WASTE-DISPOSAL AT THE MBA FORTIFIED SETTLEMENT KAKUCS-TURJÁN MÖGÖTT: INTERGRATINGPHYTOLITHS
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 2021-01-07

Based on the similar ceramic style and typography, the homogenous cultural identity that emerged during the Middle Bronze Age (app. 2000/1900–1500/1450 cal. BC) in the central territory of the Carpathian Basin is called the Vatya culture. Populations of this cultural complex inhabited different environments, such as the loess covered Mezőföld directly on the western bank of the Danube, or the sand-dominated flatlands and marshy meadows of the Danube–Tisza interfluve. From 2013-2016, a house structure of the Vatya culture was excavated at the fortified settlement Kakucs-Turján mögött. First botanical results indicate that the most important economic plant species were einkorn and lentil, followed by barley and field pea, respectively. The presence of only small numbers of weeds and cereal by-products suggests that kitchen-ready cereal grains and legume seeds were present in the house. As of yet, there are no indications that large-scale crop processing took place at the house. Analysis on phytolith samples taken from two probable waste pits in a different part of Kakucs-Turján mögött has shown the presence of morphotypes indicative for cereal by-products. Consequently, the results suggest that cereal-processing activities did take place in the settlement area. A comparison of the results of the macrobotanical and phytolith analyses might thus provide a greater insight into agricultural activities that took place at the site and in this respect suggest a spatial, functional differentiation.


Author(s): Peto, Ákos (Szent István University, Institute of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology) - Filatova, Sonja - Kirleis, Wiebke (Kiel University, Institute for Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology)