East-Central European Iron Age

Europeagro-pastoralists
expand_more Description

The East-Central European Iron Age is found mainly in Romania, Bulgaria, and western Moldova dating from 2800-2000 BP or 800-1 BCE. Both open and defended settlements were present. In addition to farming wheat and barley and pastoralism, cash cropping began in this period in this area. Artwork often shows the elite hunting. Slaves and raw materials were traded for Greek and Persian luxury goods. Status changed from ascribed to achieved to ruling dynasties. Warfare was endemic with their mercenaries being both sought after and feared. The elite conducted war for the spoils and also gained prestige through trade. Both cremation and inhumation were practiced with thousands of mounds or barrows known.

Identifier
Region
  • Europe
Subregion
  • Southeastern Europe
Subsistence Type
  • agro-pastoralists
Countries
  • Albania
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Georgia
  • Greece
  • Croatia
  • Hungary
  • Kosovo
  • Slovakia
  • Moldova
  • Montenegro
  • North Macedonia
  • Serbia
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine