A man buried in Hungary in the Hunter-Gatherer era

The Early Neolithic Hunter-Gatherer Körös Culture, located in what is today modern Hungary, represents an intriguing chapter in the broader narrative of the European Neolithic period. It is intricately linked with its neighboring Starčevo and Criş cultures, forming part of the wider Starčevo-Körös-Criş cultural complex that spanned the central and southeastern Europe during the early Neolithic, dating approximately between 6000 and 5500 BCE.

Geography and Environment

The Körös Culture was primarily situated in the fertile floodplains of the Körös River in eastern Hungary, with its influence stretching into parts of present-day Romania and Serbia. This area is characterized by its rich, alluvial soils, ample water supply, and diverse ecosystem, which would have provided an ideal environment for early agricultural practices while still supporting a hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

Economy and Subsistence

The Körös Culture marks a transitional phase from predominantly hunter-gatherer societies to more settled agricultural communities. While they still relied heavily on hunting game and gathering wild plants, there was a gradual incorporation of farming practices. Archaeological evidence suggests that they cultivated early domesticates such as emmer and einkorn wheat, barley, lentils, and peas.

Animal husbandry also began to take root during this era, with evidence of domesticated cattle, sheep, and goats. However, the Körös Culture still prominently featured hunting, particularly of deer and wild boar, and fishing, given their proximity to rivers and wetlands.

Settlements and Architecture

Körös settlements were typically small and consisted of semi-permanent structures. These houses were often built using wattle and daub techniques, with wooden frameworks sealed with a mixture of clay, straw, and dung. Settlements were usually located near bodies of water, providing easy access to aquatic resources as well as fertile lands for early agricultural activities.

Material Culture and Tools

The material culture of the Körös people reflects both innovation and continuity with Mesolithic traditions. They produced pottery that, while initially simple, evolved into more complex forms with geometric patterns, indicating increasing skill and aesthetic appreciation. Stone tools from this period include polished stone axes and blades, while bone and antler tools underscore their reliance on hunting.

Social Structure and Cultural Practices

Though detailed social structures of the Körös Culture are not clearly defined due to the paucity of written records and limited archaeological evidence, it is conceivable that they had a relatively egalitarian social organization typical of early Neolithic communities. Social cohesion was likely maintained through kinship ties and shared cultural practices, including ritualistic activities or ceremonies suggested by burial sites and ritual artifacts.

Interaction and Influence

The Körös Culture is significant for its role in the diffusion of Neolithic technologies and practices across Central Europe. There was considerable interaction with neighboring cultures, especially along the Danube River corridor, facilitating the transfer of ideas and techniques such as pottery styles, farming practices, and animal domestication. This interaction helped lay the groundwork for subsequent Central European Neolithic cultures.

Legacy

The Körös Culture represents an essential link in the chain of human development within Europe. It demonstrates the complex interplay between migrating agricultural communities and indigenous hunter-gatherer groups, portraying the Neolithic not as a singular event but as a gradual, multifaceted process that reshaped human societies over millennia.

This period laid crucial foundations for the development of more advanced agrarian societies and the eventual rise of complex societies in Central Europe. The remnants of the Körös Culture provide valuable insights into the adaptability and resilience of human societies during times of significant environmental and cultural change.