Haarmann delves into the Danube Civilization, detailing the ancient egalitarian culture along the Danube shores. This civilization has been unfairly neglected, despite evidence of its exceptional nature and clear influence on the development of Europe and the world. He emphasizes the civilization's advanced development, which predates Sumer, its ties to Anatolian immigrants, and its connections to later Minoan and Mycenaean cultures.
Lepenski Vir, located on the Danube, is noted as Europe's oldest urban settlement, known for its egalitarian and peaceful culture. In Vinca's Belo Brdo, we see a culture that expanded significantly. The local museum's custodian highlights their prowess in trade, their sophisticated linen clothing evident in figurines, and their advanced use of kiln-baked clay, resembling 'pizza' ovens rather than primitive fireplaces. Their homes were insulated with a mix of sand, chaff, and water, which also added aesthetic value. This mixture was also used on floors, polished for maintenance. The 'owl-shaped' pottery covers are particularly fascinating.
Haarmann, referencing scholars like Marija Gimbutas who significantly contributed to the study of this civilization, alongside Winn, asserts that the Danube civilization developed a writing system that could be the earliest known 'alphabet', predating Sumerian scripts. Would I be surprised if this were true? Not at all...