The Mystery of the Danube Civilisation

Over the last few decades, archaeologists and cultural scientists have come to a better understanding of the extent of Neolithic civilisation on the Balkan peninsula. This Danube Civilisation, thriving between the 6th and 4th millennia BCE, was using a writing system long before the Mesopotamians and is remarkable for its accomplishments in craftsmanship, art and urban development. In this book, Harald Haarmann provides the first comprehensive insight into this enigmatic Old European culture, which is still largely unknown to the greater public. He describes the trade routes, settlements, mythology and writing system of this people, traces the changes resulting from the arrival of the Indo-Europeans, and shows how this first advanced civilisation in Europe influenced its successors.

Harald Haarmann (* 1946) is one of the world's best-known linguists; PhD in Bonn, Habilitation (post-doctoral qualification) in Trier. He has been Vice-President of the Institute of Archaeomythology (director of its European office in Finland) since 2003; author of more than 70 books in German and English, some of which have been translated into over a dozen languages. In addition to his study of the Danube Civilisation, he has produced remarkable insights into the roots of ancient Greek civilisation and the early history of Rome. His work has earned him the Prix logos (Paris, 1999), the Premio Jean Monnet (Genova, 1999) for essay writing, and the Plato Award (UK, 2006).

Auteur
Harald Haarmann (* 1946) is one of the world's best-known linguists; PhD in Bonn, Habilitation (post-doctoral qualification) in Trier. He has been Vice-President of the Institute of Archaeomythology (director of its European office in Finland) since 2003; author of more than 70 books in German and English, some of which have been translated into over a dozen languages. In addition to his study of the Danube Civilisation, he has produced remarkable insights into the roots of ancient Greek civilisation and the early history of Rome. His work has earned him the Prix logos (Paris, 1999), the Premio Jean Monnet (Genova, 1999) for essay writing, and the Plato Award (UK, 2006).

Contenu
ContentsThe puzzle of a 7,000 year-old civilisation1. The transition to the Neolithic in Europe (ca. 75005500 BCE)Early farmers in Southeast EuropeThe emergence of regional culturesCultural timeline of Old Europe2. In search of the Old EuropeansThe genetic footprintLinguistic traces3. Commerce and living spaceTrade routes and commoditiesSettlements and architectureReligious sites and graves4. Arts and craftsWeaving and textilesPottery and firing techniquesMetallurgyArt forms and cultural symbols5. Model of an egalitarian societyMatriarchal or matrilineal?Families and clansOecumene and trade6. Religion and mythologyThe world view of hunter-gatherers and farmersFemale deities in Old EuropeThe bull Animal symbols as attributes of the goddessCults and ritualsMusic and dance7. Counting, measuring, recordingNumerical signs and numerologyCalendrical notationWeights and measuresPotter's or ownership marks8. The invention of writingOrigin and development of the Danube scriptThe spread of writing in Old EuropeWriting materials, inscriptions and varieties of textThe repertory of Old European signsWritten legacy of the Danube CivilisationA script in the service of religionThe demise of the use of writing9. The decline and legacy of the Danube Civilisation (from around 4500 BCE)Political and cultural upheavalsThe Balkan-Ancient Aegean cultural driftMinoan-Cypriot contacts: How Aegean script was exportedEpilogueBibliographyKey to inside cover map