Non-destructive investigations at Neolithic tell-centered settlement complexes on the Great Hungarian Plain

Abstract In Southeast Europe, recent years have witnessed a notable shift in scholarly focus related to prehistoric tell sites, expanding to encompass both their immediate surroundings and broader contexts. This shift has coincided with, and to a large extent has been generated by, significant methodological advancements in an array of non-invasive methods, including particularly magnetic prospection. This paper presents the methodology and results of an integrated set of non-destructive investigations conducted at Battonya-Parázs-tanya, a Middle/Late Neolithic settlement located in the southeastern part of the Great Hungarian Plain. In addition to various map sources, magnetometry, LiDAR, thermal and multispectral imaging, and surface survey were utilized at this tell-centered settlement complex to locate old excavation blocks and gain insights into settlement size, layout, and land use. Our data indicates that Battonya-Parázs-tanya spanned approximately 110 ha, with two primary ditches surrounding the tell and indications of a possible third enclosure, suggesting significant human alterations to the local landscape. This study underscores the importance of integrating multiple non-invasive techniques to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the organizational complexities of and variations in large Neolithic settlements, thereby shedding light on socio-cultural dynamics that shaped them.