Gallery
Gold jewellery, c. 1600-1400 BC
Chariot model, Arkaim museum
| Geographical range | Romania, Moldova |
|---|---|
| Period | Bronze Age |
| Dates | c. 2400 BC - 16th century BC |
| Preceded by | Glina-Schneckenberg culture |
| Followed by | Noua-Sabatinovka culture |
The Monteoru culture was a Bronze Age archaeological culture located in Romania and Moldova, dating from c. 2400 BC to the 16th century BC. It was derived from the preceding Glina-Schneckenberg culture and succeeded by the Noua-Sabatinovka culture, and was contemporary with the related Tei culture. [1] [2] [3] [4] The Monteoru Culture is divided into Three main phases. IC, IB, IA and IIA. the IC Phase is further subdivided into IC4, IC3, IC2, and IC1. The Phases IC4-IC2 last approximately 2400-2250bc, and are the earliest manifestations of this Group. In this Phase, Inhumation in Stone Cist graves was Common, a trait shared with the Contemporary Naeni-Schneckengerg, Odaia Turculi and Dambotivsa Muscel Groups, whose closeness to Early Monteoru can be grouped into a broader horizon of Stone Cist Graves, dating 2400-2200bc, succeeding the Glina-Schneckenberg Culture.
According to Anthony (2007), chariotry spread westwards to the Monteoru culture from the Multi-cordoned ware culture. [5]
According to genetic studies, the Monteoru culture had male haplogroups I2a and G2a. Of the female haplogroups, the following were present: H11a2, K1c1, H1, J1c, U5a1a1, H58. [6]
The Monteoru culture derived from the early Glina-Schneckenberg and included some elements that had persisted from the transitional period ... The last stage of the Monteoru culture (Balintesti-Girbovat, in south-eastern Moldova), which is missing at the eponymous site, forms the transition to the Noua culture of the Late Bronze Age.
While the Noua ceramic repertoire does not have precursors in Transylvania and may indeed be intrusive there, most pottery shapes (and ornaments) can be derived from the preceding Monteoru culture of western Moldavia.
The term Monteoru I shall use in its broadest sense, that is, as a name of a culture covering all phases of the Bronze Age and all its variants. Hence, the Early Bronze Age group such as the Schneckenberg B or Naeni-Schneckenberg Group around Brasov in eastern Transylvania, the Odaia-Turculi (Glina IV) and Dambovitsa Muscel groups, or the Late Bronze Age Noua culture will be treated as parts of Monteoru.
Chariotry spread west through the Ukrainian steppe MVK [Mnogovalikovaya] culture into southeastern Europe's Monteoru (phase Icl-Ib), Vatin, and Otomani cultures