child (inf. II) inside an open settlement (Szolnoki 2007; Kirly 2011, 91).
2. Berettyjfalu Nagybcs-dl: a round pit with a burial-like, complete skeleton of a female
11
As the vicinity of the cemetery was scarcely investigated, we do not know its adjoining settlement. During the preliminary
field surveys in 2006, a small Gva settlement has been localized 3 kilometres southwards from the graves (Tiszabura Nyakas-
r, reported by Judit Trnoki; KH 600/272/2007.), but this data is suitable only to presume a network of LBA/EIA farmsteads
along the sand-hills.
12
Burial mounds are also mentioned from Branite and Frunzeni in Northeastern Romania (Leviki 1994, 70), but for uncertain
cultural classification and unsatisfying documentation they cannot be evaluated here.
13
According to our 21st century European conceptions. Term originally used by Valeriu Srbu (Srbu 2003).
14
Discussion of the phenomenon concerning the Gva culture has recently begun in the literature, see Urk Marta 2011.
15
It must be pointed out that this database also contains some finds of which the exact cultural chronological classification
(whether they belong to the population of the so-called pre-Gva, the Gva or to the pre-Scythian period) could not be established
yet. Similar phenomena of other cultural complexes of the area (e. g. the ones certainly belonging to the pre-Gva/pre-Scythian
period or to the Suciu de Sus, Kyjatice, Lausitz and Balkanian Channeled Ware complexes) are administrated separately.
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A biritual cemetery of the Gva culture in the Middle Tisza Region...
(ad.-mat.) on the periphery of an open settlement (Dani et al. 2006; Dani/ Szilgyi 2006; Zoffmann 2007,
46; Kirly 2009, 19-20; Kirly 2011, 92).
3. BiharkeresztesLncos-major: a shallow, round pit with a threw-in, complete skeleton of inde-
terminate sex and age inside an open settlement (Kirly 2011, 93).
4. DebrecenJzsa, Alsjzsai Lakpark: a well with burial-like, complete skeletons of children
and young females, two pits with separate bones of a child (inf. II) and a female (juv.-ad.) inside an open
settlement (V. Szab 2007; Kirly 2011, 93-95).
5. HajddorogSzllsfld kzp (M3-51/A): a slightly bell-shaped pit with a burial-like, com-
plete skeleton of a female (juv.-ad.) on the periphery of an open settlement (Kolozsi 2007, 208; Kirly
2011, 95).
6. NyregyhzaOros, Mega zleti Park: 5 pits with threw-in, complete and disarticulated skel-
etons of males, females and children inside an open settlement (Urk/ Marta 2011, 157-160; Kirly 2011,
96-97).
7. NyregyhzaRozsrtszl: a round pit with threw-in deficient skeletons of two females (mat.,
sen). (Almssy/ Gindele 2005, 291; Urk/ Marta 2011, 156; Kirly 2011, 97).
8. NyrmadaVlyogvet: a round pit with fragmentary bones of a male (mat.) inside an open
settlement (Tth/ Marta 2005, 107; Urk/ Marta 2011, 157)16.
9. PusztataskonyLedence, site 1: 5 features (pits and ditches) with trew-in, disarticulated skel-
etons and separate bones of males, females and children inside a partly entrenched settlement (Kirly
2011, 85, note 296)17.
10. RkczifalvaBagi-fld, site 8/A: a rectangular pit with separate bones of an individual of
indeterminate sex and age inside an open settlement (Kovcs et al. 2006; Kirly 2011, 97).
11. TiszabGalamb-dl18: 6 round, often slightly bell-shaped pits with burial-like and threw-
in, complete and disarticulated skeletons of children and adults inside an open settlement (Oravecz 2007,
297; Kirly 2011, 97-99).
16
The find material of the site is extremely heterogenic as Suciu de Sus, late Tumulus culture and early Gva components could
also be observed (Urk/ Marta 2011, 157).
17
At the same site we found three collective depositions of human remains (mass graves) from the Early Iron Age (Reinecke
HB3/C period) that will be published later this year (Kirly/ Sebk/ Zoffmann forthcoming). The evaluation and chronological
classification of the Late Bronze Age settlement surrounding it is in process.
18
Mass graves similar to the ones at Pusztataskony were found here, but their exact chronological classification within the
Reinecke BD-HB periods is unknown. The excavator, Hargita Oravecz kindly let me have a look at and take notes on the original
documentations for my thesis, but the find material is still unevaluated.
121
gnes Kirly
According to the state of preservation, human remains found in settlement context can be
classified in five categories: (1) complete, articulated skeletons; (2) deficient or decomposed skeletons;
(3) separate or fragmentary bones, mainly crania and limbs; (4) cremated remains; (5) a combination of
1-4. Complete skeletons clearly dominate (almost 40% of the phenomena) and their position often shows
signs of intentionality (Kirly 2011, 115). In the 36 cases where anthropological investigations were car-
ried out, results showed that adults (55,5%) are slightly more often represented than children (44,5%).
Half of the adults proved to be females, 30% males and the sex of the remaining skeletons (20%) could
not be defined. By and large, the current demographic profile roughly represents a natural population
(Kirly 2011, 116-117). None of the examined human bones deriving from settlement complexes showed
either traces of violent actions or taphonomic lesions (Kirly 2011, 118) that means these people most
likely suffered a natural death and their bodies were immediately buried or kept safe away from weather-
ing and carrion eaters. Within the settlements of the Gva culture, position of complexes with human
remains is non-uniform: almost the same proportion is located within the inhabited area and on the
periphery (Kirly 2011, 115). Differences in frequency of the phenomenon between the regional groups
may be due to either different state of research or to different cultural traditions. However, the amount of
human remains in settlement context suggests that such complexes do not occur randomly (Kirly 2011,
114-115).
19
German Siedlungsfunde, Grabfunde, Depotfunde (Veit 1996, 25-26).
20
For the details of the research history see Aspck 2008; Urk/ Marta 2011 and Kirly 2011, 71-84.
21
On the definition of burial and the classification of manipulating with the corpse see Srbu 2003; Weiss/ Krejci 2011, 71-76.;
Kirly 2011, 17-21.
22
For a summary of the problem in the international archaeological literature, see Aspck 2008.
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A biritual cemetery of the Gva culture in the Middle Tisza Region...
and for some time these former customs may still survive sporadically, but the main characteristics of
mortuary rites apparently alter to a funerary sequence that leaves no or almost any traces in the ar-
chaeological record. Parallel to this decline in the normative/traditional burials from the Reinecke BD
period, the number of settlement complexes with human remains definitely increases. The only question
is: are these phenomena really related to each other?
Exactly the same situation has been drawn up for the Balkanian EIA by Sorin-Cristian Ailinci
and others (summed up in Ailinci et al. 2005-2006, Ailinci 2008). Considering their results, we can
agree that just like in the territory of the Babadag culture, people of the Gva culture disposed their dead
in a way that they got into settlement complexes at some stage. Actually we do not have enough data to
determine whether this was a multi-stage funerary cycle or a determined resting place for some special
members of the communities (e.g. under-age children, women died at childbirth, criminals, slaves, etc.),
but the phenomenon should not be disregarded when investigating the corpse-treating methods of the
LBA of the Eastern Carpathian Basin.
4. Conclusions
Contrary to the predominantly pessimistic conception of the last decades, it turned out that
we do find cemeteries in the entire territory of the Gva culture. Although burial sites are still clearly
underrepresented in the LBA/EIA Eastern Carpathian Basin, more and more data is available on them
than even a few years ago. Furthermore, we can observe serious differences in the burial customs within
regional groups that may be explained by different cultural traditions deriving from the previous phases
of the LBA.
Evaluating the Tiszabura cemetery and its closest analogies, it is conspicuous that all graves lay
in a very little depth. Whether this phenomenon is due to environmental (e.g. increased groundwater)
or cultural causes remains unclear, but the position of the graves could explain why we know so little of
them presently (i.e. many graves destroyed by ploughing).
In connection with the complexes with human remains within settlements, we could ascertain
that at least two different attitudes occurred towards the treatment of the dead in the LBA/EIA Eastern
Carpathian Basin. That means we should extend our investigations to the probable relationship between
them and the so called normative burials in order to clarify the original role of both phenomena in the
funerary practice of the Gva culture. It should be taken in consideration that these groups may have
practiced a kind of decomposition of the dead bodies in settlement pits in order to e.g. make it easier to
cremate or bundle the bones for the final deposition, or certain members of the communities/foreigners
were treated differently from others. Although data currently available represents only a small segment
of what is required for taking a position, it is very interesting that the number of the settlement burials
increase in such a period of the LBA/EIA when formerly common graves seem to disappear. Anyway,
the only thing we can do now is to continue and broaden our studies and to build thorough databases
for future research.
gnes Kirly
Institute of Archaeological Sciences
Etvs Lornd University of Sciences, Budapest
[email protected]
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gnes Kirly
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A biritual cemetery of the Gva culture in the Middle Tisza Region...
P2 Site Nr. 5 (TiszaburaBnis-ht) and Site Nr. 6 (TiszaburaNagy-ganajos-ht); Position of the Late
Bronze Age features and the Gva cemetery.
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gnes Kirly
P3 TiszaburaNagy-ganajos-ht, site Nr. 6; A: Positon of graves in the humus; B: Map of the cemetery.
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A biritual cemetery of the Gva culture in the Middle Tisza Region...
P4 Graves 1-3.
127
gnes Kirly
P5 Graves 4-6.
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A biritual cemetery of the Gva culture in the Middle Tisza Region...
P6 Graves 7-9.
129
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A biritual cemetery of the Gva culture in the Middle Tisza Region...
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gnes Kirly
P9 A: Find material of Grave 9; B: Distribution of sites mentioned in the article. B1: 1. Boca Romn
Dealul Mare, 2. Cotu Morii, 3. Cucorni, 4. Kolodribka, 5. Ludu, 6. Medias, 7. Ocna Sibiului, 8.Sanislu
Livad, 9. Simeria, 10. Somotorska Hora, 11. Sopit/Sopot, 12.Szentes Szentlszl, 13. Taktabj
Erdalja, 14. Tiszabura Nagy-ganajos-ht, 15.Velyky Bereznyj, 16.Vencsell Kastlykert, 17.Vojnatina,
18. Volov. B2: 1. Balmazjvros Tmri tanya, site II., 2. Berettyjfalu Nagybcs-dl, 3. Bihark-
eresztes Lncos-major, 4. Debrecen, Jzsa Alsjzsai Lakpark, 5. Hajddorog Szllsfld kzp, 6.
Nyregyhza Oros, MP, 7. Nyregyhza Rozsrtszl, 8. Nyrmada Vlyogvet, 9. Pusztataskony
Ledence, site 1, 10. Rkczifalva Bagi-fld, site 8/A, 11. Tiszab Galamb-dl, 12. Alba Iulia, 13. Baciu
str. Nou, 14.Lazuri Lubi tag, 15. Reci, 16. Teleac, 17. Medzany, 18. Somotorska Hora.
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