East Central Europe (2,637 – 910 BCE) Bronze and Early Iron — Urnfields, Hallstatt Precursors, Steppe Neighbors

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: Carpathian Basin (Tumulus/Urnfield), Bohemian–Bavarian hillforts, Polish Lusatian culture, Early Hallstatt in Austria.

Climate & Environmental Shifts

• Variable rainfall; wetter conditions late in 2nd millennium BCE.

Subsistence & Settlement

• Intensified cereal agriculture, vineyards/orchards; sheep/goat wool production.

• Hillforts and fortified villages proliferated.

Technology & Material Culture

• Bronze swords, sickles, ornaments; socketed axes; iron tools late.

• Urnfield cremation cemeteries spread.

Movement & Interaction Corridors

• Amber trade tied Baltic to Hallstatt and Mediterranean.

• Steppe cultures (Srubnaya, Cimmerians) intruded into Carpathian Basin.

Cultural & Symbolic Expressions

• Warrior aristocracy, solar symbols, wagon burials.