Geoarchaeological investigations at Sormás-Török-földek, in Southwestern Transdanubia, Hungary

Abstract

A comprehensive and detailed picture was gained about the historical events and the natural environment of Southwestern Hungary at the beginning of the 5 th millennia BC. Wood charcoal analysis provided site-related information about the natural milieu of the site. Anthracological analysis has not been carried out in Southwestern Hungary so far, whereby more than 3600 fragments of charred wood remains were identified. Our dataset was compared to pollen analytical, archaeobotanical and archaeological data to create a more accurate vegetation picture for this period of time and to reconstruct the utilization of wood during Middle and Late Neolithic. Charcoal assemblage reflects the composition of the woodland around the site. Based on the results a thermophilous Quercus forest mixed with Fagus , Fraxinus , Acer , Alnus and Ulmus existed in the study site during the Middle and Late Neolithic and different types of wood were used for fire wood and for construction purposes as well. Anthracological analysis of samples from Sormas-Torok-foldek enabled a more accurate vegetation reconstruction for the study site by the comparison to previously known pollen analytical data and added extra information regarding the local vegetation and wood utilization for the Middle and Late Neolithic.