Diversification and change – Analysing settlement patterns and agricultural practice during the 5th mil. BC in Central Europe

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The archaeological record of the 5th mil. BC in Central Europe reflects continuity and change. Particularly the first centuries are characterized by Bandkeramik traditions while during the following centuries cultural, social and economic change becomes apparent, which – for the 2nd half of the 5th mil. BC (Middle to Later Neolithic transition) – is interpreted as a clear break. Archaeological evidence for these developments is seen in the rise of copper metallurgy, the construction of monumental enclosures, a new way of settling which reflects a higher residential mobility (e.g. the development of wetland settlements with smaller, less durable, more short-lived houses) or the slow disappearance of pottery decoration, to name but a few. Moreover, a third wave of neolithisation into areas beyond the Loess belt is discussed.However, for the Central European archaeological record on agricultural practice, land use patterns and settlement patterns first changes become apparent already during the first half of the 5th mil. BC. This hints at an earlier start and a prolonged process of change and diversification. For the Central European Loess areas this has not been studied systematically, though. Therefore, our proposal aims at a systematic analysis of processes of change and diversification in settlement patterns and agricultural practice during the 5th mil. BC in this area. Related to this is the question of causes for and relations of these processes. Our analysis is based on a diachronic and regional comparison of the record from Main-Franconia, Wetterau, Rhineland and Westphalia – with a quite good archaeological record – during the 5th mil. BC by an interdisciplinary approach integrating archaeology, archaeobotany, vegetation history, archaeozoology, geoarchaeology, molecular archaeology and isotope analysis.