Mitteilungen des Archäologischen Instituts der Ungarischen Akademie der Wissenschaften 5. 1974/75 [antikvár]

J. Makkay SOME STRATI GRAPHICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF THE TARTAR IA TABLETS (PLATES 1 - 2) In a recently published note David Whipp^ has pointed out certain inadequacies in N. Vlassa's account of the discovery of the Tartaria tablets and the subsequent interpretation of Vlassa's section by Sinclair Hood.^ As a result it is considered necessary to reconsider the problems connected with the tablets.^ This course seems to be advisable mainly because Vlassa's preliminary publications^ contain, in fact, some insignificant deficiencies, and those who are not intimately acquainted with the problems connected with the Vin6a-Tordos culture (or those who do not agree with the application of a low chronology) may misuse these deficiencies for questioning the authenticity of the find circumstances and for changing the dating in an arbitrary way. In our opinion the fact that the preliminary report does not contain an illustration of a cross-section of the sacrificial pit containing the tablets is not sufficient ground for doubting the Vinba-Tordos dating of the pit. As a matter of fact, the published photograph clearly shows the dark, thick and undisturbed layer 0,5 m above the mouth of the pit but at least 1 m under the Cotofeni level.^ The Neolithic site at Tartaria has been known since the beginning of this century. It was discovered on the 15th July 1906 by Endre Orosz, who stated that it was a rich site characterized by high-pedestal led bowls and painted pottery and that it was contemporaneous with the Tordos settlement.® The first excavations were carried out by K. Horedt in 1942 and 1943 (areas A,B,C,D,E and F). Horedt only published a short preliminary report on his investigations.^ Vlassa, who commenced 1 Antiquity 47 ( 1973) 147 - 148. 2 Hood 1967, 99 - 113. - Id.: The Tartaria Tablets. Scientific American 218 (1968) 30 - 37. Professor Hood Is not to blame; it is exceedingly difficult to analyze accurately an unsatisfactory initial dig report. 3 We do not wish to deal in detail with issues that have been considered on a previous occasion: Makkay 1968, 272 - 289. 4 Vlassa 1962, 22 - 30. - Id. 1963, 485 - 494. 5 Vlassa 1963. Fig. 3, 4. - Cf. V. Popovit: Un probleme de méthodologie archéologique: l'origine de la culture de VinEa-Tordos sur le Moyen Danube. Manuscript 12. 6 E. Orosz: Újabban fölfedezett erdélyi östelepek (Prehistoric sites in Transylvania discovered recently). Erdélyi Múzeum 25 (Kolozsvár 1908) 259. 7 K. Horedt: SSpâturi privitoare la epoca neo- eneoliticS. Apulum 3 (1947-1948, published 1949) 44-45. MIttArchlnst 12/13 (1974/83) Budapest