South Central Europe (2,637 – 910 BCE) Bronze and Early Iron — Tumulus, Urnfield, and Alpine Hallstatt Seeds

Geographic and Environmental Context

• Anchors: Inn–Tyrol Tumulus horizons, Swiss Plateau Urnfield zones, Hallstatt A–B nuclei in Salzkammergut fringe (just beyond but influential), Carinthia hillforts, Valais–Rhône passes.

Climate & Environmental Shifts

• Variable rainfall; good pasture windows alternated with cool phases.

Subsistence & Settlement

• Hillforts and fortified villages guarded passes; mixed cereal–pasture economies; salt and copper extraction expanded.

Technology & Material Culture

• Bronze swords, sickles, razors; Urnfield cremation cemeteries; early iron at period’s end.

• Wagon parts and tack attest to alpine haulage.

Movement & Interaction Corridors

• North–south trade (metals, salt, amber, wine) surged along Brenner/Reschen, Gotthard, Great St. Bernard.

Cultural & Symbolic Expressions

• Tumulus aristocracies; cremation urnfields; alpine cults at springs and passes.

Environmental Adaptation & Resilience

• Transhumance + storage buffered climate variability; pass control monetized alpine geography.