Coțofeni culture

The Coțofeni culture (), also known as the Baden-Coțofeni culture, and generally associated with the Usatove culture, was an Early Bronze Age archaeological culture that existed between 3500 and 2500 BC in the mid-Danube area of south-eastern Central Europe.

The first report of a Coțofeni find was made by Fr. Schuster in 1865 from the ''Râpa Roșie site'' in Sebeș (present-day Alba County, Romania). Since then, this culture has been studied by a number of people to varying degrees. Some of the more prominent contributors to the study of this culture include C. Gooss, K. Benkő, B. Orbán, G. Téglas, K. Herepey, S. Fenichel, Julius Teutsch, Cezar Bolliac, V. Christescu, Teohari Antonescu, and Cristian Popa.

Geographic area

The Coțofeni culture area can be seen from two perspectives, as a fluctuation zone, or in its maximum area of extent. This covers present day Maramureș, some areas in Sătmar, the mountainous and hilly areas of Crișana, Transylvania, Banat, Oltenia, Muntenia (not including the North-East), and across the Danube in present-day eastern Serbia and northwestern Bulgaria.

Chronology

Absolute chronology

Bronze Age in Romania
Unfortunately, most of the Coțofeni culture chronology is based on just three samples collected at three different Coțofeni sites. Based on these radiocarbon dates, this culture can be placed between roughly 3500 and 2500 BC.

Relative chronology

Cultural synchronisms have been established based on mutual trade relations (visible as imported items) as well as stratigraphic observations. There is an evident synchronicity between:

Coțofeni I - Cernavoda III - Baden A - Spherical Amphorae;

Coțofeni II - Baden B-C Kostolac;

Coțofeni III - Kostolac-Vučedol A-B.

Relations with contemporary neighbouring cultures

During the evolution of the Coțofeni culture, there were clearly relationships with other neighbouring cultures. The influence between the Coțofeni and their neighbours the Baden, Kostolac, Vučedol, Globular Amphora culture as well as the Ochre Burial populations was reciprocal. The areas bordering these cultures show cultural traits that have mixed aspects, for example Coțofeni-Baden and Coțofeni-Kostolac finds. These finds of mixed aspects suggest a cohabitation between related populations. It also supports the idea of well established trade between cultures.

Gallery

File:Alba Iulia National Museum of the Union 2011 - Cotofeni Culture Vessels, Stone and Bone Tools.JPG, Ceramic vessels, stone and bone tools, Romania
File:Aiud History Museum 2011 - Cotofeni Culture Pottery.JPG, Pottery, Romania
File:Alba Iulia National Museum of the Union 2011 - Cotofeni Culture Vessels, Stone and Bone Tools-1.JPG, Pottery from Ighiu, Tăuți and Unirea, Romania.
File:Aiud History Museum 2011 - Cotofeni Culture Cups-1.JPG
File:Spiral ornament 1.png, Metal spiral ornament
, Copper spiral ornament

See also

* Bronze Age in Romania
* Yamnaya culture
* Basarabi culture
* Otomani culture
* Pecica culture
* Wietenberg culture
* Prehistory of Transylvania
* Prehistoric Romania

Notes

References

* J. P. Mallory, "Usatavo Culture", ''Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture'', Fitzroy Dearborn, 1997.

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cotofeni Culture
Chalcolithic cultures of Europe
Archaeological cultures of Europe
Archaeological cultures in Bulgaria
Archaeological cultures in Moldova
Archaeological cultures in Romania
Archaeological cultures in Serbia
Archaeological cultures in Ukraine
Eneolithic Serbia
Bronze Age Serbia