The beginning of the age of metals

Eneolithic, or copper age (7-5 thousand years ago). This era was marked by the introduction of copper
tools. The economic specialization of natural and climatic zones became more pronounced: pastoralism
in the steppe, agriculture in the forest-steppe, and hunting in the forest belt. The time of large
agricultural cultures on the territory of Ukraine, first of all the Trypil culture (VI-III millennia BC) - the
culture of huge concentric proto-cities with two-story buildings (10-15 thousand inhabitants). The
people of Trypil had pottery kilns and their own sign system, that is, they were close to creating their
own civilization. However, this was hindered by the extensive nature of agriculture, which dispersed the
forces of the Trypilians[14]. The people of Trypil are known for their original paintings on ceramics, small
figurines of people and animals, ceramic models of buildings, sledges, thrones and axes, and binocular
glasses. This archaeological culture was first discovered by Vikentiy Hvojka, later thoroughly researched
by archaeologists Tetiana Passek and Mykhailo Videyko. In the east of Ukraine, these times are
represented by the Middle Stog culture.

Eneolithic cultures of Ukraine

Eneolithic cultures of Ukraine

Bronze Age Novoaleksandriv mound during excavations in 2021.

Bronze Age Novoaleksandriv mound during excavations in 2021.

Typical Tripoli binocular vessel on a postage stamp of Ukraine

Typical Tripoli binocular vessel on a postage stamp of Ukraine

An authentic model of Trypil housing

An authentic model of Trypil housing

Reconstruction of the proto-city of Trypil (Talyanka)

Reconstruction of the proto-city of Trypil (Talyanka)

Cultures of the Bronze Age of Ukraine

Cultures of the Bronze Age of Ukraine

Bronze Age (III millennium - XII century BC). The period of the spread of products made of bronze (an
alloy of copper with tin or arsenic). Aridization of the climate invigorates the development of means of
production, forces steppe tribes to develop nomadic pastoralism, and forest-steppe tribes to develop
arable agriculture. The range of cultivated plants is expanding, horticulture is emerging. Labor
productivity is fueling the increase in property inequality. The decline of the Tryplian culture was marked
by the consolidation of pastoralists and the emergence of the pit culture (2800-2300 BC), the carriers of
which scientists see Aryans, Indo-Europeans[15]. They covered the territory from Crimea to Kyiv Polissia.
On the basis of this culture, the catacomb culture (2300-1300 BC) appears in the southeast of Ukraine,
the carriers of which were in contact with the farming culture of lace ceramics (2300-1700 BC), which
occupied the territory of the northwest of the country[ 16]. After the 17th century BC e. the catacomb
culture was replaced by the log culture (1700—1300 BC), which is associated with Iranian-speaking
tribes of herders, and the culture of lace ceramics on the territory of Ukraine was supplanted by the
Tshinets culture (1700—1200 BC), which is associated with with the Proto-Slavic-Baltic community of
farmers[17].

In the XII-X centuries BC. e. the territory of Ukraine remained divided between different cultural
communities, the northern forests in the west were occupied by Proto-Slavs, and in the east by Finno-
Ugric people; Thracian-Illyrian tribes lived in the forest-steppe, and North Iranian tribes lived in the
steppe.

Ancient history

Read more: Iron Age on the territory of modern Ukraine

Scythian-Sarmatian period

Read more: Nomads of the Great Steppe

The Cimmerians are the first known herding Iranian tribes on the territory of modern Ukraine, who
came around the 15th century BC. e. from Eastern Asia through the Caucasus and inhabited the steppe
and forest-steppe zones. They were the first to bring iron tools (iron swords with bronze handles) and
started a new age - the iron age. Burials were made like other Iranians in barrows. In Homer, the
Cimmerians are mentioned in the "Odyssey" under the ethnonym "hypemologists", that is, those who
drink mare's milk. Not only Homer, but also such famous ancient authors as Herodotus, Callimachus,
and Strabo report on "glorious mare-milkers". Assyrian cuneiform sources mention this people under
the name "Gamirra". The Cimmerians occupied a large area between the Dniester and the Don, as well
as the Crimean peninsula, where they had fortified settlements. It was the Cimmerians who built around
1250 BC. e. the first known port city on the territory of Ukraine. Their main occupation was military
campaigns. The Cimmerians are believed to be a branch of an ancient Iranian nomadic people
genetically close to the Scythians. Their material culture has reached us in the form of bone jewelry,
various weapons (bows, daggers, swords, hammers) from burials with stelae.

Scythians, other Iranian tribes from Central Asia, in the 7th century BC. e. pushed the Cimmerians out of
the steppe. They were also herdsmen, nomads, and loved to fight. In the Crimea, they peacefully
assimilated with the Tauri who lived here from the 1st millennium BC. e. and engaged in cattle breeding,
agriculture and fishing. Due to close trade and cultural ties with the Greek colonists of the Northern
Black Sea region, their culture, lifestyle, mythology and customs were well described ("Scythia" by their
contemporary, the ancient Greek historian Herodotus) and have reached us. In jewelry, a characteristic
feature of that era is the animal