Abstract
The Trypillia megasites of the Ukrainian forest steppe formed the largest fourth-millenniumbcsites in Eurasia and possibly the world. Discovered in the 1960s, the megasites have so far resisted all attempts at an understanding of their social structure and dynamics. Multi-disciplinary investigations of the Nebelivka megasite by an Anglo-Ukrainian research project brought a focus on three research questions: (1) what was the essence of megasite lifeways? (2) can we call the megasites early cities? and (3) what were their origins? The first question is approached through a summary of Project findings on Nebelivka and the subsequent modelling of three different scenarios for what transpired to be a different kind of site from our expectations. The second question uses a relational approach to urbanism to show that megasites were so different from other coeval settlements that they could justifiably be termed ‘cities'. The third question turns to the origins of sites that were indeed larger and earlier than the supposed first cities of Mesopotamia and whose development indicates that there were at least two pathways to early urbanism in Eurasia.
Highlights
The Trypillia megasites of the Ukrainian forest steppe formed the largest fourthmillennium BC sites in Eurasia and possibly the world
Classic examples of European cities co-emerged with states in the first millennium BC in Greece, Etruria and Rome (Morris 2005; Robinson 2014), while large, low-density, temperate European Iron Age oppida have an ambiguous relationship to urbanism (Moore 2017)
We use the results of an AHRCfunded research project (2012–16)1 (Table 1) to investigate the question of European urbanism on the North Pontic forest-steppe through the multidisciplinary study of a single Trypillia megasite— Nebelivka (Novoarhangelsk region, Kirovograd County)—in its wider landscape and cultural context (Fig. 1)
Summary
The Trypillia megasites of the Ukrainian forest steppe formed the largest fourthmillennium BC sites in Eurasia and possibly the world. Just as transcending the limitations of face-to-face contacts and local networks was essential to the development of megasites, so our research project has sought to transcend issues of scale in our theoretical approach, relying on a relational and contextual approach to early cities which remains true to post-processual and interpretative principles.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
