Bronze Age Matting from the Heights of Vésztő-Mágor, Hungary

Abstract Tell settlements often provide a unique window into prehistoric lifeways due to remarkable preservation and safeguarding from modern disturbances. Vésztő-Mágor in Hungary is one such tell with stratigraphy, features and finds that reflect thousands of years of prehistoric settlement. In 2021, the Vésztő-Mágor Conservation and Exhibition Program began the work of stabilizing, documenting and preserving prehistoric deposits, features and artefacts exposed in an in situ exhibition trench at Vésztő-Mágor. In the process, an exceptionally well-preserved carbonized item was discovered embedded in a series of Middle Bronze Age house floors. We describe the object and context of discovery, and interpret it as matting inside a wattle-and-daub house. We expand our discussion to similar contexts known from Vésztő-Mágor, in the Carpathian Basin, and beyond, to highlight the technologies involving organic materials used at prehistoric tell sites and their significance for understanding lifeways at these settlements.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Cambridge Archaeological Journal
Published
2025-08-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0959774325100176
Primary Topic
Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Bronze Age Matting from the Heights of Vésztő-Mágor, Hungary

Karina Grömer, Tim Schroedter, Attila Gyucha, Georgia Tsartsidou et al.
Cambridge Archaeological Journal
Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
article

Bronze Age Matting from the Heights of Vésztő-Mágor, Hungary

Karina Grömer, Tim Schroedter, Attila Gyucha, Georgia Tsartsidou, William P. Ridge, Ashley Lingle, Danielle J. Riebe, Jerrod Seifert, Paul R. Duffy, Kayleigh Saunderson, Panagiotis Karkanas, William A. Parkinson
article en

Abstract

Abstract Tell settlements often provide a unique window into prehistoric lifeways due to remarkable preservation and safeguarding from modern disturbances. Vésztő-Mágor in Hungary is one such tell with stratigraphy, features and finds that reflect thousands of years of prehistoric settlement. In 2021, the Vésztő-Mágor Conservation and Exhibition Program began the work of stabilizing, documenting and preserving prehistoric deposits, features and artefacts exposed in an in situ exhibition trench at Vésztő-Mágor. In the process, an exceptionally well-preserved carbonized item was discovered embedded in a series of Middle Bronze Age house floors. We describe the object and context of discovery, and interpret it as matting inside a wattle-and-daub house. We expand our discussion to similar contexts known from Vésztő-Mágor, in the Carpathian Basin, and beyond, to highlight the technologies involving organic materials used at prehistoric tell sites and their significance for understanding lifeways at these settlements.

Cambridge Archaeological JournalVol. 35(4)
Natural History Museum Vienna (AT), University of Vienna (AT), University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (AT), University of Georgia (US), University of Oslo (NO), Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports (GR), Field Museum of Natural History (US), Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE), University of York (GB), University of North Georgia (US), American School of Classical Studies at Athens (GR)
National Science Foundation, University of Georgia, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Openalex Percentile: Top 77%
Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.