East Central Europe (4,365 – 2,638 BCE) Late Neolithic/Chalcolithic — Megasites, Copper, and Corded Ware

Geographic and Environmental Context

East Central Europe includes Turkey-in-Europe (Thrace); Greece’s Thrace; Bulgaria (except its southwest); Romania & Moldova; northeastern Serbia; northeastern Croatia; extreme northeastern Bosnia & Herzegovina.

• Anchors: Lengyel–Tisza cultures in Carpathian Basin, Bohemia–Poland Funnelbeaker (TRB), Corded Ware expansions (c. 2900–2300 BCE).

Climate & Environmental Shifts

• Stable but trending cooler; loess soils productive; river valleys sustained denser populations.

Subsistence & Settlement

• Farming diversified; copper metallurgy introduced; cattle herding intensified.

• Large villages and proto-towns in Tisza–Danube basin.

• Corded Ware horizon added mobile herders with cattle/horses.

Technology & Material Culture

• Painted ceramics (Lengyel, Tisza); copper ornaments/tools.

• Corded Ware pottery, battle-axes.

Movement & Interaction Corridors

• Amber routes (Baltic to Carpathian Basin); Danube–Elbe corridors.

• Steppe contacts brought horse and wagon innovations.

Cultural & Symbolic Expressions

• Ritual figurines, painted pottery; burial rites diversified (flat graves, kurgan intrusions).