Book chapters by Zita Tokai
„Trans Lacum Pelsonem” Prähistorische Forschungen in Südwestungarn (5500-500 V.U.Z.) Prehistoric Research in South-Western Hungary (5500–500 BCE)”, 2019
This paper offers a preliminary report on the non-invasive investigation of an archaeological sit... more This paper offers a preliminary report on the non-invasive investigation of an archaeological site at Gétye in Western Hungary. The geophysical survey and several field surveys confirmed our previous assumption on the presence of a Late Neolithic circular enclosure, known as rondels. The ground plan of the enclosure is outlined clearly. The rondel has a simple oval ground plan with four accesses (or gates). It is made up of a single ditch with a V-shaped cross-section. The axes of the four openings are oriented 66°, 141°, 255°, and 333° of north, respectively. The pottery and stone artefacts, red painted sherds among them, collected on the site date the rondel to the Late Neolithic, to the classical phase of the Lengyel culture. Soil samples from soil profiles and augerings were collected and analysed. Soil forming processes and possible human impact were studied based on field descriptions and laboratory analyses. The top depth of Horizon C, the soil texture and the calcium carbonate content indicated that erosion, which is characteristic in this region, had a major impact on soil development. The extremely high phosphorus content of the deeper soil horizons confirms the anthropogenic impact inside the rondel. The distribution of soil texture and calcium carbonate content along soil depth varies with soil depth in the case of the soil profile and augered samples from outside the ditch. In contrast, the calcium carbonate content and texture of the soil profile within the ditch do not change markedly between 60 and 190 cm, confirming the previous presence of the rondel and its later infilling from a pedological view, in line with the archaeological findings.
Papers by Zita Tokai
Kaposvári Rippl-Rónai Múzeum Közleményei
In the first half of the study excavation projects fi-nanced with the support of local government... more In the first half of the study excavation projects fi-nanced with the support of local governments and nka (Bár-dudvarnok, iharos, zamárdi) are described, in the second half the archeological results of the excavation connected to a de-velopment of route no 67 and route no 76 are related.
Archaeologiai Értesítő 143, 2018
Bezeréd-Teleki-dűlő II. Egy késő neolitikus körárok a Kr. e. 5. évezredből. Bezeréd-Teleki-dűlő I... more Bezeréd-Teleki-dűlő II. Egy késő neolitikus körárok a Kr. e. 5. évezredből. Bezeréd-Teleki-dűlő II. – A Late Neolithic Circular Enclosure from the 5 th Millennium BC. Bezeréd-Teleki-dűlő II. lelőhelyen terepbejárás és geofizikai felmérés eredményeként a késő neolitikus lengyeli kultúra körárka vált ismertté. A feltűnően szimmetrikus alaprajzú, kettős körárok mindkét árkán 8–8 bejárat figyelhető meg, melyek némelyike előtt félköríves toldalékok jelentkeztek. A belső árok mindkét oldalán paliszádárkok mutatkoztak. A kapuk tájolása megfelel a dunántúli lengyeli körárkokra jellemző mintázatnak. A körárok belsejében kirajzolódó épületek, a körárok körüli lengyeli kultúrás lelőhelyek, továbbá a körárok időrendi viszonya egyelőre nem tisztázott. As a result of a field walk and a geophysical survey, a circular enclosure (rondel) of the Late Neolithic Lengyel culture was discovered at a site at Bezeréd-Teleki-dűlő II. Eight gates can be seen on both ditches of the markedly symmetrical double...
Bezered-Teleki-dűlő II. lelőhelyen terepbejaras es geofizikai felmeres eredmenyekent a keső neoli... more Bezered-Teleki-dűlő II. lelőhelyen terepbejaras es geofizikai felmeres eredmenyekent a keső neolitikus lengyeli kultura korarka valt ismertte. A feltűnően szimmetrikus alaprajzu, kettős korarok mindket arkan 8–8 bejarat figyelhető meg, melyek nemelyike előtt felkorives toldalekok jelentkeztek. A belső arok mindket oldalan paliszadarkok mutatkoztak. A kapuk tajolasa megfelel a dunantuli lengyeli korarkokra jellemző mintazatnak. A korarok belsejeben kirajzolodo epuletek, a korarok koruli lengyeli kulturas lelőhelyek, tovabba a korarok időrendi viszonya egyelőre nem tisztazott.
Glaeba
This study presents the non-invasive investigation of a Late Neolithic circular enclosure discove... more This study presents the non-invasive investigation of a Late Neolithic circular enclosure discovered not long ago. We were able to document traces of a settlement and the nearly complete layout of a treble circular enclosure system (roundel) from the Lengyel culture at Ligetfalva, Gesztenyés-dűlő in Zala County. We provide a review of the possibilities and limitations of non-invasive research methods regarding Neolithic circular enclosures by presenting the investigations of the roundel at Ligetfalva conducted by land survey, aerial photography and geophysical survey.
Geomagnetic Survey of a Late Neolithic Roundel in a site at Gétye, Western-Hungary This paper is ... more Geomagnetic Survey of a Late Neolithic Roundel in a site at Gétye, Western-Hungary This paper is a short preliminary report on the non-invasive research of a newly discovered archaeological site at Gétye, Western-Hungary. As a result of the geophysical and several field surveys our previous assumption on the existence of a Late Neolithic circular ditch, known as roundel, has been proved. Approximately the half of the ground-plan is outlined clearly. The roundel can be argued to have a simple oval ground-plan possibly with four gates, constituted by a single ditch with a V-shaped cross-section. The two gates identified on the investigated sections of the roundel are the western and the northern ones. Their axes are oriented toward 255° and 333° of North. The ceramic and stone artefacts among them red painted shards, collected on the site may date the roundel to the Late Neolithic, to the classical phase of the Lengyel culture.
Zalai Múzeum, 2019
Remarks on the Research Methods of the Neolithic Circular Enclosures:
Possibilities and Limitatio... more Remarks on the Research Methods of the Neolithic Circular Enclosures:
Possibilities and Limitations of Non-Invasive Investigations in the Light of the Research of the Ligetfalva-Gesztenyési-dűlő site
At the beginning of 2017, we recognized a large circular structure in a Google Earth satellite image. It was situated west from the village Ligetfalva in a field called Gesztenyési-dűlő in the middle part of County Zala. The structure was clearly visible in the image. The site is located on a southern slope of one of the hills of the Zalapáti Ridge micro-region stretching in a north-south direction. Based on its shape, size and topographical position, we presupposed that it was a Neolithic circular enclosure (rondel) unknown earlier. In order to give evidence of our presumption, we decided to use a set of non-invasive investigation methods: field survey, aerial surveillance by drone, geophysical survey and archaeoastronomical investigation.
Since we did not find any data according to this site in the archaeological database, we found out that it was a site newly explored by us. We discovered a former aerial photograph which was taken in the 1980s. The structure seems more complicated in the aerial photograph than in the satellite photograph, since it shows a triple circular enclosure. The difference between both of the images is most probably caused by intensive agricultural cultivation.
Aside from some chipped and polished stone artefacts, we collected only pottery fragments dated to the Late Neolithic Lengyel culture during the field survey. As an unexpected result of the field survey, we experienced that remains of former ramparts of the circular enclosure can still be seen on the site. Based on the scatter of the finds on the ground surface and the terrains conditions, the size of the site can be estimated at approximately 300 x 500 metres.
The extant of the examined area set out for the aerial surveillance by drone was about 2.5 ha. It was larger than the area of the circular enclosure detected in the aerial photograph thus not only the circular enclosure was studied but also its surroundings. Two series of aerial photographs were taken. The first series was taken from a height of 30 metres to record fine details. For overviewing the area, another set was taken from the height of 80 metres. As a result of the aerial photographing we obtained a high resolution digital elevation model. Due to a less favourable timing, crop marks could hardly be recognized. As a matter of fact, our main focus was not to detect these but record the Prehistoric ramparts. The ditches and the ramparts of the earthwork shown in the former aerial photo as a triple circular enclosure could not well be seen in this model, but the circular structure of the Neolithic enclosure could be perceived using elevation shading method.
We used geophysical survey to examine the structure and the ground plan of the circular enclosure in more detail. As a result of the measurement we obtained a clear image.
According to the archaeological interpretation of the magnetic plot the main data of the triple circular enclosure are the following: the diameter of the smallest, inner circular ditch is 58 metres, the dimeter of the middle circular ditch is 91 metres and the diameter of the largest circular ditch is 121 metres. It means that the ratio of the diameters of the three circular ditches are 2:3:4. The ground plan of none of the three ditches are regular circular. There are four entrances on both the inner and the middle circular ditches. There might be eight entrances on the outer circular ditch, but these cannot be identified definitely. All the entrances were constituted by earth bridges. The entrances pointing toward the cardinal points of the compass lie on a common axes.
Most of the entrances are bordered by ditches with rounded ends except the middle circular ditch. Here, the ends of the ditches bordering the western, the southern and probably the eastern entrances are slightly widening. Side wings do not joint to the middle circular ditch by the entrances but the ends of the ditches lean inward in the case of the northern and southern entrances. We can interpret this kind of ground plan as an architectural forerunner of the side wings. Both the inner and the middle circular ditches are accompanied by ramparts by the outer side. As it was already mentioned the number of the entrances on the outer circular ditch is uncertain. The magnetic image of the ditch shows interruptions on several points that differ from the entrances. Based on it we can suppose that the circular ditch was built section by section that is the arcs between the entrances were not dug at the same time but as a series of short sections.
The structure of the circular enclosure (rondel) displays a very regular, symmetrical arrangement. At the same time, the different number of the entrances on the circular ditches and the different shaping of the entrances in the case of the middle circular ditch show that the structures of the three ditches were not equal in all the details. The question, whether it is owing to chronological differences, can be answered by archaeological excavations only.
The rondel detected at the Ligetfalva-Gesztenyési-dűlő site is a circular enclosure with four entrances. The symmetrically arranged entrances and the strikingly regular ground plan refer to a common building principle deducible from the ground plans of the rondels of the Early Lengyel culture. There are several further characteristics reflecting these building principles:
The axes of the entrances are approximately at right angles. The ratio of the diameters of the three circular ditches are 2:3:4 which is the most common ratio among the triple rondels. The orientation of the entrance on the eastern side is very similar to the alignments of the Sé-Malomi dűlő and Sormás-Török-földek I rondels.
The orientation values of the entrances (started from the eastern entrance, clockwise and taking the north direction shown on a map as 0°): 85⁰, 170⁰, 260⁰ and 350⁰. Considering its orientation characteristics, this rondel fit strikingly our theory based on the investigation of the rondels of the Late Neolithic Lengyel culture.
Translated by Judit P. Barna
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Book chapters by Zita Tokai
Papers by Zita Tokai
Possibilities and Limitations of Non-Invasive Investigations in the Light of the Research of the Ligetfalva-Gesztenyési-dűlő site
At the beginning of 2017, we recognized a large circular structure in a Google Earth satellite image. It was situated west from the village Ligetfalva in a field called Gesztenyési-dűlő in the middle part of County Zala. The structure was clearly visible in the image. The site is located on a southern slope of one of the hills of the Zalapáti Ridge micro-region stretching in a north-south direction. Based on its shape, size and topographical position, we presupposed that it was a Neolithic circular enclosure (rondel) unknown earlier. In order to give evidence of our presumption, we decided to use a set of non-invasive investigation methods: field survey, aerial surveillance by drone, geophysical survey and archaeoastronomical investigation.
Since we did not find any data according to this site in the archaeological database, we found out that it was a site newly explored by us. We discovered a former aerial photograph which was taken in the 1980s. The structure seems more complicated in the aerial photograph than in the satellite photograph, since it shows a triple circular enclosure. The difference between both of the images is most probably caused by intensive agricultural cultivation.
Aside from some chipped and polished stone artefacts, we collected only pottery fragments dated to the Late Neolithic Lengyel culture during the field survey. As an unexpected result of the field survey, we experienced that remains of former ramparts of the circular enclosure can still be seen on the site. Based on the scatter of the finds on the ground surface and the terrains conditions, the size of the site can be estimated at approximately 300 x 500 metres.
The extant of the examined area set out for the aerial surveillance by drone was about 2.5 ha. It was larger than the area of the circular enclosure detected in the aerial photograph thus not only the circular enclosure was studied but also its surroundings. Two series of aerial photographs were taken. The first series was taken from a height of 30 metres to record fine details. For overviewing the area, another set was taken from the height of 80 metres. As a result of the aerial photographing we obtained a high resolution digital elevation model. Due to a less favourable timing, crop marks could hardly be recognized. As a matter of fact, our main focus was not to detect these but record the Prehistoric ramparts. The ditches and the ramparts of the earthwork shown in the former aerial photo as a triple circular enclosure could not well be seen in this model, but the circular structure of the Neolithic enclosure could be perceived using elevation shading method.
We used geophysical survey to examine the structure and the ground plan of the circular enclosure in more detail. As a result of the measurement we obtained a clear image.
According to the archaeological interpretation of the magnetic plot the main data of the triple circular enclosure are the following: the diameter of the smallest, inner circular ditch is 58 metres, the dimeter of the middle circular ditch is 91 metres and the diameter of the largest circular ditch is 121 metres. It means that the ratio of the diameters of the three circular ditches are 2:3:4. The ground plan of none of the three ditches are regular circular. There are four entrances on both the inner and the middle circular ditches. There might be eight entrances on the outer circular ditch, but these cannot be identified definitely. All the entrances were constituted by earth bridges. The entrances pointing toward the cardinal points of the compass lie on a common axes.
Most of the entrances are bordered by ditches with rounded ends except the middle circular ditch. Here, the ends of the ditches bordering the western, the southern and probably the eastern entrances are slightly widening. Side wings do not joint to the middle circular ditch by the entrances but the ends of the ditches lean inward in the case of the northern and southern entrances. We can interpret this kind of ground plan as an architectural forerunner of the side wings. Both the inner and the middle circular ditches are accompanied by ramparts by the outer side. As it was already mentioned the number of the entrances on the outer circular ditch is uncertain. The magnetic image of the ditch shows interruptions on several points that differ from the entrances. Based on it we can suppose that the circular ditch was built section by section that is the arcs between the entrances were not dug at the same time but as a series of short sections.
The structure of the circular enclosure (rondel) displays a very regular, symmetrical arrangement. At the same time, the different number of the entrances on the circular ditches and the different shaping of the entrances in the case of the middle circular ditch show that the structures of the three ditches were not equal in all the details. The question, whether it is owing to chronological differences, can be answered by archaeological excavations only.
The rondel detected at the Ligetfalva-Gesztenyési-dűlő site is a circular enclosure with four entrances. The symmetrically arranged entrances and the strikingly regular ground plan refer to a common building principle deducible from the ground plans of the rondels of the Early Lengyel culture. There are several further characteristics reflecting these building principles:
The axes of the entrances are approximately at right angles. The ratio of the diameters of the three circular ditches are 2:3:4 which is the most common ratio among the triple rondels. The orientation of the entrance on the eastern side is very similar to the alignments of the Sé-Malomi dűlő and Sormás-Török-földek I rondels.
The orientation values of the entrances (started from the eastern entrance, clockwise and taking the north direction shown on a map as 0°): 85⁰, 170⁰, 260⁰ and 350⁰. Considering its orientation characteristics, this rondel fit strikingly our theory based on the investigation of the rondels of the Late Neolithic Lengyel culture.
Translated by Judit P. Barna
Possibilities and Limitations of Non-Invasive Investigations in the Light of the Research of the Ligetfalva-Gesztenyési-dűlő site
At the beginning of 2017, we recognized a large circular structure in a Google Earth satellite image. It was situated west from the village Ligetfalva in a field called Gesztenyési-dűlő in the middle part of County Zala. The structure was clearly visible in the image. The site is located on a southern slope of one of the hills of the Zalapáti Ridge micro-region stretching in a north-south direction. Based on its shape, size and topographical position, we presupposed that it was a Neolithic circular enclosure (rondel) unknown earlier. In order to give evidence of our presumption, we decided to use a set of non-invasive investigation methods: field survey, aerial surveillance by drone, geophysical survey and archaeoastronomical investigation.
Since we did not find any data according to this site in the archaeological database, we found out that it was a site newly explored by us. We discovered a former aerial photograph which was taken in the 1980s. The structure seems more complicated in the aerial photograph than in the satellite photograph, since it shows a triple circular enclosure. The difference between both of the images is most probably caused by intensive agricultural cultivation.
Aside from some chipped and polished stone artefacts, we collected only pottery fragments dated to the Late Neolithic Lengyel culture during the field survey. As an unexpected result of the field survey, we experienced that remains of former ramparts of the circular enclosure can still be seen on the site. Based on the scatter of the finds on the ground surface and the terrains conditions, the size of the site can be estimated at approximately 300 x 500 metres.
The extant of the examined area set out for the aerial surveillance by drone was about 2.5 ha. It was larger than the area of the circular enclosure detected in the aerial photograph thus not only the circular enclosure was studied but also its surroundings. Two series of aerial photographs were taken. The first series was taken from a height of 30 metres to record fine details. For overviewing the area, another set was taken from the height of 80 metres. As a result of the aerial photographing we obtained a high resolution digital elevation model. Due to a less favourable timing, crop marks could hardly be recognized. As a matter of fact, our main focus was not to detect these but record the Prehistoric ramparts. The ditches and the ramparts of the earthwork shown in the former aerial photo as a triple circular enclosure could not well be seen in this model, but the circular structure of the Neolithic enclosure could be perceived using elevation shading method.
We used geophysical survey to examine the structure and the ground plan of the circular enclosure in more detail. As a result of the measurement we obtained a clear image.
According to the archaeological interpretation of the magnetic plot the main data of the triple circular enclosure are the following: the diameter of the smallest, inner circular ditch is 58 metres, the dimeter of the middle circular ditch is 91 metres and the diameter of the largest circular ditch is 121 metres. It means that the ratio of the diameters of the three circular ditches are 2:3:4. The ground plan of none of the three ditches are regular circular. There are four entrances on both the inner and the middle circular ditches. There might be eight entrances on the outer circular ditch, but these cannot be identified definitely. All the entrances were constituted by earth bridges. The entrances pointing toward the cardinal points of the compass lie on a common axes.
Most of the entrances are bordered by ditches with rounded ends except the middle circular ditch. Here, the ends of the ditches bordering the western, the southern and probably the eastern entrances are slightly widening. Side wings do not joint to the middle circular ditch by the entrances but the ends of the ditches lean inward in the case of the northern and southern entrances. We can interpret this kind of ground plan as an architectural forerunner of the side wings. Both the inner and the middle circular ditches are accompanied by ramparts by the outer side. As it was already mentioned the number of the entrances on the outer circular ditch is uncertain. The magnetic image of the ditch shows interruptions on several points that differ from the entrances. Based on it we can suppose that the circular ditch was built section by section that is the arcs between the entrances were not dug at the same time but as a series of short sections.
The structure of the circular enclosure (rondel) displays a very regular, symmetrical arrangement. At the same time, the different number of the entrances on the circular ditches and the different shaping of the entrances in the case of the middle circular ditch show that the structures of the three ditches were not equal in all the details. The question, whether it is owing to chronological differences, can be answered by archaeological excavations only.
The rondel detected at the Ligetfalva-Gesztenyési-dűlő site is a circular enclosure with four entrances. The symmetrically arranged entrances and the strikingly regular ground plan refer to a common building principle deducible from the ground plans of the rondels of the Early Lengyel culture. There are several further characteristics reflecting these building principles:
The axes of the entrances are approximately at right angles. The ratio of the diameters of the three circular ditches are 2:3:4 which is the most common ratio among the triple rondels. The orientation of the entrance on the eastern side is very similar to the alignments of the Sé-Malomi dűlő and Sormás-Török-földek I rondels.
The orientation values of the entrances (started from the eastern entrance, clockwise and taking the north direction shown on a map as 0°): 85⁰, 170⁰, 260⁰ and 350⁰. Considering its orientation characteristics, this rondel fit strikingly our theory based on the investigation of the rondels of the Late Neolithic Lengyel culture.
Translated by Judit P. Barna