Archaeologists in northeastern Romania discovered remnants of a “megastructure” that may have figured in the social and organizational structure of Cucuteni-Trypillia culture that thrived around 5,050-2,950 BCE.
As reported by Phys.org, an excavation at the archaeological site known as Stăuceni-“Holm” led to findings related to a building measuring 350 square meters (around 3,800 square feet). The size, larger than individual dwellings found in the area, qualifies it as a megastructure and suggests it could have been a communal assembly hall or center for administration.
“Its prominent position near the settlement’s entrance suggests it was meant to be seen and had some considerable importance,” according to Phys.org.
A paper related to the excavation published by PLOS One says the “observations, regarding the architecture and the dating of the feature in particular, provide valuable information for the discussion about the function of these special structures, of which only five others have been investigated in detail by excavation to date.”
The absence of certain findings, such as grinding stones and any type of statuettes, at the site led the authors of the paper to theorize about a possible “rise and the rejection of hierarchical systems”—the latter potentially related to the “non-acceptance of the new higher-ranked individuals or sub-groups among the inhabitants.”
As noted by Phys.org, “researchers have studied this culture extensively, yet many mysteries remain about their settlements. There are no palaces, no obvious signs of rich elite burials and precious metals are extremely rare. Even though thousands of people lived together in these early cities, most houses look the same.”
