Ezero culture, 3300—2700 BC, a bronze age archaeological culture occupying most of present-day Bulgaria. It presumably takes its name from the Ezero River, which has the city of Varna at its mouth on the Black Sea. The most important archaeological site is said to be near the town of Nova Zagora. The Bronze Age is a period in a civilizations development when the most advanced metalworking has developed the techniques of smelting copper from natural outcroppings and alloys it to cast bronze. ... In archaeology, culture refers to either of two separate but allied concepts: An archaeological culture is a pattern of similar artefacts and features found within a specific area over a limited period of time. ... This article is about a city in Bulgaria. ... Map of the Black Sea. ...

Resting upon the ruins of an earler copper age culture (apparently the Karanovo Vib culture), the region seems to have been deserted for several centuries before the culture made its presence known. It bears some relationship to the earlier Cernavoda culture just to the north. Settlements were fortified, particularly the one near Nova Zagora. The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos copper stone) period, also known as the Eneolithic (Aeneolithic) or Copper Age period, is a phase in the development of human culture in which the use of early metal tools appeared alongside the use of stone tools. ...

It is said to be part of the larger Balkan-Danubian complex, a horizon reaching from Troy into Central Europe encompassing the Baden and Cotofeni cultures. Walls of the excavated city of Troy (Turkey) Troy (Greek Τροία Troia also Ἰλιον; Latin: Troia, Ilium) is a legendary city, scene of the Trojan War, part of which is described in Homers Iliad, an epic poem in Ancient Greek, composed in the 8th or 7th century BC, but containing older... Approximate extent of the Corded Ware horizon with adjacent 3rd millennium cultures (after EIEC). ...

Agriculture is in evidence, along with domestic livestock. There is evidence of grape cultivation. Metallugy was practiced.

Interpretation of the site is contentious. Within the context of the Kurgan hypothesis, it would represent a fusion of native Old European culture and intrusive Kurgan culture elements. It could also reflect an Anatolian-influenced culture, either coming from Anatolia (in Lord Renfrew's hypothesis), or heading to Asia Minor. Kurgan (кургáн) is the Russian word (of Turkic origin) for tumulus, a type of burial mound or barrow, heaped over a burial chamber, often of wood. ... Some archaeologists and ethnographers use the term Old Europe to characterize the autochthonous (aboriginal) peoples who were living in Neolithic southeastern Europe before the immigration of Indo-European peoples (for this reason also called Pre-Indo-European). ... Andrew Colin Renfrew, Baron Renfrew of Kaimsthorn (born 25 July 1937) is an English archaeologist, notable for his work on the radiocarbon revolution, the prehistory of languages, archaeogenetics, and the prevention of looting of archaeological sites. ...

Sources

• J. P. Mallory, "Ezero Culture", Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture, Fitzroy Dearborn, 1997.

JP Mallory is the nom-de-plume of Irish-American archaeologist and Indo-Europeanist Prof. ... The Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture or EIEC, edited by James P. Mallory and Douglas Q. Adams, was published in 1997 by Fitzroy Dearborn. ...

External links

• http://www.archaeology.ro/so_cernav_eng.htm