Coțofeni culture
Encyclopedia
The Coţofeni culture is a Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age
culture that existed for over 700 years in the south-eastern part of Central Europe.
The first report of a Coţofeni find was given by Fr. Schuster in 1865 from the Râpa Roşie site in Sebeş
(present-day Alba County
, Romania
). Since then this culture has been researched by various people to different degrees. Some of the larger contributors to the study of this culture are C. Gooss, K. Benkő, B. Orbán, G. Téglas, K. Herepey, S. Fenichel, Julius Teutsch, Cezar Bolliac, V. Christescu, Teohari Antonescu and Cristian Popa
.
, some areas in Sătmar, the mountainous and hilly areas of Crişana, Transylvania
, Banat
, Oltenia
, Muntenia
(not including the North-Eastern part) and across the Danube
in the present day north-eastern region of Serbia
and north-western region of Bulgaria
.
Coţofeni I - Cernavoda III - Baden
A - Spherical Amphorae;
Coţofeni II - Baden
B-C Kostolac;
Coţofeni III - Kostolac-Vučedol A-B.
, Kostolac, Vučedol
, Globular Amphora culture
as well as the Ochre Burial populations was reciprocal. The areas bording these cultures show cultural traits that have mixed aspects, for example Coţofeni-Baden and Coţofeni-Kostolac finds. These finds of mixed aspects suggest a cohabitation between related populations. It also supports the idea of well established trade between cultures.
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
culture that existed for over 700 years in the south-eastern part of Central Europe.
The first report of a Coţofeni find was given by Fr. Schuster in 1865 from the Râpa Roşie site in Sebeş
Sebes
Sebeș is a city in Alba County, central Romania, southern Transylvania.-Geography:The city lies on the Mureș River valley and it straddles the Sebeș river...
(present-day Alba County
Alba County
Alba is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, its capital city being Alba-Iulia with a population of 66,406.- Demographics :In 2002, it had a population of 382,747 and the population density was 61/km².* Romanians - 90.4%* Hungarians - 5.4%...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
). Since then this culture has been researched by various people to different degrees. Some of the larger contributors to the study of this culture are C. Gooss, K. Benkő, B. Orbán, G. Téglas, K. Herepey, S. Fenichel, Julius Teutsch, Cezar Bolliac, V. Christescu, Teohari Antonescu and Cristian Popa
Cristian Popa
Dr. Cristian Popa is a Romanian archaeologist at the 1 Decembrie 1918 University, Alba Iulia, Romania. He is one of the most extensively published experts on the Coţofeni culture and generally acknowledged as an authority on this prehistoric culture. He is also known for having discovered the flint...
.
Geographic Area
The Coţofeni cultural area can be seen from two perspectives, as a maximum extent area and as a fluctuation area. The former covers the territories of present day MaramureşMaramures
Maramureș may refer to the following:*Maramureș, a geographical, historical, and ethno-cultural region in present-day Romania and Ukraine, that occupies the Maramureș Depression and Maramureș Mountains, a mountain range in North East Carpathians...
, some areas in Sătmar, the mountainous and hilly areas of Crişana, Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...
, Oltenia
Oltenia
Oltenia is a historical province and geographical region of Romania, in western Wallachia. It is situated between the Danube, the Southern Carpathians and the Olt river ....
, Muntenia
Muntenia
Muntenia is a historical province of Romania, usually considered Wallachia-proper . It is situated between the Danube , the Carpathian Mountains and Moldavia , and the Olt River to the west...
(not including the North-Eastern part) and across the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
in the present day north-eastern region of Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and north-western region of Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
.
Absolute Chronology
Unfortunately most of the absolute chronology of the Coţofeni culture is based on just three samples collected in three Coţofeni sites. Based on these radiocarbon dates, the evolution of this culture can be placed roughly between 3500 and 2500 BCE.Relative Chronology
Cultural synchronisms have been established based on mutual trade relations (visible as imported items) as well as stratigraphical observations. A synchronicity betweenCoţofeni I - Cernavoda III - Baden
Baden culture
Baden culture, ca 3600 BC-ca 2800 BC, an eneolithic culture found in central Europe. It is known from Moravia, Hungary, Slovakia and Eastern Austria...
A - Spherical Amphorae;
Coţofeni II - Baden
Baden culture
Baden culture, ca 3600 BC-ca 2800 BC, an eneolithic culture found in central Europe. It is known from Moravia, Hungary, Slovakia and Eastern Austria...
B-C Kostolac;
Coţofeni III - Kostolac-Vučedol A-B.
Relations with Contemporary Neighbouring Cultures
During the evolution of the Coţofeni culture, there are clearly relationships with other neighbouring cultures. The influence between the Coţofeni and their neighbours the BadenBaden culture
Baden culture, ca 3600 BC-ca 2800 BC, an eneolithic culture found in central Europe. It is known from Moravia, Hungary, Slovakia and Eastern Austria...
, Kostolac, Vučedol
Vucedol culture
The Vučedol culture was a Indo-European culture that flourished between 3000 and 2200 BC , centered in Syrmia and eastern Slavonia on the right bank of the Danube river, but possibly spreading throughout the Pannonian plain and western Balkans...
, Globular Amphora culture
Globular Amphora culture
The Globular Amphora Culture , German Kugelamphoren-Kultur , ca. 3400-2800 BC, is an archaeological culture preceding the central area occupied by the Corded Ware culture. Somewhat to the south and west, it was bordered by the Baden culture. To the northeast was the Narva culture. It occupied much...
as well as the Ochre Burial populations was reciprocal. The areas bording these cultures show cultural traits that have mixed aspects, for example Coţofeni-Baden and Coţofeni-Kostolac finds. These finds of mixed aspects suggest a cohabitation between related populations. It also supports the idea of well established trade between cultures.