Archaeologists In The Czech Republic Uncovered A Well-Preserved 7,000-Year-Old Prehistoric Settlement Once Inhabited By Early European Farmers

Ladislav_Zemanek - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only
Ladislav_Zemanek - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only

A prehistoric settlement once inhabited by early European farmers was recently uncovered by archaeologists.

The settlement dates back around 7,000 years ago. It was identified by a team from the Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Sciences in the Czech Republic.

The settlement was located near Kutná Hora, a town in the Central Bohemian region. The discovery has provided a glimpse into the lives of early European farming communities during the Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age.

“The find shows us how the settlements of the older Neolithic in Central Europe looked and functioned. Although many similar settlements are known, this one is very well-preserved…and at the same time, we can perform modern analyses on it, which will provide a lot of unique data,” said Daniel Pilař, an archaeologist at the institute.

The excellent preservation of the site is due to the fact that no other settlements had been built on top of it over the following thousands of years. According to Pilař, the remains of the site were found during construction work.

After the topsoil was removed for the construction of a barn, the foundational layouts of long houses, which were the typical dwellings of the time, were revealed.

The actual long houses have not survived, but the researchers detected large pits in the ground that indicated the structures used to be there.

“Regarding the use of houses, it must be noted that until recently, most daily activities took place outside the house, and people moved inside because of the cold or rain. In the summer, most activities took place outside, from food preparation to crafts. Not least because it was simply dark in the houses,” Pilař said.

In addition, pieces of prehistoric pottery were present. The shards were scattered within the surrounding pits, which were used to mine clay and then filled with waste afterward.

Ladislav_Zemanek – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only

The ceramics were used for cooking, serving food, and storing goods. The archaeologists also found tools like stone grinders, sharpened axes, and flint blades.

The settlement was situated on a plain between two streams. It is unclear exactly how many people were part of the community, but the population number may have been somewhere in the low teens, according to Pilař.

The Neolithic inhabitants grew plants and raised cattle to feed themselves. They also practiced hunting and gathering.

They represented some of the first farmers in the area now known as the Czech Republic. These people arrived in the territory from the Balkans region in southeastern Europe.

Experts refer to early Neolithic communities in this area as the “Linear Pottery Culture.” These communities had similar pottery, settlements, and burial practices.

However, there is little to no information on their language or identity, so they cannot be associated with a particular cultural or ethnic group.

Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.

Emily  Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a ... More about Emily Chan

More About: