Late Neolithic lithic assemblage from Alsónyék: the significance of the local supply zone’s lithic raw material (original) (raw)

Alsónyék-Bátaszék is a very extensive Neolithic site in south-east Transdanubia (Tolna county). The majority of the uncovered features could be assigned to the Late Neolithic Lengyel culture. Nearby 7000 pieces of stone tools came to light from borrowing-pits and burials. Two kinds of radiolarite prevail in the raw material distribution (Mecsek and Bakony type of radiolarite). The source of the Mecsek radiolarite signifies the local supply zone; this is the east part of the Mecsek Mountains which locates 15–30 kilometers from the site. The local radiolarite was regularly collected and was largely able to cater the raw material claim of the region. Actually the provenience investigation of Mecsek radiolarite stands in rudimentary level. We know the geological site of the local radiolarite from Komló, Hosszúhetény, Kisújbánya, Óbánya, Magyaregregy and Vékény. The ratio of the local raw material is nearly equivalent among the settlement finds and the burial grave goods. Based on the amount of cores and flakes, we can presume that there was a systematic stone tool production on the settlement. The preparation and preliminary flakes occur in low amount which refers that shaping of cores happened outside the settlement. The stone assemblage at Alsónyék is almost identical to the stone collections, which came to light from emblematic sites of the Lengyel culture in south-east Transdanubia. The scale of raw materials and the dominance of blades show very similar tendency among these sites.