The Vinca Culture was a prominent prehistoric civilization that flourished during the Neolithic period, from 5700 to 4200 BC. Centered primarily in what is now Serbia, Romania, and Northwestern Bulgaria, the Vinca Culture extended its influence into Hungary, Macedonia, and Greece.

The period 4600–4200 BC marks a fascinating chapter in prehistory when early civilizations across the globe were emerging and evolving in parallel. In Europe, the Varna culture of present-day Bulgaria astonished archaeologists with the world’s oldest processed gold treasure and evidence of the first social elites.

Explore the Varna Culture and Varna Necropolis: Europe’s oldest gold, elite burials, trade routes, and its place in the KGK VI Late Chalcolithic world.

Explore the Starčevo Culture (Starčevo–Körös–Criș): early farming villages, pottery styles, Danube networks, and how this horizon connects to Bulgaria’s Early Neolithic.

Explore the Cucuteni–Trypillia Culture (c. 4800–3000 BCE): painted pottery, huge “mega-sites,” farming economies, and its links to the wider Balkan Copper Age world.