Settlement
Prehistoric villages around the Tűzköveshegy
The environs of the Tűzköveshegy at Szentgál was uninhabited
for most periods of prehistory. Uncertain traces of
Palaeolithic material were reported from the vicinity of
Városlőd, the neighbouring village; however, there were no
notable traces of settlement here till the end of the Late
Neolithic period. Neolithic farmers could not permanently
settle inside the mountains. Therefore, in spite of the fact
that the material originating from the mining area is known
permanently from the sites of all periods denoting
continuous access and exploitation, the immediate environs
of the mine were not populated, with the exception of a
short period, till the end of the Bronze Age. The
exploitation of the area was probably solved by temporary -
seasonal - expeditions, from the habitation areas lying in
the distance of one or two days' walk. The expeditions could
probably be performed during the early spring when
visibility is excellent and the night frost can help the
work of the miners.
By the end of the Late Neolithic, the source area was
surrounded by a ring of contemporary settlements comprising
8 prehistoric villages. Processing the lithic raw material
was seemingly a central activity in the life of these
settlements. The densely located settlements on a formerly
uninhabited area can be explained by intensive protection of
the area and the increase of the production of the mines.
Illustrations to this chapter:
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