Content:

The “Age of mega-sites” in Trypillia Culture started at BI-II stage at the end of Vth Millenium BC. At this moment appeared first agglomerations at different areas: from Dniestr-Southern Bug interfluve to Dneeper. At Dneeper area at the beginning settling system included one large site (Trypillia, near 60-70 hectars) and few small (2-4 hectars). For the next phase (the end of BI-II stage) we know two middle size sites (16-25 hectars) – Veremya and Kolomiitsiv Yar and few small. From the beginning of BII stage up to the end of CI at this area were only small size sites. On the one hand, we see the process of disintegration of the settling system, the central element of which was mega-site and a returning to the previous system, which included only small sites. The similar transformation of the settlement system we can see at the end of the CI-befginning of CII stages in the interfluve of the Southern Bug and the Dnieper (Kosenivka local group). On the other hand, the return to the ancient system of settling on the Dnieper occurred at a time, when in other areas the “Age of mega-sites” became widespread and lasted for next several centuries. Different versions of the explanation of this phenomenon are possible. A return to the previous resettlement system could occur if the population of the mega-site could disperse over a large area. This model seems plausible given the gradual reduction in the size of central settlements. Another version involves military intervention by neighbors, which resulted in the destruction of the local mega-site as the center of power and the establishment of control by other chiefdoms. Further research in the region will allow us to study in more detail the history of the transformation of the settlement system and its probable causes.

EAA2021: Abstract

Title & Content

authors