Dan Davis History

The Cucuteni-Trypillia culture is one of the Chalcolithic societies famous for their ceramic human female figurines. But they also made countless thousands of animal figurines.

They really liked birds but they mostly made cattle models.

What kinds of animals can you see in these images?

These models were related to their religious practices – you can imagine leaving a little ceramic bull on the altar, perhaps symbolising an offering and maybe the form of the thing you wanted – fertile cattle, a bountiful harvest, a healthy pregnancy and so on. Using a model of the thing representing the real thing is a ritual practice seen in many societies around the world. It seems to just "make sense" to lots of us.

They were also an artistic and decorative expression for the interior of the houses, probably placed on domestic altars and on shelves and sideboards along with their beautiful pottery. Some of these models also combined animals with bowls or pots.

You can find out more about this society in my video here: https://youtu.be/jkVtlvC3tPE

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5 days ago | [YT] | 669

Dan Davis History

You know I've made a few videos about horse domestication on my channel. This new video is by David Ian Howe (the archeologist and comedian but you may know him as "that guy who knows all about the history of dogs") along with Dr William Taylor the author of Hoofbeats: How Horses Shaped Human History.

I'm looking forward to watching it myself and I'm sure many of you will enjoy this too.

5 days ago | [YT] | 93

Dan Davis History

SCAM ALERT: This is NOT me.

I'm sure most people are wise to these imposter impersonator YouTube account scammers by now, as they crop up on most channels. But to be clear, this is not me, I do not have a "Live" account, and I will never solicit crypto investments in the comments.

I have reported and banned them but they tend to come back so please be aware.

6 days ago | [YT] | 684

Dan Davis History

Hi, did you see my Catacomb culture video? https://youtu.be/EFimeF30SJg

I have been looking at this era again and the way in which the invention of the wagon transformed the societies of the Bronze Age steppe. Most of all perhaps in the Catacomb culture, the successor on the steppe to the more famous Yamnaya culture.

The wagon was a critical vehicle supporting life on the steppe, carrying everything they needed to move with their herds grazing on the grasslands.


They were so special that some important people were even buried with wagons in their graves. These grave wagons were perhaps intended to carry the deceased's spirit to the afterlife, and perhaps the spirit version of the wagon was supposed to accompany them to be ridden for eternity.

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1 week ago | [YT] | 667

Dan Davis History

Did you see my latest video on the Vinča symbols? https://youtu.be/NFqT58Z4uF4

I know that many people don't get a notification or can't watch right away of course.

Some people asked for more info on the "yin-yang symbol" I showed. Well, I already made a video about that you can watch here: youtube.com/shorts/1qkbPizONW...

There are other artefacts that I can make shorts about to give more detail. Let me know if you have specific ones you'd like to know more about.

Thanks very much for watching and for all your comments and questions.

Dan

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 543

Dan Davis History

Hi, did you see my new video? https://youtu.be/m2CpP5tyB74

Salt is one of those commodities that was widely produced and traded but we can't see archeologically. The salt itself of course dissolves and leaves nothing behind to find, in most cases. Fortunately, there are remnants of salt production processes that can be seen.

Two of the most impressive ancient sites in Europe are the salt mines of Hallstatt which date back to the Bronze Age, and Solnitsata, the Chalcolithic salt fortress of Bulgaria.

I went to film some of this stuff myself so I hope you enjoy the video!

As always, your views, likes, and shares are enormously appreciated.

Cheers,
Dan

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1 month ago | [YT] | 574

Dan Davis History

Fascinating video on one of the biggest Celtic enclosures in Europe.

With 4 miles of defences that enclosed an area of 766 acres, this was "a place of immense power, wealth, and importance".

1 month ago | [YT] | 50

Dan Davis History

Hi, did you see my new video on the Cucuteni-Trypillia megasites? https://youtu.be/jkVtlvC3tPE

I did make a video about Cucuteni-Trypillia years ago but I've read a lot more about them since then. There is so much debate that it's hard to even know where to start.

As well as the megasites, another interesting question to me is the mystery around their burial rites. Why are there almost no burials from this culture? Let me know if you'd like to see a video about this.

Thank you to everyone for watching, liking and sharing. I appreciate it.

Cheers,
Dan

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2 months ago | [YT] | 577

Dan Davis History

Did you see my new video yet on the LBK longhouses? https://youtu.be/Fbm80SzraRw

Some people have been asking for a video on the post-LBK world and I will have to make them region by region. I also need to make videos on the Mediterranean Neolithic groups who spread all the way to Iberia.

There's so much prehistory to get through but slowly we are covering it. I hope eventually to tell the whole story of prehistoric Europe but it's quite a project.

Thank you for watching, and for your comments, likes and shares.

More coming soon.

Cheers,
Dan

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3 months ago | [YT] | 519

Dan Davis History

Don't miss my latest video on Neolithic Ireland: https://youtu.be/rMoeiPXMZr8

Over 5000 years ago, a Neolithic society in Ireland constructed a vast megalithic structure known as Newgrange. Built in 3200 BC, this great passage tomb is older than the Pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge in England. The entrance and passage way are perfectly aligned to the winter solstice sunrise.

But who built this astonishing monument? Where did they come from and how did they live?

if you enjoyed this film, please do hit "like" on the video and please share it with friends and on social media, if you can.

Thank you,
Dan

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3 months ago | [YT] | 380