Baalberge

The Baalberge culture was a Neolithic culture in central Germany, flourishing approximately between 4000 and 3100 BC. It is named after the type site of Baalberge, located near the present-day town of Salzwedel. The culture is considered part of the larger Central European cultural complex, particularly linked to the Funnelbeaker culture (TrB), and succeeds the earlier Rössen culture in the region.

Key characteristics of the Baalberge culture include its distinctive pottery, especially collared flasks and bowls with elaborate decoration, often incised. Their settlements are known from pit dwellings and longhouses, suggesting a sedentary lifestyle based on agriculture and animal husbandry. Evidence suggests a mixed farming economy, with the cultivation of crops like emmer wheat, einkorn wheat, and barley, and the herding of animals like cattle, pigs, and sheep.

Baalberge burial practices included both individual and collective burials. While some individuals were buried in pits, others were interred in megalithic tombs, indicating possible social differentiation or hierarchical structures within the society. Grave goods often accompanied the deceased, including pottery, flint tools, and animal bones, providing insights into their beliefs and material culture.

The Baalberge culture ultimately transitioned into the Salzmünde culture, which represents a further development in the region's Neolithic trajectory. It is a significant element in understanding the cultural and social development of Neolithic central Europe and its transition to later Bronze Age societies.