Rethinking Key Transformations in the Neolithic and Bronze Age Central Europe: A Radiocarbon Modeling Approach

Abstract The past two decades have revolutionized our understanding of European prehistory, shaping new grand narratives focused on core regions with rich archaeological records. These studies suggest that major sociocultural shifts in central Europe, such as the Early Neolithic transition to farming, the spread of steppe ancestry during the Late Neolithic, and the rise of complexity at the beginning of the Early Bronze Age, were synchronous across extensive territories. However, peripheral areas, like uplands and vast wetlands, remain understudied despite indications of alternative developmental trajectories. Their role in broader prehistoric frameworks remains poorly understood. This paper critically reassesses these narratives by analyzing a dataset of nearly 900 radiocarbon measurements from five environmentally distinct regions in the heartland of central Europe. Using Bayesian chronological modeling and the concept of the inner periphery derived from world-systems analysis, we move beyond traditional cultural classifications to explore regional diversity in key Neolithic and Early Bronze Age transformations. Our findings reveal a significantly delayed adoption of novel practices in upland regions, challenging the notion of simultaneous and homogeneous change. This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between core and peripheral regions, offering new perspectives on past sociocultural dynamics.