Ideal of freedom and equality stimulated the emergence of Europe's oldest cities

Using the remains of burnt Trypillia dwellings, the archaeologists can reconstruct their construction and furnishings. The remains show that the houses were often characterised by massive platforms. On the upper surface of this platform was the main living floor with largely standardised arrangements of ovens, fireplaces, podiums, storage containers and work rooms.

© Susanne Beyer, Institute of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Archaeology, Kiel University