Bell Beaker Cemetery and Settlement and
Bell Beaker Cemetery and Settlement and
Bell Beaker Cemetery and Settlement and
Edited by
BUDAPEST 2013
The publication of this volume was generously supported by the National Cultural Fund of Hungary
and by the Jnos Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Front Cover
M. C. Eschers Day and Night 2013 The M.C. Escher Company-The Netherlands
All rights reserved. www.mcescher.com
Back Cover
Interior decorated bowl fragments from Somogyvr-Kupavrhegy, Hungary
(photo by Fanni Fazekas)
ISBN 978-963-9911-48-2
HU-ISSN 1215-9239
2013
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Contents
Editorial ................................................................................................................................................ 7
VOLKER HEYD
Europe at the Dawn of the Bronze Age .................................................................................. 9
GABRIELLA KULCSR VAJK SZEVERNYI
Transition to the Bronze Age: Issues of Continuity and Discontinuity
in the First Half of the Third Millennium BC in the Carpathian Basin . .............................. 67
MARZENA SZMYT
View from the Northwest: Interaction Network
in the Dnieper Carpathian Area and the People of the Globular Amphora Culture
in the Third Millenium BC ................................................................................................... 93
YURI RASSAMAKIN
From the Late Eneolithic Period to the Early Bronze Age in the Black Sea Steppe:
What is the Pit Grave Culture (Late Fourth to Mid-Third Millennium BC)? ..................... 113
ELKE KAISER
Import, Imitation and Interaction: A Critical Review of the Chronology and
Significance of Cross Footed Bowls of the Third Millennium BC in Southeastern
and Eastern Europe . ........................................................................................................... 139
TNDE HORVTH JNOS DANI KOS PET UKASZ POSPIESZNY VA SVINGOR
Multidisciplinary Contributions to the Study of Pit Grave Culture Kurgans
of the Great Hungarian Plain . ............................................................................................ 153
CLAUDIA GERLING HORIA CIUGUDEAN
Insights into the Transylvanian Early Bronze Age Using Strontium and Oxygen Isotope
Analyses: A Pilot Study ...................................................................................................... 181
JNOS DANI
The Significance of Metallurgy at the Beginning of the Third Millennium BC
in the Carpathian Basin ...................................................................................................... 203
MANFRED WOIDICH ALEXANDRU SZENTMIKLSI
Uivar and Its Significance for the Beginning of the Early Bronze Age
in the Romanian Banat ....................................................................................................... 233
JAROSLAV PEKA MIROSLAV KRLK
Nagyrv Jugs and Their Archaeological Context ........................................................... 245
RBERT PATAY
Bell Beaker Cemetery and Settlement at Szigetszentmikls: First Results ....................... 287
PTER CSIPPN
Cultural Change and Animal Keeping: Case Study of a Neolithic, Copper Age and
Bronze Age Site near Budapest, Hungary .......................................................................... 319
NECULAI BOLOHAN ANDREI ASNDULESEI
Middle Bronze Age Beyond the Eastern Fringe of the Carpathian Basin . ........................ 339
List of contributors ........................................................................................................................... 357
Abstract
This paper is a preliminary report on the excavation and evaluation of the Bell Beaker cemetery
investigated in the outskirts of Szigetszentmikls. A total of 219 Bell Beaker burials were uncovered.
The cemetery contained a surprisingly high proportion of inhumation burials compared to the burial
grounds earlier investigated in the Budapest area. The burial rites and the grave goods show strong ties
with the Central European cemeteries of the culture, with the Bell Beaker East Group. The finds from
the cemetery also bespeak the cultural impact of the local Early Bronze Age cultures. The halberd from
one of the burials is a unique find in the Bell Beaker heritage of the Carpathian Basin. The radiocarbon
dates indicate that the cemetery was used between 25002200 cal BC.
In this study, I shall offer a brief overview of the finds and findings of the excavation of the Bell Beaker
cemetery and settlement at Szigetszentmikls-Fels rge-hegyi dl, lying in the northwestern part
of the Csepel Island near Budapest (Fig. 1). Previously, a few Bell Beaker cemeteries have already
been located on the northern part of the Csepel Island and in the area of Szigetszentmikls (Endrdi
1992, 106107, Fig.1; Kalicz-Schreiber 1997, Fig. 1; Kulcsr 2011, Fig. 4. B): SzigetszentmiklsAlsbucka (Kalicz-Schreiber 1997, 178, Fig. 2, Fig. 5); Szigetszentmikls-Teleki t 45 (KaliczSchreiber 1997, 178, Fig. 6. 12); Szigetszentmikls-II. Vzcsrok (Kalicz-Schreiber 1997, 179
181, Figs 34, Fig. 6. 39, Figs 78); Szigetszentmikls-dlsor (Endrdi 1992; 2012; Endrdi
Horvth 2009). The cemetery of Fels rge-hegyi dl is a new site, unrelated to these. Its
archaeological investigation was carried out between 2006 and 2007 (Patay 2008a, 285287; 2008b).1
The investigated area covers some 5 hectares; we uncovered a total of 716 features, among them three
graves of the Early Bronze Age Nagyrv culture (Patay 2009), a grave of the Late Bronze Age Urnfield
culture, Late Bronze Age and medieval settlement features (pits and ditches), as well as 219 burials and a
few pits and ditches of the Bell Beaker culture (Fig. 2). The Early Bronze Age site lies some 250280m
from the current Danube bank. Some of the graves lay on a heavily eroded ridge running from the
northeast to the southwest. The cemetery map indicates that the enclosed burials lay on the ridge. A
depression, most likely the remain of a former watercourse, runs in a northeast to southwest direction in
the eastern and southern part of the area, beyond which we did not find any Early Bronze Age features,
suggesting that the depression marked the edge of the burial ground. Even though the cemetery probably
extends beyond the investigated area in the west and northwest, it cannot be excavated since that area
is constructed upon.
Similarly to the other burial grounds of the period in the Carpathian Basin, this cemetery too can
be assigned to the mixed rite type with its inhumation, scattered cremation and inurned burials (Fig.3;
Kalicz-Schreiber 1984, 137; Kalicz-Schreiber Kalicz 19982000, 4748). The form of the
grave pits could most often be observed in the case of the inhumation and the scattered cremation
burials: most were oblong or oval. Several scattered cremation burials did not have a grave pit. No more
I shall here present a preliminary overview of the finds and their evaluation, the latter no more than working
hypotheses at the moment, which will undoubtedly be modified and refined as the assessment the finds continues.
288
Rbert Patay
than a few oval grave pits could be observed in the case of inurned burials because they had been simply
dug into the humus. The grave pits were northeast to southwest oriented.
One remarkable feature of this burial ground is the unusually high proportion of inhumation burials:
102 graves of the 219 excavated graves were inhumations (47%) (Fig. 4). A glance at the table reveals
that such a high proportion of inhumation burials has not been documented in any other Bell Beaker
cemetery of the Carpathian Basin (Kalicz-Schreiber 1984, 137; Kalicz-Schreiber Kalicz 1998
2000, 4748). Inhumation is more typical for the Central European, southern German, Austrian and
Bohemian-Moravian groups of the culture (Havel 1978, 114; Neugebauer 1994, 38; Blek et al.
1999, 34; Krutov 2003; Heyd 2007, 332).
Another element of the Central European funerary tradition could also be documented in the
Szigetszentmikls cemetery, namely inhumation performed according to strict rites. The proportion of
deceased laid on the right and the left side was roughly equal and they were oriented either northeast to
southwest or southwest to northeast. The anthropological material is fairly well preserved. The analysis
of the skeletal remains indicated that men were always interred on their left side, while women were laid
to rest on their right side (Khler 2011), with their face looking to the east in the case of both male and
female burials. A comparable burial rite was observed in the cemeteries of the Bell Beaker East Group
in Central Europe (Neugebauer 1994, 38; Heyd 2001, 398; 2007, 332; Dornheim et al. 2005, 3638).
The funerary rite of the inhumation burials shares many similarities with the rites practiced in regions
west of the Carpathian Basin.
289
In the case of scattered cremation burials, accounting for 50 of the 219 Bell Beaker graves (23%),
the ashes were generally strewn in the middle of the grave pit, conforming to the practice observed in
other Bell Beaker cemeteries (Fig. 5). Four graves contained several small heaps of ashes, suggesting
that the remains of several individuals had been interred in the grave (Fig. 6). We noted the remains
of a funerary structure in one cremation grave ringed by a ditch (Fig. 7). Similar structures have been
identified in Austrian (Neugebauer 1994, 37), Bohemian, Moravian and Hungarian Late Eneolithic
and Early Bronze Age cemeteries (Kytlicov 1960, 472, Abb. 34; Stuchlk Stuchlkov 1996,
7678, obr. 4243; Blek et al. 1999, 33, Tab. 10; Btora 1999a; Gogltan 1999, 171, Fig. 23). We
found several cremation burials without a grave pit, with the ashes simply strewn over the prehistoric
occupation level.
290
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Very few inurned burials were found, 36 in all (16%) (Fig. 8). Most were simply dug into the humus;
only in a few cases could an oval grave pit be observed. Inurned burials generally contained a large urn
for the ashes and one-handled jugs. Beakers proper of the usual Bell Beaker package were deposited
only in two of the inurned burials.
Mention must be made of the so-called symbolic graves. We uncovered 29 burials, which contained
various grave goods, but no human skeletal remains (13%) (Fig. 9). Each of these graves was excavated
with great care and it is therefore unlikely that we had missed any bones. It is also unlikely that the
skeletal bones had perhaps perished owing to the nature of the soil since the human remains from
the other burials survived in good condition. These symbolic graves contained a proportionately high
number of weapons, daggers, wrist guards and arrow points, suggesting that they were perhaps the burials
of hunters or warriors, who had died in areas lying far from the communitys burial ground. Similar
291
3
4
1
5
2
6
292
Rbert Patay
N
N
4
10
11
9
3
7
6
1
5
3
4
2
Fig. 5. Scattered cremation burials in the cemetery 1, 3: Grave 29, 2, 4: Grave 634
293
symbolic graves were noted in the Bell Beaker cemeteries at Budakalsz (Ottomnyi Czene 2006,
6971; Czene 2008, 32) and Szigetszentmikls-dlsor (Endrdi 2012, 1820, Fig. 9). Symbolic
graves have been reported from other Early Bronze Age contexts as well (Btora 1999b; Kulcsr
2009, 8586).
Some graves were enclosed within a round ditch. The Szigetszentmikls cemetery is the second
burial ground, where this feature could be observed; graves encircled by a ditch were first noted in
the Budakalsz cemetery (Ottomnyi 2006). We found 45 graves of this type (Fig. 10). The 30 to
40 cm wide ditches had a diameter of 4 to 5 meters. Enclosed graves could be noted in the case of
all three burial rites (25 inhumation, 8 scattered cremation, 1 inurned and 10 symbolic graves with
round ditches), although most of these graves contained inhumation burials. In some cases, the ditch
enclosed two or three burials. Some of these grave ditches contained broken vessels, which may be
linked to the funerary ceremony (Fig. 11). Similar phenomena were also observed in the cemetery of
Szigetszentmikls-dlsor (Endrdi 2012, 10, Fig. 2. 23). The ring-shaped ditches could be the
only remains of burial mounds destroyed by modern agriculture (Krutov 2003, 211; Dornheim
et al. 2005, 59).
Most burials contained a rich assortment of grave goods. The various elements of the Bell Beaker
package bell beakers, flat copper daggers, stone wrist-guards, triangular arrowheads, bone buttons
with a V-shaped perforation are represented by 46% of all the grave goods. Altogether 40% of the
inhumation burials and 30% of the enclosed graves contained artefacts of this type. In contrast to other
Bell Beaker cemeteries in the Budapest area (Kalicz-Schreiber 1997, 184) a strong correlation could
be noted between inhumation rite and the deposition of various elements of the Bell Beaker package
as grave goods in the Szigetszentmikls cemetery.
A part of the ceramic finds represents widespread Early Bronze Age pottery types (Begleitkeramik),
such as handled jugs, pots, bowls and urns (Fig. 12; Ecsedy 1988, 1617). Wares typical for the Bell
Beaker culture were also quite frequent, and the high number of bell beakers was also striking. 43% of
the burials yielded bell beakers (132 in 97 burials) with or without a handle and a decorative pattern
arranged in bands or zones (Fig. 13). We sought a possible correlation between the funerary rite and
the presence of beakers in the grave inventory and found that inhumation burials also contained quite a
high number of beakers (50 bell beakers in 43 inhumation burials). Other pottery wares included bowls
with a straight, occasionally decorated rim (Fig. 14. 14), pots and urns. One-handled jugs, another
frequent type among the grave goods, betray cultural impacts from the Somogyvr-Vinkovci culture
(Fig. 14. 58). One variety of deep hemispherical bowls with steep side and horizontal rim evokes a type
frequent in more westerly regions (Fig. 12. 2; Dvok Hjek 1990, Taf. 4. 6, Taf. 8. A4, B3, Taf. 9.
B1, Taf.22. B1, C1, G3, etc.).
A fairly large amount of metal artefacts came to light. Flat copper daggers (12 pieces in 11 graves:
Fig. 15. 1), awls (7 pieces in 7 graves) and a halberd (Fig. 21. 1), to be described at somewhat greater
length below, were recovered from eleven graves. Seven burials yielded a total of twelve gold rings
and gold plaques (Fig. 15. 34). Two gold rings laid in a symbolic burial, the other gold finds all came
from inhumation graves, where they were found beside the skull. Two burials contained silver artefacts:
small silver tubes and perforated silver plaques with a repouss decoration (Fig. 15. 2). Gold and silver
plaques are known, for example, from Bohemian Bell Beaker cemeteries (Havel 1978, Obr. 9. 18;
Blek et al. 1999, 32, Tab. 3, 56).
Aside from the pottery, the grave goods included the distinctive stone wrist-guards of the culture (33
pieces in 31 graves), representing well-known types (Sangmeisters Types B, D and G) (Fig. 16. 13;
Sangmeister 1974, 115118).
The lithic finds are made up of the typical triangular arrowheads of the culture and a wide range of
blades, various flakes and scrapers, which were predominantly manufactured from hornstone obtained
294
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5
2
8
7
295
296
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N
5
in the Buda Mountains (T. Bir 2002) and radiolarite from Szentgl and the Gerecse Mountains. Tools
and implements fashioned from obsidian, hydroquartzite, quartzite pebbles, flint and chert also occurred
among the lithics (Fig. 16. 4).2
The bone artefacts included decorated lunular amulets (Fig. 17. 13) and bone buttons with a
V-shaped perforation (Fig. 16. 47). The best analogies to the lunular amulets came to light at the
2
I am indebted to Krisztin Zandler (Kubinyi Ferenc Museum, Szcsny) for the evaluation of the chipped stone
implements.
297
15
14
12
13
1
16
10
9
11
8
7
6
5
2
4
3
3
6
298
Rbert Patay
299
Fig. 11. Szigetszentmikls-Fels rge-hegyi dl, Features 51 and 52 12: the remains of the funeral
ceremony
300
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Budapest-Rkczi Ferenc t site (Endrdi Horvth 1999, 31, Fig. 3. 1) and comparable pieces have
been published from Austria (Willvonseder 1936,8; Neugebauer 1994, 37, Abb. 17. 67, Abb.18.2),
Bohemia and Moravia (Willvonseder 1936, 78; Hjek 1939, obr. 1. 23, obr. 23; Geisler 1990,
obr. 2. 12; Rikov 2009) and Little Poland as well, indicating that this artefact type originated in
the west.
Several burials contained beads and other jewellery articles made of amber. Unfortunately, these
survived in a very poor condition and perished after they were lifted.
Limestone and bone beads, as well as various other bone ornaments (Fig. 20. 5) were found near
the cervical vertebrae in several burials. One grave yielded bone plaques and other bone ornaments.
Comparable pieces are known from Moravian Bell Beaker cemeteries (Kalousek 1956, 96, T. XIV. 1).
Several graves of the cemetery yielded finds and implements that can be contacted with metalworking.
Grave 346 is of great importance in this regard. It was a scattered cremation burial with a ring-shaped
ditch. The grave goods included a one-handled jug, Bell Beakers without decoration, a bowl, a stone
implement, a tuyre (Fig. 18) and slag (?) remains. In some graves were found polished stone tools, which
may indicate the relationship of the deceased with metalworking (Btora 2002, 179207; Bertemes
Heyd 2002, 215218). Grave 433, a symbolic burial (grave goods: five bell beakers, bowls, stone
wrist-guard, chipped stone implements) must also be mentioned in this respect, as it yielded boar tusks.3
Bell Beaker graves into which boar tusks were deposited are known from the Czech-Moravian Basin
and Lower Austria (Hjek 1966, 236, Abb. 1. 1415; Dvok 1992, 30, Taf. 58. A3; Neugebauer
1994, 3637; Dvork et al. 1996, 19, Taf. 20. B14; Blek et al. 1999, 14, Tab. 8. 1819). Boar tusks
had perhaps been used in metalworking as they have often been found together with stone tools used in
metalworking, for example in a grave uncovered at Knzing-Bruck (Bertemes Schmotz Thiele
2000; Bertemes Heyd 2002, 216217).
Human bone samples from five burials were submitted to the Vienna Environmental Research
Accelerator Laboratory for radiocarbon measurements. The radiocarbon dates indicate that the cemetery
was used between 25002200 cal BC (Fig. 19). The radiocarbon dates indicate that the cemetery had
been used over a longer period of time (Heyd 2007, 332334).
Two graves are especially noteworthy since their finds are important for determining the chronological
position and cultural contacts of the cemetery.
The earliest date was obtained for the sample from Grave 50 (Fig. 20). This grave is an inhumation
burial that yielded a copper awl (Fig. 20. 4), bone costume ornaments (Fig. 20. 5), a one-handled jug
(Fig. 20. 2), a small amphora-like vessel decorated with Bell Beaker patterns (Fig. 20. 3) and a footed
bowl decorated with Bell Beaker design on the exterior and a pattern recalling the ornamentation of
the pedestalled bowls of the Mak-Kosihy-aka culture in its interior (Fig. 20. 1). A pedestalled bowl
decorated with a similar design was found in the Tkl cemetery (Schreiber 1975, 200, Abb. 9. 1ab,
3ac). These finds suggest that the intensive interaction between the bell beaker users and the local
population, and the adoption of local traditions had lasted longer than earlier assumed.
Grave 128 is a scattered cremation burial with a large round ditch (Fig. 21). It may have been the
grave of a leader with high prestige, a man aged between 23 and 59 years. In addition to his halberd
(Fig.21.1), his dagger (Fig. 21. 2), and his stone wrist-guard (Fig. 21. 3), two bell beakers (Fig. 21.
45), a bowl (Fig. 21. 7), a pot (Fig. 21. 6), one decorated lunular amulet (Fig. 21. 8) and a wide range
of blades had been placed in the grave.
The study of the contacts between southeastern Moravia and the Carpathian Basin during the Late
Eneolithic (Late Copper Age) and the Early Bronze Age has always been one of the main fields of Czech
I would here like to thank Andrea Krsi (Museum of Hungarian Agriculture) for the evaluation of the animal
bone material.
301
Fig. 12. Szigetszentmikls-Fels rge-hegyi dl 17: Early Bronze Age pottery types (Begleitkeramik)
in the cemetery
302
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Fig. 13. Szigetszentmikls-Fels rge-hegyi dl 16: bell beaker examples in the cemetery
303
2
1
Fig. 14. Szigetszentmikls-Fels rge-hegyi dl 18: bowls and jugs in the cemetery
304
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Fig. 15. Metal artefacts in the cemetery 1: flat copper daggers, 2: small silver tubes and perforated silver
plaques with repouss decoration, 3: gold rings, 4: gold plaques
305
Fig. 16. Stone wrist-guards (13) and lithic finds (4) in the cemetery
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Fig. 17. Bone artefacts in the cemetery 13: decorated lunular amulets,
47: bone buttons with a V shaped perforation
307
1
3
ashes
1
4
6
5
Fig. 18. Szigetszentmikls-Fels rge-hegyi dl Grave 346 (1) and its finds (26)
308
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and Moravian prehistoric studies. Contacts between the two regions are well documented for the MakKosihy-aka/Somogyvr-Vinkovci/Bell Beaker/Early Nagyrv period. A few vessel types appearing
in the Carpathian Basin, such as amphorae and cups with ribbed decoration and biconical and globular
cups with funnel-shaped neck, can generally been linked to the Corded Ware culture of Moravia. Several
variants of the one-handled jugs current in the Carpathian Basin have been reported from Corded Ware
sites in Bohemia and Moravia. These include Devohostice type jugs, the one-handled biconical jugs
of the Balcanic type, and Somogyvr and krhalom type jugs. Several scholars (Ondrek 1965;
1967; Pleslov-tikov 1976; Vladr 1976; Buchvaldek 1981; 2002; Moucha 1981) believe
that contacts with the southeast and the Carpathian Basin played an important role in the Protoaunjetitz
period, the formative phase of the Aunjetitz culture. The prototypes of various pottery wares, principally
of the one-handled jugs and of the footed bowls with fenestrated foot, are generally sought in the MakKosihy-aka/Somogyvr/Glina III-Schneckenberg/Bell Beaker, and especially in the Early Nagyrv and
Nagyrv cultures. These cultural impacts reflect intensive contacts over a long period of time between
the Carpathian Basin, the Czech-Moravian Basin and Lower Silesia. It seems to me that the halberd from
Grave 128 of the Szigetszentmikls cemetery provides yet another piece of evidence for the contacts
between the two regions. The halberd from Szigetszentmikls can be regarded as the earliest piece in the
Carpathian Basin. Three comparable halberds are known from the Carpathian Basin; unfortunately, all
three are stray finds. One was found in the Szigetszentmikls area, the other in the Ppa area (Kovcs
1996), while the third one was found in the Danube near Dunajvros (B.Horvth Keszi 2004, 63,
Pl. 284). The best analogies to these halberds can be quoted from the west (Harbison 1969, 3555,
Pls 821; Gallay 1981, 125126, Pl. 33. 505) and from the Aunjetitz culture (Bartelheim 1998,
3947, Taf. 44). The halberds of the Aunjetitz culture must certainly be mentioned in this respect.
Even though halberds are not known from Protoaunjetitz contexts, I am nonetheless convinced that
the appearance of this artefact type in the Carpathian Basin can be attributed to the contacts with the
Czech-Moravian Basin and, also, that these contacts can be dated to the later half of the Early Bronze
Age II, as used in Hungarian Bronze Age studies, corresponding to the Late Bell Beaker period and
the appearance of Early Nagyrv assemblages. According to the chronological framework introduced
by Franois Bertemes and Volker Heyd, this can be correlated with the Reinecke A0 period, dating to
roughly 23502250 cal BC, when the region was settled by the Late Corded Ware culture, the Late Bell
Beaker culture and the Protoaunjetitz culture (Bertemes Heyd 2002, 190204). The radiocarbon
dates indicate that the late phase of the Szigetszentmikls cemetery can be assigned to this period. It
would then seem that halberds appeared in the Carpathian Basin without any apparent antecedents. The
halberd from Szigetszentmikls can be regarded as the earliest piece in the Carpathian Basin and its
presence is proof for the intensive and dynamic contacts between the Carpathian Basin and the CzechMoravian Basin during the Early Bronze Age, reflected by the flow of information and the spread of new
innovations between these two regions.
In addition to the burials, we also uncovered the refuse pits and ditches of a prehistoric settlement,
which lay scattered among the graves. With the exception of the Late Bronze Age and medieval features,
these pits and ditches contained very few finds, principally animal bones (cattle, horse, sheep, red
deer) and a few atypical, non-joining prehistoric sherds, making their dating difficult. No more than
eight pits could be assigned to the Bell Beaker culture based on the finds recovered from them, which
included beakers and bowls with decorated rim. One noteworthy vessel in the ceramic inventory is
a bowl with decorated rim set on a cylindrical foot. Similar bowls were recovered from the burials
at Szigetszentmikls and on various sites in the Budapest area (Kalicz-Schreiber 1997, 184185,
Abb.9. 56). Knowing that this bowl type is one of the typical wares of the Bell Beaker sites in the
Czech-Moravian Basin and in southern Germany (Dvok Hjek 1990, Taf. VI. 7; Dvok et al.
1996, Taf. 10. 84, Taf. 15. 6) it seems likely that its origins can be sought in the west.
309
Grave 626
2460 (95.4%) 2200 cal BC
Grave 367
2470 (86.5%) 2270 cal BC
2260 (8.9%) 2200 cal BC
Grave 50
2300 (87.6%) 2120 cal BC
2100 (8.9%) 2040 cal BC
Grave 49
2460 (91.5%) 2190 cal BC
2170 (3.9%) 2140 cal BC
Grave 10
2500 (91.8%) 2280 cal BC
2570 (3.6%) 2530 cal BC
13C1,2)
Lab.-No.
14
C age1)
Calibrated age3)
Sample name
[]
[BP]
[cal BC]
VERA-4748
Grave 10
-17.6 0.7
17.6
0.7
392040
3920
40
VERA-4749
Grave 49
-20.11.2
20.1
1.2
383040
3830
40
VERA-4750
Grave 50
-20.30.6
20.3
0.6
377535
3775
35
VERA-4755
Grave 367
-19.71.1
19.7
1.1
387540
3875
40
VERA-4757
Grave 626
-21.41.4
21.4
1.4
384535
3845
35
1)
1error
2)
3)
determined with the calibration program OxCal and the calibration curve INTCAL04,
data correspond to the 2-confidence level, probability of the individual time periods in brackets
310
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3
6
7
5
4
1
5
4
Fig. 20. Szigetszentmikls-Fels rge-hegyi dl Grave 50 (1) and its finds (26)
311
Grave 128
Grave goods:
1. Copper halberd
2. Copper dagger
3. Stone wrist-guard
4. Bell beaker
5. Bell beaker
6. Jug
7. Bowl
8. Decorated lunular amulet
7
N
6
5
3
2
4
2
1
5
4
3
6
9
7
Fig. 21. Szigetszentmikls-Fels rge-hegyi dl Grave 128 (1) and its finds (29)
312
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Most Bell Beaker cemeteries in the Budapest area lie some 200300 m from the Danube, while the
settlements were established closer to the river (Kalicz-Schreiber 1997, 183; 2001, 168169). At
Szigetszentmikls, however, the pits containing Bell Beaker pottery were uncovered among and beside
the burials. The graves and the settlement features often bordered on each other. In one case, a ditch
containing Bell Beaker pottery cut through a Bell Beaker burial. However, the pottery recovered from
the pits is very scanty, fragmented and contains few typical Bell Beaker wares, and thus a comparison
with the pottery deposited in the graves will hardly contribute to clarifying the chronological relation
between the settlement and the cemetery.
The Szigetszentmikls cemetery will undoubtedly furnish new, and important evidence for the Bell
Beaker research in Hungary and in Europe. This is the second largest known cemetery after Budakalsz
(Ottomnyi Czene 2006; Czene 2008) in Hungary. Some burials, yielding finds with a resemblance
to the Early Bell Beaker find horizon as defined by V. Heyd (2001) can be dated to the initial Bell Beaker
period, while others date to a later period marked by the integration with the Late Mak-Kosihy-aka
and Early Nagyrv cultures. The burial customs, various artefact types occurring among the grave goods
and the halberd from Grave 128 indicate contacts with the west, while the decorated footed bowl and
amphora-like small vessel from Grave 50 is a reflection of contact with the other Early Bronze Age
cultures of the Carpathian Basin.
In sum, we may say, that the burial rites noted in the Szigetszentmikls cemetery were introduced
from Central Europe. The burials from the later period of the cemetery reflect strong, intensive ties with
other regions of Central Europe, as well as strong connections with neighbouring cultures.4
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List of Contributors
Andrei Asndulesei
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iai
Arheoinvest Research Platform
RO-700506 Iai, Carol I 11
[email protected]
Neculai Bolohan
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iai
Faculty of History
RO-700506 Iai, Carol I 11
[email protected]
Horia Ciugudean
Muzeul National al Unirii
RO-510093, Alba Iulia, Str. MihaiViteazu 1214
[email protected]
Pter Csippn
Etvs Lornd University
Institute of Archaeological Sciences
H-1088 Budapest, Mzeum krt 4/B
[email protected]
Jnos Dani
Dri Museum
H-4026 Debrecen, Dri tr 1
[email protected]
Claudia Gerling
Freie Universitt Berlin
Cluster of Excellence 264 Topoi
D-14195 Berlin, Hittorfstrae 18
University of Basel
Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science
CH-4055 Basel, Spalenring 145
[email protected]
Volker Heyd
University of Bristol
Department of Archaeology & Anthropology
UK-BS8 1UU Bristol, 43 Woodland Road
[email protected]
Tnde Horvth
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Research Centre for the Humanities
Institute of Archaeology
H-1014 Budapest, ri u. 49
[email protected]
Elke Kaiser
Freie Universitt Berlin
Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology
D-14195 Berlin, Altensteinstrasse 15
[email protected]
Miroslav Krlk
Masaryk University
Faculty of Science
Department of Anthropology
CZ-61137 Brno, Kotlsk 267/2
[email protected]
Gabriella Kulcsr
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Research Centre for the Humanities
Institute of Archaeology
H-1014 Budapest, ri u. 49
[email protected]
Rbert Patay
Ferenczy Museum
Department of Archaeology
H-2300 Cegld, Alszegi u. 7
[email protected]
Jaroslav Peka
Archaeological Centre Olomouc
CZ-77900 Olomouc, U Hradiska 42/6
[email protected]
kos Pet
Hungarian National Museum
National Heritage Protection Centre
H-1113 Budapest, Darci t 3
[email protected]
ukasz Pospieszny
Polish Academy of Sciences
Institute of Archeology and Ethnology
PL-61-612 Pozna, ul. Rubie 46
[email protected]
Yuri Rassamakin
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Institute of Archaeology
UA-1204210 Kyiv-210, pr. Geroiv Stalingrada
[email protected]
va Svingor
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Institute for Nuclear Research
H-4026 Debrecen, Bem tr 18/c
[email protected]
Alexandru Szentmiklsi
Museum of Banat
RO-300002 Timioara, Piata Huniade 1
[email protected]
Vajk Szevernyi
Mra Ferenc Museum
H-6720 Szeged, Roosevelt tr 13
[email protected]
Marzena Szmyt
Adam Mickiewicz University
Institute for Eastern Studies
PL-61486 Pozna, ul. 28 Czerwca 1956 r., no 198
Pozna Archaeological Museum
PL-61781 Pozna, ul. Wodna 27
[email protected]
Manfred Woidich
ArchaeoDienst GmbH & Co. KG
D-91809 Wellheim, Dohlenfelsenstr. 8a
[email protected]