Veronika Szilágyi – György Szakmány

Dept. of Petrology and Geochemistry, Eötvös L. University, Budapest

Ceramic finds of two archaeological sites (Tiszaszőlős-Domaháza and Füzesabony-Gubakút) have been investigated within the framework of the DAAD-MÖB German-Hungarian project (2005-2006). According to our present knowledge, these sites have uncertain classification since they take place out of the territorial boundary of the late Neolithic culture of Körös (and of its equivalent culture of Cris in Romania). However, the archaeological observations raised the possiblity that the ceramic collection of Tiszaszőlős-Domaháza and Füzesabony-Gubakút could belong to the earliest ceramic culture (Körös) of Hungary.

During our research ceramic, floor and daub samples of both sites (with reduced sample number) have been investigated by microscopic petrographic and instrumental chemical analysis. In addition, we collected comparative near-surficial sediment samples from the vicinity of the archaeological sites in the summer of 2005, and analized in the same way. Our aim was to catch clayish sediments-soils which are the most perspective for ceramic production. This lecture summarizes the results of our research.

Based on the petrographic observation of the samples of both sites it can be assumed that potters applied a relatively uniformed raw material preparation: they used an unprepared fluvial sediment and tempered it with broken fragments of plants. Then the potter fashioned the vessel by hand and fired it on low temperature (700—750ºC according to our estimation) and in non-controlled but mainly reducing atmosphere. The ceramics are porous, mainly thick walled and grey, and the pores resulting from the firing of plant remnants is visible on their surface. There is only one ceramic sample which differs from the above mentioned appearence. The unique fabric and composition of this Tiszaszőlős ceramic make it possible that this pottery was an import product in the ceramic collection.

According to the results of the chemical investigations it can be stated that ceramics and other clay products (floor, daub) have similar compositions. The only difference is that the floor sample of Tiszaszőlős has higher (carbonate related) Ca content. It was proved that similar sediment-soil samples of a certain site do not similar in chemical composition in each case and some soils are more perspective for being the source of the ceramics than other ones. The cause of this feature is that plain land derived (but in the vicinity of the foot of mountains), near-surfacial clayish sediments show wide range of composition. However, we could identify possible raw materials of ceramics from the local sediments in both case.

To sum up, some significant features of ceramic making technology in Tiszaszőlős-Domaháza and Füzesabony-Gubakút (use of local alluvial sediment without preparation, plant tempering, more calcareous raw material of floor) have strong similarities with the Körös culture. To get certain aswer to the question of similarity it is necessary to elaborate and interpret data together with the archaeologist.