The role of archaeological sites in the study of cultural changes in Transcarpathia

Abstract

The article is devoted to the source analysis of archaeological sites in Transcarpathia , which play a key role in the study of cultural changes in the region from the Late Eneolithic to the Late Bronze Age. It focuses on the transformation of the cultural landscape in the Late Eneolithic (the second quarter of the third millennium BC), when the Polgar culture was replaced by the Baden culture, also known as the culture of channelized ceramics. The article examines the area of formation of the Baden culture in the Upper Danube, particularly in the Vienna Basin near the city of Baden (modern Austria), and the process of its spread to the Carpathian Basin, with a focus on Transcarpathia, which became its easternmost area. Special attention is given to cultural changes during the Bronze Age, when Transcarpathia became an important crossroads for cultural interaction. Archaeological sites from the Early Bronze Age, including settlements and burial grounds, reflect the processes of adaptation of the local population to new technologies and socioeconomic models. Contacts with neighboring regions, especially the territories of modern Slovakia and Hungary, played a significant role in the dissemination of metallurgical knowledge and innovations. The Middle Bronze Age is characterized by the emergence of new forms of social organization and the intensification of interregional trade. During this period, elements of the Otoman-Füzeshabon culture were recorded in Upper Potyssia, illustrating the development of crafts, including the production of richly ornamented ceramics, as well as the improvement of tools. Late Bronze Age monuments, such as mound burials and the remains of fortified settlements, indicate a significant increase in social stratification and the formation of local power structures. Of particular interest are the settlements in favorable natural conditions between the southern spurs of the Carpathians and the Potyssia Plain, which had access to strategically important routes across the Carpathian mountain range. The article emphasizes the importance of archaeological sites as a source for understanding the processes of cultural evolution, interaction, and change that occurred in the region from the Eneolithic to the Late Bronze Age. These sites allow us to trace the dynamics of cultural influences and the adaptation of the population to new conditions, which is crucial for the reconstruction of historical processes in Central and Eastern Europe.