Trichterbecher

The Neolithic settlement and land use history in
northwestern Germany is subject to detailed archaeological
and palynological investigations that
are carried out within the framework of the DFG
priority program “Early Monumentality and Social
Differentiation –the Emergence of Neolithic Monuments
and Early Complex Societies in Northern
Central Europe”. Up to now, only little is known
about the settlement structure and the environmental
conditions and changes in northwestern Germany
during the 4th and 3rd millennium BC, although
various megalithic monuments, grave mounds as
well as surface finds indicate that the area was settled
by the West Group of the Funnel Beaker and the
subsequent Single Grave Cultures. Therefore, five
local research areas were selected that bear high poenclosures, in order to shed light on the cultural
context of Neolithic societies in Northern Europe
since 4100 BC (compiled by Müller 2009; 2011).
In Northwestern Germany, the distribution area
of the west group of the Funnel Beaker Culture
(TRB) and the Single Grave Culture (EGK) is to
be investigated. Several traces were left by both cultures
in the areas between the Elbe and Ems rivers.
The most prominent features are the numerous
megalithic tombs that – at least partly – still shape
today’s landscape (Fig. 1). They have often been objects
of scientific research as their architecture and
distribution reveal regional differences in settlement
intensities and land use. In addition, a few flat graves,
hoards, and settlements with building features are
known (complied by Assendorp 1999; Kossian
2005; Laux 1995; Strahl 1990), while no causewayed
enclosures have yet been identified from the
mentioned area (compiled by Richter 2002, 3 pp.).
Therefore, this setting is ideally suited for investigations
into the Neolithic colonisation history of
the 4 th and the early 3 rd millennia BC. The research
project of the Lower Saxony Institute for Historical
Coastal Research (NIhK) commences here.
Within the project it is necessary to explore whether
the rare TRB settlement features can be considered
to be characteristic for this epoch and which
settlement pattern might be presumed. Hence, the
localisation and the extensive examination of wellpreserved
TRB and EKG settlements are of great
significance (Nösler et al. 2011). The relationships
between graves and coexistent settlements and the
existence of hierarchical structures among single
settlements and graves, respectively, are important
topics that will be addressed within the examinations.
It is also of great importance to know which natural
preconditions the Neolithic settlers had to
deal with and which climatic and ecological changes
they had to face. Palynological investigations
will give insights into these developments. A number
of further questions are to be investigated. For
example, when was the TRB established on the
Northwestern German Plain? From which cultures
(Ertebølle, Swifterband, Rössen / Bischheim) did
the TRB evolve? Which culture(s) influenced the
TRB, and what reasons were crucial for this development?
The transition from the TRB to the EGK,
including when and why it took place, will also be
analysed. The state of the art prior to the project’s
commencement and its first results shall be presented
in the following.

The discussion on the mutual relations of various elements within the Funnel Beaker culture has been on for almost half a century now. It currently involves the third generation of researchers, and it is quite likely that the next generations will still have something more to add to this exchange of views (K. Jażdżewski 1970a, p. 49). Half a century has passed since that publication and now we can only assent to the Professor and risk the statement that in the next 50 years this problem will continue to be valid. This paper is intended as an attempt to sketch answer the fundamental question defined by Jażdżewski (1970a, p. 49): The essential question is whether the northern, western and southern elements balance within the Funnel Beaker culture, or whether one of
them is dominant, prime and decisive for further development. In other words, I intend to predominantly focus on the geo-cultural significance of the communities of the Funnel Beaker culture. In parallel with the essential part of the analysis, I will make an attempt to illustrate the threads of the contemporary discourse which directly relate to Jażdżewski’s thoughts.

In Windehausen konnte ein rechteckiges Grubenhaus aus dem Spätneolithikum mit einer Grundfläche von etwa 7 Quadratmetern dokumentiert werden. Das daraus stammende keramische Fundmaterial ist unverziert, es kommen doppelkonische Vorratsgefäße mit glatter Randleiste und unterrandständigen Griffleisten beziehungsweise -knubben sowie Schalen vor. Stilistisch sind Gefäßformen erkennbar, die sowohl der Salzmünder Kultur wie auch einer frühen Bernburger Kultur angehören können. Radiometrisch datiert der Befund in das mittlere Spätneolithikum (3300-3100 v.u.Z.), also in die TRB-MES-Phase IV nach J. Müller, und ist damit zeitgleich zur Salzmünder Kultur und vor der klassischen (eingliedrigen) Bernburger Kultur anzusetzen. Es wird dafür plädiert, in den thüringischen Fundstellen dieser Zeitstellung, die durch die Abwesenheit eindeutig auf die Salzmünder Kultur beschränkter Kulturmerkmale, dafür aber durch die Anwesenheit doppelkonischer Töpfe mit glatten Randleisten, Kannen mit gerillten Bandhenkeln vom Typ Oldisleben, einer ansonsten weitgehenden Verzierungslosigkeit der Keramik und der Bestattungssitte in Kollektivgräbern gekennzeichnet ist, die frühe Bernburger Kultur zu erkennen.

The paper presents fins from the settlement of the
Funnel Beaker culture on Site 10 in Szumów, Puławy
district (AZP 74-78/69). The site is located on sands,
on the northern foreland of the Nałęczów Plateau, on
the Lubartów Upland. On the area of 25 ares there
were discovered 43 archaeological structures and a cultural layer, all linked with the Funnel Beaker culture.
The same affiliation has been attributed to potsherds,
spindle whorls, loom weights, diminutive axe presentations in clay, and also flint and stone artifacts. Use of
clay has been also confirmed by abundance of daub,
also constructional. On the ground of pottery style and
analogies from other sites we can date the settlement
in Szumów to the period 3650–3350 BC.

Ein neuer Hausgrundriss der Trichterbecher-Westgruppe aus Visbek (Lkr.Vechta)
In Visbek-Uhlenkamp II wurde bei baubegleitenden Ausgrabungen der Firma denkmal3D eine neolithische Mikroregion– bestehend aus Siedlung und Grablegen – entdeckt, wie sie aus dem nordwestdeutschen Raum bisher nur aus Flögelnbekannt war. Zu ihren Bestandteilen gehören neben den beiden bekannten und schon ausgegrabenen Megalith -gräbern »Pastors Kamp« und »Stippers Höhe« zwei Flachgräber und ein Hausgrundriss der Trichterbecherkultur. Beiden beiden Flachgräbern handelt es sich um Steinpflastergräber, wie sie für diesen Raum typisch sind. Der Hausgrund-riss lässt sich typologisch den Wandgräbchenbauten vom Typ Flögeln der Trichterbecher-Westgruppe zuordnen. An -hand der Keramik können das Gebäude und die Flachgräber in die Phase Brindley 4 datiert werden. Zudem weist einestarke Ähnlichkeit zwischen einigen Gefäßen darauf hin, dass die Gräber und das Haus zeitgleich bzw. in der gleichenSiedlungsphase entstanden sind.
A new house plan of the Funnel(-neck-)beaker west group from Visbek (Lkr.Vechta)
During construction works at Visbek-Uhlenkamp II the archaeological excavation firm denkmal3D discovered a Neo -lithic micro-region – consisting of a settlement and burials – hitherto unknown in northwest Germany with the onlyexception of Flögeln. Apart from the two already known megalithic tombs »Pastors Kamp« and »Stippers Höhe« thereare two flat graves and a house plan of the Funnel(-neck-)beaker culture. The two flat graves are covered with cobblestones in the regionally typical way. The house plan can be associated typologically with the houses with wall trenchesof the type Flögeln of the Funnelbeaker west group. The pottery dates the house and flat graves to the phase Brindley4. Furthermore, the close similarity of some vessels from the house and the burials indicates that they belong to thesame settlement phase.Translation: M. Struck
Un nouveau plan de maison de la culture des vases à entonnoir à Visbek (Lkr.Vechta)
Lors de fouilles préventives à Visbek-Uhlenkamp II, la firme denkmal3D a mis au jour une microrégion néolithique –composée d’habitat et de tombes –dont le seul exemplaire connu jusqu’alors au nord-ouest de l’Allemagne se situe àFlögeln. En plus des deux tombes mégalithiques de »Pastors Kamp« et »Stippers Höhe« qui étaient déjà connues etfouillées, deux tombes plates et un plan de maison ont ainsi pu être observés. Les deux tombes plates sont composéesd’un pavement de galets typique de la région. Le plan de maison se laisse rattacher typologiquement au type Flögelavec des parois fossoyées de la culture des vases à entonnoir. La céramique permet de dater le bâtiment et les tombesplates de la phase Brindley 4. Une forte ressemblance entre certaines formes céramiques montre que les tombes et lamaison appartiennent à une même phase d’installation.Traduction: L. Bernard

Abstract
Since 2009, various research groups within the framework of the
Priority Program 1400 “Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation” have investigated the material legacy from societies of Funnel Beaker times in North Central Europe. Especially for this time period, stone tools are an essential source material for the analysis of local and regional phenomena. A basic guideline for material processing in the Priority Program is the use of a common, overarching classification system for artifacts. The starting point is the recording system “Systematische und digitale Erfassung von Steinartefakten” (SDS) that was developed by Anselm Drafehn, Marcel Bradtmöller and Doris Mischka (Drafehn et al. 2008) for the comparative, regional and cross-project recording of stone tools. During its application in connection with local material, it became obvious, however, that it was necessary to adjust the herein established classification. In the following, definitions for flint material, which originated from the efforts of the working group “AG Steine”, will be introduced.

Zusammenfassung
Seit 2009 untersuchen verschiedene Forschergruppen im Rahmen des Schwerpunktprogrammes 1400, „Frühe  onumentalität und soziale Differenzierung“, die materielle  interlassenschaft der trichterbecherzeitlichen Gesellschaften Nordmitteleuropas. Gerade für diese Zeit sind die Steingeräte eine essentielle Quellengattung für die Analyse lokale und überregionaler Phänomene. Eine grundlegende Leitlinie bei der Materialbearbeitung im Schwerpunktprojekt ist die Nutzung eines gemeinsamen, übergreifenden Klassifikationssystems für Artefakte. Ausgangsbasis ist das für die vergleichende und
regional sowie projektübergreifende Aufnahme von Steinartefakten erstellte Aufnahmesystem “Systematische und digitale Erfassung von Steinartefakten” (SDS), dass von Anselm Drafehn, Marcel Bradtmöller und Doris Mischka entwickelt wurde (Drafehn et al. 2008). In dessen Anwendung auf das lokale  Material zeigte sich jedoch, dass es notwendig ist, die hierin aufgestellten Ansprachen anzupassen. Dieser Artikel soll die Definitionen für Silexfundmaterial vorstellen, welche aus der Arbeit der AG Steine entstanden sind.

During the excavations in 1983-1985 carried-out by
Sławomir Jastrzębski on Site 1C in Gródek, Hrubieszów
district, 44 settlement structures of the Funnel Beaker
culture and also an ditch and a pit of the Lublin-Volhynia
culture were discovered. There was also revealed a few
pottery concentrations linked with the Funnel Beaker
culture and potsherds of the Tripolye culture. Samples
of organic material from 9 Funnel Beaker structures
and the ditch of the Lublin-Volhynia culture gave 12
radiocarbon dates. The paper presents assemblages of
artifacts from Neolithic structure, taking into account
their chronology.

In this article the author presents presumed importance of Moravian enclave of the Funnel Beaker culture graves for the development of some of the tombs in the loess soils of the Lesser Poland and Lublin regions. He presents several suggestions which in the future might have even greater legitimacy in the facts. At the same time he is also seeking the genesis of the burial structure other than derived from the "Kuyavian tombs". Proving the new thesis would entail probable polygenesis of the funeral architecture of this culture.

The primary aim of the master diploma thesis is localization of sites of Funnel Beaker
Culture in designated area of research and compilation of catalogue of sites. The sphere of
research is area of the East Bohemia defined by East Bohemian lowland, Jičín upland, Ještěd-
Kozákov ridge, Seč highland and Havlíčkův Brod upland. The data obtained from the area is
used for database creation in Microsoft Excel and ArcGIS software. By this software the
spatial analysis of relations between natural factors and type of prehistoric activity is carried
out. The method of the thesis is centred on analysis of correlation between location of the site
and natural factors such as type of subsoil, soil type, vegetation, climate, altitude and slope
and orientation of terrain. Important part of the thesis is also a brief revision of history of
research, and outline of artefacts and monuments of Funnel Beaker Culture in Eastern
Bohemia.

The aim of this article is to present views for the origin of Niedźwiedź type tombs in the Eastern group of the
TRB culture. The characteristics of these structures include: the presence of a foundation trench in which a
wooden palisade or wattle-work structure was originally located, the frequent lack of unambiguous burial
traces and a lack of earthen mounds. Other characteristics of these structures such as: orientation, a trapezoid
or elongated shape clearly refer to all the long tombs of the TRB culture. The author presents the context of
the Niedźwiedź type tombs occurrence. At the same time, he indicates two fundamental sources of inspiration
which potentially may have been responsible for their genesis.

Our archaeological legacy has produced cultural classification systems and chronologies that hamper understanding culture change and human interaction. Thus, archaeologists argue about traditional concepts, such as cultural boundaries, population movements, human agency and other notions, instead of focusing on solid data acquisition and appropriate methods of analysis. Such notions are often glorified as (archaeological) "theory", leading to disparate paradigms. This is exacerbated in Central Europe, where there is a traditional division between the Funnel Beaker Culture (TRB) on one side and the Lengyel and Baden Cultures on the other. Excavation results from several Moravian monuments are used to focus on the overlap between the "Nordic" TRB and the cultures of the Danubian spheres to stimulate a reexamination of our archaeological legacy and further our understanding of culture change and human interaction.

At the southern fringes of the Funnel Beaker Culture (TRB) burial architecture consists largely of "earthen long-barrows". Such long-mounds are thought to be typical for most of the TRB, although they are relatively rare in nearly all places. The burial practices of the TRB in Moravia change from inhumation in tiny stone slab chambers in the Baalberge phase to cremation in pottery urns. This pottery exhibits designs related to the Boleraz phase of the Baden Culture located largely to the south and east of the TRB. We explore the relationship between these two cultures through the preliminaty analysis from the excavation results of Long-mound 1 in the Dzban tomb cluster near Namest na Hane. Specifically, we analyze the mound's construction history, which is determined through strategic, very detailed, and painstakingly slow sampling of the mound and its surroundings with special attention to soil analysis. This method succeeded in delineating the original surface before mound construction, the architectural features and their building sequences during construction, and the post-construction history of this ca. 5250-year old monument and its surroundings. The recovered artifacts included a copper celt and evidence of rare textiles. The results are compared with the burial practices within Moravia and beyond.

This contribution focuses on the ceramics from the type site of the Swifterbant culture, Swifterbant S3 (4300-4000 calBC). The analysis focuses on the correlation between temper, wall-thickness and quality of the pottery. It is concluded that there is a subgroup A (thick-walled, plant-tempered and of low quality), a subgroup B (thin-walled, grit-tempered and of high quality) and pots with intermediate characteristics. During the S3 lifespan subgroup B becomes of increasing importance at the cost of the intermediate pots. Subgroup A and B are related to different functions, where the subgroup B pots are used for meals including emmer wheat. The demise in intermediate group pottery is therefore evidence of not only an impetus to produce the ideal types, subgroups A and B, but also increased stereotyping in terms of function. It is concluded that the S3 ceramics are evidence of a process of a change in material culture and subsistence base. At the end of the occupation of S3, this process in material change had not yet reached a new equilibrium in which all ceramic variables were re-aligned to create a new format.

Dutch hunebedden often contain large assemblages of TRB pottery deposited over a long period of time. Many fragmentary vessels are represented by this sherd material and many distinctive vessel types are identifiable. The material is essentially domestic (rather than made specifically for ritual deposition) and results from periodic feasting accompanying burial rituals.

This paper presents set of clay replicas of the polished stone industry. They appear prevailingly in the Early and Middle Eneolithic periods and their occurrence is related to set of finds especially from upland sites and also in caves in the case of the Baden culture in Slovakia. The paper summarizes occurrence of the clay models in particular Eneolithic cultures (especially in the Trichter(-rand-) becherkultur, Baden culture and Jevišovice culture). Small size of the replicas not more than 10 cm is characteristic. They imitate mostly battleaxes and they are usually found fragmentarized which can point to certain ritual practices. All artifacts analyzed could be in relation to symbology of the Eneolithic and the cult of a man, too.

The aim of this paper is to re-evaluate two megaliths - tomb 8 at Sarnowo and tomb 1 at Świerczynek. A starting point of the analysis is presentation of conceptions of  a palimpsest and perspectivism, which, in this case, are effective analytical tools. The general conclusion resulting from the present work is long duration and variety of forms of megaliths space use.

kunst und kultur Eine verheerende Sturmflut im Jahre 1872 brachte auf der Insel Hiddensee Teile des Goldschmuckes zutage, der zu den qualitätvollsten Zeugnissen der wikingischen Goldschmiedekunst gehört und das Wahrzeichen des Kulturhistorischen Museums der Hansestadt Stralsund darstellt. Vielleicht gehörte dieser so herausragende Schmuck dem dänischen König Harald Blauzahn, der laut dem Chronisten Adam von Bremen 968 in der Slawenstadt Jumne -der versunkenen Stadt Vineta? -seinen Wunden erlag. Ob der Schmuck von Dänen oder gar von slawischen Piraten vergraben wurde, bleibt fraglich und hat zu

(english abstract)
Excavations of late-medieval and younger farmstead sites in the peatland of the Matsloot-Roderwolde
polder, nowadays part of De Onlanden, yielded hundreds of flint artefacts. Surprisingly, these finds did
not only originate from the top of the Pleistocene sands below the peat, but also from medieval settlement
layers and the present-day topsoil. A typological analysis was performed to determine
whether the artefacts represent particular prehistoric cultural groups. The assessment was in part
based on knowledge of local landscape-formation processes in relation to the context of the material.
The material from most locations could not be identified. One concentration of flint and prehistoric
ceramics, found in Pleistocene sand below the peat at the site of a later, medieval farmstead
(no. 8), was ascribed to the Funnel Beaker Culture (FBC, 3400-2900 cal. BC). At this small site 234
flint artefacts were discovered, including a transverse arrowhead, a scraper and a large amount of
debitage. The 25 ceramic fragments from the same site may possibly derive from the Early-Neolithic
Pre-Drouwen phase, which would date the site even earlier (4000-3400 cal. BC). In addition, several
ard-marks were found. These marks are situated directly beneath the prehistoric find level, dating
the agricultural activities to the Neolithic period as well. In Neolithic times, the site was located in a
‘liminal zone’ between the higher Pleistocene sands of the Drents Plateau to the northeast, and the
low-lying, boggy peatland to the southwest.
The site is interpreted as part of a settlement assemblage and the location of the site fits in with
theories on FBC landscape use. Although small in extent, the site exhibits evidence of different activities
that are typical of the Early Neolithic ‘extended-broad-spectrum’ economies, such as FBC and the
preceding Swifterbant Culture: besides indications of hunting (arrowhead) and the working of leather
(scraper), domestic activities (pottery, flint) and agriculture (ard-marks) left their traces as well.
To what extent flint may have been used in late- or post-medieval times is difficult to ascertain.
In one case, the retouch on a piece of flint may have resulted from its use as a fire-maker (in a tinderbox
or with a piece of pyrite) during the 17th or 18th century. At least part of the flint had been
transported to the area within the soil used for creating platforms or floors for several farmsteads
– as indicated by debitage material in a till clay sod at farmstead 3. Some of the flint from medieval
contexts was burnt, which might be explained by burning prior to deposition at the farmstead sites
(e.g. in prehistory). Another possibility is in-situ heating in medieval house fires, which have been
documented at several farmsteads where burnt flint was found. Finally, the flint may have been
heated in medieval times to weaken its internal structure before being crushed, e.g. for use as temper
in pottery clay.

In the course of wide-area excavations of Site 52 in Pawłosiów there were identified 26 spindle whorl of the Funnel Beaker culture in various state of preser­vation. In analysis of the collection a detail metric and quantitative characteristics of the artifacts has been ap­plied . Comparison of the analyzed material with oth­er collections of that kind from Funnel Beaker sites in the Carpathian and Sub-Carpathian regions followed the same criteria. It revealed both similarities (domination of flattened spindle whorls) and dissimilarities (in dimensions). The presence of medium-high and high form in Pawłosiów indicates relations with east­ern peripheries of the Funnel Beaker culture. Use of high spindle whorls in this culture (also in its Baden­-like variant) and also in the Tripolye culture in the 2nd half of the 4th century is being contributed to economic transformations related to wool processing.

Geographic, climatic, and archaeological data provide contextual information to complement theories on the emergence of monumental architecture and the development of prehistoric social complexity in Central Europe. Environmental, climatic and archaeological data are analyzed at a variety of scales. Spatial relationships between monumental and non-monumental sites, which were created during the transitions from the Late Lengyel, the Funnel Beaker (TRB) and to the Early Baden interaction spheres in Central Moravia, Czech Republic, are examined. It is concluded that Neolithic and Eneolithic (Copper Age) cultures behaved in an organic fashion, evolving with and responding to, a dynamic environment.

"The Neolithic settlement and land use history in northwestern Germany is subject to detailed archaeological and palynological investigations that are carried out within the framework of the DFG priority program “Early Monumentality and Social Differentiation –the Emergence of Neolithic Monuments and Early Complex Societies in Northern Central Europe”. Up to now, only little is known about the settlement structure and the environmental conditions and changes in northwestern Germany during the 4th and 3rd millennium BC, although various megalithic monuments, grave mounds as well as surface finds indicate that the area was settled by the West Group of the Funnel Beaker and the subsequent Single Grave Cultures. Therefore, five local research areas were selected that bear high poenclosures, in order to shed light on the cultural context of Neolithic societies in Northern Europe since 4100 BC (compiled by Müller 2009; 2011). In Northwestern Germany, the distribution area of the west group of the Funnel Beaker Culture (TRB) and the Single Grave Culture (EGK) is to be investigated. Several traces were left by both cultures in the areas between the Elbe and Ems rivers. The most prominent features are the numerous megalithic tombs that – at least partly – still shape today’s landscape (Fig. 1). They have often been objects of scientific research as their architecture and distribution reveal regional differences in settlement intensities and land use. In addition, a few flat graves, hoards, and settlements with building features are known (complied by Assendorp 1999; Kossian 2005; Laux 1995; Strahl 1990), while no causewayed enclosures have yet been identified from the mentioned area (compiled by Richter 2002, 3 pp.). Therefore, this setting is ideally suited for investigations into the Neolithic colonisation history of the 4 th and the early 3 rd millennia BC. The research project of the Lower Saxony Institute for Historical Coastal Research (NIhK) commences here. Within the project it is necessary to explore whether the rare TRB settlement features can be considered to be characteristic for this epoch and which settlement pattern might be presumed. Hence, the localisation and the extensive examination of wellpreserved TRB and EKG settlements are of great significance (Nösler et al. 2011). The relationships between graves and coexistent settlements and the existence of hierarchical structures among single settlements and graves, respectively, are important topics that will be addressed within the examinations. It is also of great importance to know which natural preconditions the Neolithic settlers had to deal with and which climatic and ecological changes they had to face. Palynological investigations will give insights into these developments. A number of further questions are to be investigated. For example, when was the TRB established on the Northwestern German Plain? From which cultures (Ertebølle, Swifterband, Rössen / Bischheim) did the TRB evolve? Which culture(s) influenced the TRB, and what reasons were crucial for this development? The transition from the TRB to the EGK, including when and why it took place, will also be analysed. The state of the art prior to the project’s commencement and its first results shall be presented in the following."

Zusammenfassung Seit 2009 untersuchen verschiedene Forschergruppen im Rahmen des Schwerpunktprogrammes 1400, "Frühe Monumentalität und so-ziale Diferenzierung", die materielle Hinterlassenschaft der trichter-becherzeitlichen Gesellschaften Nordmitteleuropas. Gerade für die-se Zeit sind die Steingeräte eine essentielle Quellengattung für die Analyse lokale und überregionaler Phänomene. Eine grundlegen-de Leitlinie bei der Materialbearbeitung im Schwerpunktprojekt ist die Nutzung eines gemeinsamen, übergreifenden Klassiikationssys-tems für Artefakte. Ausgangsbasis ist das für die vergleichende und regional sowie projektübergreifende Aufnahme von Steinartefakten erstellte Aufnahmesystem "Systematische und digitale Erfassung von Steinartefakten" (SDS), dass von Anselm Drafehn, Marcel Bradt-möller und Doris Mischka entwickelt wurde (Drafehn et al. 2008). In dessen Anwendung auf das lokale Material zeigte sich jedoch, dass es notwendig ist, die hierin aufgestellten Ans...

Geographic, climatic, and archaeological data provide contextual information to complement theories on the emergence of monumental architecture and the development of prehistoric social complexity in Central Europe. Environmental, climatic and archaeological data are analyzed at a variety of scales. Spatial relationships between monumental and non-monumental sites, which were created during the transitions from the Late Lengyel, the Funnel Beaker (TRB) and to the Early Baden interaction spheres in Central Moravia, Czech Republic, are examined. It is concluded that Neolithic and Eneolithic (Copper Age) cultures behaved in an organic fashion, evolving with and responding to, a dynamic environment.