New Radiocarbon Dates for the Baden Culture

Abstract

In 2001?2002, a settlement of the Baden culture was excavated in the vicinity of Balatonőszöd. During the rescue excavation along the M7 highway, in an area of 100,000 m2, 2800 pits dug into the subsoil, 320 hearths, and cultural layers rich in material were discovered. The material of the Baden culture represents phases IB-IC (Boleraz), IIA (Transitional), IIB-III (Early Classical) according to Němejcová-Pavúková's (1981, 1998) typological system. We took 20 samples from the large number of human and animal skeletons for radiocarbon dating, of which 16 measurements were successful. These results provide absolute dates for a Baden culture settlement with the longest occupation and the largest excavated surface in Hungary. This provides an opportunity to review the chronological position of the Baden culture, with special emphasis on its beginning and end.