A rich collection of chipped stone industry, chronologically falling to the final stage of the Želiezovce group, was obtained from the area of the settlement in Bajč. Two aspects were taken into consideration when analysing the assemblage of finds – typological-technological point of view and proportion of knappable raw materials at the site. The assemblage of chipped industry from Bajč comprises of items representing all phases of production process. The initial phase of raw silicite modification (including obsidian) is indicated by primary blades and flakes. The following stage, a primary exploitation, is documented by the presence of crest and subcrest blades. The final phase of the production process is represented mainly by the finished artefacts. Even though the collection contains also production waste, such as blades and their fragments, it mainly comprises tools – the final products of the knapping process. The analysed collection comprises of a wide range of various kinds of silicites and volcanic glass. It is currently the most diverse assemblage of knappable material obtained from the settlements of the Želiezovce group in Southwestern Slovakia. Local silicite raw material – limnosilicite – clearly prevails in the assemblage, but obsidian was also common. Radiolarite of the Szentgál type, chalk flint of the Tevel type, radiolarites of the Bakonycsernye, Gercse and Hárskút types were also identified, although they were fewer. The least frequent raw materials include felsitic porphyry, Volhynian flint, radiolarite from the Klippen Belt of the White Carpathians, silicite of the Kraków-Częstochowa Jurassic period, erratic flint, wood opal and nummulite silicite. A new, previously undescribed raw material has been recorded. It was identified as a siliceous substance of volcanic origin whose primary sources are located within the territory of neovolcanites in central Slovakia.
In the cadastral area of Demandice village, site of Čepiec a circular fortified area was captured during an aerial prospecting in 1998. After subsequent geophysical measurement and surface collection, it was found to be a rondel from the Lengyel culture. In the years 2013 and 2015, an intensive geophysical as well as surface collecting survey was carried out at the site. The main aim of which was to try to date the circular moat fortified area more accurately. During the survey, two, next to each other, typologically different areas were localized (the moat fortified area and a settlement), which were also confirmed by the geophysical survey. The analysis of the ceramic material from both sites showed that both areas belong to the period of the Early Bronze Age – the Hatvan culture. The interpretation of the geophysical measurement with the 16-channel magnetometer confirmed the assumption that it is not a roundel of the Lengyel culture period but a moat fortified area belonging to the Hatvan culture.
In 2017 and 2018 seasons, archaeological research and geophysical research was made at the Sudanese archaeological site of Duweym Wad Hajj. Research has identified a number of underground structures that, along with discovered pottery material, could be an indication of an older settlement. Previous site surveys predicted the existence of ancient architecture here. In addition to the geophysical survey, the old mosque was documented at the site.
This article reports on the surveys of “the Slovak research at the Sudanese site of Duweym Wad Haj,” a joint project of the Institute of Oriental Studies and the Archaeological Institute, both of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS). A short survey was carried out at the site in November 2017. Two mosques, qubba and a tell were identified; the tell rises about 5 to 6 m above the alluvial terrain. The western entrance to the older mosque is flanked by hard black stone blocks. Nearby is a worked stone block of the same material. Non-diagnostic pot-sherds were found mainly concentrated on the northern side of the tell. A geophysical survey, documentation of the older mosque and archaeological prospecting were carried out in February 2018; fragments of alabaster, black and red granite and stone industry were identified at the site. The geophysical survey was carried out by a georadar RAMAC X3M system with 500 MHz antenna and processed by ReflexW software. The site was divided up into 8 areas and the individual areas were measured out by GPS Trimble R2. Overall, 11 structures were discovered.
The osteoarchaeological study analyses and attempts to interpret an unusual find from an Early Bronze Age settlement burial in Zbehy (Nitra district, Slovakia). An artefact made of hollow bone shafts of birds and a hare was discovered on the face of a female aged 35–45 years. The woman probably suffered from chronic rhinosinusitis and severe dental problems, implying that the artefact may have served as a face mask. Due to the lack of archaeological analogies, the interpretation of the function of the artefact from Zbehy remains open for discussion.
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