Diachenko Aleksandr, Menotti Francesco. Proto-Cities or Non-Proto-Cities? On the Nature of Cucuteni-Trypillia Mega-Sites

Journal of World Prehistory. — 2017. — 30. — p. 207–219.The Eneolithic Cucuteni–Trypillia mega-sites were undoubtedly the largest residential agglomerates in southeastern Europe from c. 4100 to 3400 cal BC. Their sheer size and estimated population have triggered animated discussion of whether or not they should be regarded as ‘proto-cities’. Considering trajectories of change in, for instance, density of dwellings and settlement size, this paper discusses a series of issues that will help the reader decide in which category these large sites should be placed, while at the same time examining the arguments for and against Trypillia low-density settlement patterns, recently problematized by Chapman and Gaydarska (2016).