The aim of the paper is to provide the results of a preliminary ceramic technological investigation of the Lengyel culture from Szemely-Hegyes and Zengővárkony (Hungary). By the means of macroscopic and petrographic analysis the technology of different vessel types is compared in order to gain insight into the manufacturing practices of different vessel types. Furthermore, our purpose is also to assess possible ceramic technological similarities and differences between settlements that are situated close to each other. Since vessel painting in the Lengyel culture is a common practice a possible relationship between raw materials/technological practices, vessel types and painting is also assessed. Moreover, while at Szemely-Hegyes a round multi ditch-system was found, the size and complexity of which is larger than at other sites, no such feature was observed at Zengővárkony. For this reason it is possible to assess the ceramic technological differences between the two types of settlements. The most prominent similarity between the ceramic technologies of the two sites is that consumption wares at both sites were made from a very fine, probably levigated raw material. The characteristic difference between samples found at Zengővárkony is that some of the consumption wares were also tempered with coarse rock fragments, while at Szemely such tempering occurs only among the household wares. A further difference between the sites is that at Szemely, grog tempering is common, while at Zengővárkony this practice was not observed.

The preliminary results clearly show that consumption wares were made in a very similar manner at both sites (very fine, probably levigated clay, slab building, firing under fully reductive circumstances) despite that at the two sites there may have been differences in the available raw materials.