Archaeological Ages
Overview
Topics covered in this section:
Introduction
The archaeological record provides us with a richer, more detailed look
at the people who inhabited Europe than anything we can glean from the
geological record.
Archaeologists have studied a great many sites throughout Europe and
Eurasia. In some regions, more sites have been found than in others, but
this is often a result of the amount of research being conducted rather
than an indication of population densities in the different regions.
This document is simply an overview of the archaeological "ages" that
we'll investigate in much greater detail in suceeding documents. The
purpose for this document, therefore, is simply to set the stage for
those later documents so that you understand how all these pieces fit
together in Europe's timeline.
Note: We use a conventional notation for specifying
dates. When you see "BP," it means "Before Present," and generally refers
to a date that has been determined based on a specific (or multiple)
techniques, such as radiocarbon dating. When you see "BC," it means
"Before Christ," a common notation used in America and elsewhere.
Sometimes, in order to be "politically correct," historians use "BCE"
instead of "BC" to avoid any religious references. When you see "BCE,"
it means "Before the Common Era." Of course, all dates are estimates and
approximations.
Stone Age
From about 1 million years ago to 10,000 years ago, our ancestors
primarily used simple stone tools in their daily lives. Traditionally,
the Stone Age is subdivided into three broad periods:
- Paleolithic (1,000,000 to 10,000 years ago)
- Mesolithic (10,000 to 5,500 years ago)
- Neolithic (5,500 to 2,500 years ago)
The Paleolithic is again further subdivided into three periods:
- Lower (Inferior) Paleolithic (1,000,000 to 100,000 years ago)
- Middle (Mousterian) Paleolithic (100,000 to 40,000 years ago)
- Upper (Superior) Paleolithic (40,000 to 10,000 years ago)
Modern Ages
Eventually human technology, if you can call it such, advanced beyond
simple stone tools. Early humans began expanding to metals and alloys of
those metals.
The "modern" ages are traditionally named:
- Copper Age (4500-2500 BC)
- Early Bronze Age (2500-1300 BC)
- Urnfield Period (1300-600 BC)
- Iron Age (800-140 BC)
We'll have a lot more to say about these "modern" ages, though it's
important to remember that they're still generally prehistoric periods.
Almost all of our information about these time periods is gleaned from
archaeological excavations.
Romania's Beginnings
Unfortunately, Romanian archaeology has lagged somewhat behind the
rest of Europe; though, given their past, this is quite understandable.
As we work through Romania's historic past, we think you'll see what we
mean.
However, we can safely determine some basic "facts" about Romania's
early history. Between 800 BC and 700 AD, Romania was subjected to a great
many migrations through their territory. And the indigenous people
themselves have been given almost as many labels. We'll cover most of
these complex associations as we unravel Romania's history.
We know, for example, that the Thracians, Scythians, Dacians, and
other migratory peoples traveled through the territory at one time or
another (800 BC to AD 300). Many of these people most likely settled
down and became the farmers and herders that are the ancestors of
modern-day Romanians.
We know that between 800 BC and 300 BC, the Greeks established trading
colonies along the Black Sea coastline in present-day Romania. They added
to the culture and gene pool of Romania.
Later, between 140 BC and AD 300, we know that the Romans had a decided
effect on the indigenous Romanian people. They also left their mark on
Romanian culture in the form of the Romanian language and, undoubtedly,
contributed their share to the gene pool.
And even later, between AD 300 and 700, migratory barbarian hordes
swarmed through Romanian territory. All that pillaging that was going
on most likely reserved it's place in the gene pool as well.
All of these people, and more, criss-crossing Romanian lands hints at
the complex diversity of early Romania. When we first started looking at
Romania's history, we thought to find one or a few ethnic groups had founded
the region now called Romania. But the more we read, the more convinced we
became that Romania's past reflects an ethnic diversity that's not uncommon
all across the European continent.
Go Elsewhere
At this point, you have a couple of options:
Enjoy your stay and have a great day!
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