Added December 6, 1998. Revised November 23, 2006, 13:26 -5 hours GMT .

This page will be refined and improved as deemed necessary and useful.

The Central and North European Neolithic/Copper Age Chronology

Version 4.01

Background

This chronology is a dynamic document that constantly evolves.[1] All dates are calibrated BC (cal BC), unless otherwise indicated.[2]

In the Beginning

The Origin of Agriculture (Near East Chronology Table)

Neolithic

6400/6100-5500 BC

The Hungarian Mesolithic/Neolithic Transition

Starčevo-Körös-Criş [Starcevo-Koros-Cris] (Croatia, Yugoslavia, S and E. Hungary, Romania)

5600/5500-5000 BC

La Hoguette (France, SW. Germany, Dutch Limburg)

Earliest Bandkeramik Later Bandkeramik [Transdanubian Linearbandkeramik (LBK )or Linear Pottery, Alföldi Vonaldíszes Kerámica (AVK) or Alföld Linear Pottery]

5000-4200 BC

Late Mesolithic Ertebølle/Ellerbek (Denmark, N. Germany, NW Poland)

Hinkelstein (W. Germany)

Großgartach (E. France, Switzerland, SW, W, and Central Germany, Bohemia, and Austria)

Stichbandkeramik (Stoke-Ornamented Pottery; Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Slovakia)

Rössen (S. and W. Germany, Switzerland)

Tisza-Hérpály-Csöszhalom (Tisza-Herpaly-Csoszhalom) Hungary

Lengyel, Sopot, Austrian/Moravian Painted Ware I (A/MPW I; Czech = MMK, German = Ö/MBK); (Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia/former Yugoslavia)

Bischheim (W. Germany)

Gatersleben (Central Germany)

Münchshöfen: Wallerfing, Pollingn, Aichbühl, Schwieberdingen (S. Germany, Austria)

Vinča-Pločnik (Vinca-Plocnik) (SE. Europe)

Tiszapolgár (Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia-Montenegro, Bulgaria)

Neolithic / Copper Age

4200-3800 BC

Austrian/Moravian Painted Ware II (A/MPW II, Czech = MMK, German = Ö/MBK, Epi-Lenyel; Austria, Bohemia, Moravia Central Germany)

Jordanów/Jordanov/Jordansmühl, Bisamberg-Oberpullendorf (Poland, Central Germany, Bohemia, Moravia, Austria)

Michelsberg (E. France, Belgium, W. Germany, Central Germany, Bohemia)

Schussenried, Ehrenstein, Hornstaad Group (S. Germany)

Funnel Beaker culture: Rosenhof, Dümmer, Siggeneben, Baalberge, Pikutkowo, Oxie, Volling, Svaleklint (S. Scandinavia, Germany, Netherland, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine)

Stollhof (Austria, W. Hungary)

Balaton, Bodrogkeresztúr (Hungary)

3800-3250 BC

Funnel Beaker culture: Baalberge, Wiorek (Wiórek), Luboń (Lubon), Łupawa (Lupawa), Ustowo, Fuchsberg, Hassel-Wolkenwehe, Virum, Troldebjerg, Salzmünde, Tiefstichkeramik, Düsedau, Haldesleben, Drowen (S. Scandinavia, Germany, Netherland, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine).

Michelsberg (E. France, Belgium, W. and Central Germany, Bohemia)

Wartberg (NW. Germany)

Horgen (N. Switzerland, SW Germany)

Altheim, Pfyn, Pfyn-Altheim (S. Germany, Switzerland, Austria)

Mondsee (Austria)

Retz-Bajč (Bajc) (Austria, Moravia, Slovakia, Hungary)

Baden: Boleráz (Boleraz) (Austria, Moravia, Slovakia, Hungary, S. Poland, Serbia)

***The Austro/Italian Iceman (3352-3108 cal BC)*** The Iceman’s Food Fight

3250-2850 BC

Funnel Beaker culture: Klintebakke, Blandebjerg, Bundø (Bundso), Store Valby, Havelte, Walternienburg-Bernburg, etc. (S. Scandinavia, Germany, Netherland, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine)

Wartberg (NW. Germany)

Globular Amphora (Germany, Poland, Moravia, W. Ukraine)

Baden: Ossarn, Řivnáč (Rivnac), Vučedol (Vucedol) (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, S. Poland, Serbia)

Jevišovice (Jevisovice) (Moravia, Bohemia, Lower Austria)

Cham (S. Germany, W. Czech Republic),

Horgen (N. Switzerland, SW Germany), Lüscherz (Switzerland)

Seine-Oise-Marne (SOM) (E. France)

2850-2400/2200 BC

Corded Ware/Single Grave culture (North and Central Europe)

Schönfeld (Central Germany)

Auvernier (Switzerland)

Saône-Rhône (France)

Copper Age / Bronze Age

2400/2200-1900 BC

Bell Beakers (Europe and Northern Africa)

Appendix

Please send comments or questions to Max Baldia.

[1] The page was originally not intended to be a complete chronology, but rather a rough (quick and dirty) outline for fellow researchers of the Czech/American Research Program (CARPRO), some of whom were not familiar with European archaeology. Its aim was to sort out the overwhelmingly complex nomenclature of the Central European Neolithic and Copper Age. The focus was primarily on the cultures close to the Funnel Beaker culture (TRB) South Group. However, the title was changed December 7, 1999 (and slightly revised December 8, 1999) to reflect the expanded aim of an up-to-date chronology. Adding “Copper Age” to the current title reflects the practice in Southeast Central Europe. The early versions contained links of the individual epochs with time graphics a bibliography by Dr. Weißmüller at the University of Erlangen server. However, these links were not accessible as of January 4, 2006. Therefore, they have been removed.

[2] Calibration is necessary to arrive at a date in years that approximates calendar dates. Calibration is based on yearly tree ring dates (dendrochronology), yearly lake sediment layers in lakes (varve chronology) and the dating of coral.