This is a list of fortified settlements, towns and cities in Europe that were founded at least 3000 years ago (prior to 1000 BCE), including abandonned and destroyed settlements (marked by a †). Cities with a present-day population exceeding 50,000 are indicated in bold. The column on the right shows the archeological culture in which the settlement was founded. Note that the foundation years of Early Neolithic settlements are very approximate, often within a 500 years range.
The list is not exhaustive. Feel free to suggest additional places on the Eupedia Forum.
Founding year
Place name
Country
Associated culture
7,000 BCE
Choirokoitia †
Cyprus
6,500 BCE
Sesklo
Thessaly, Greece
Thessalian Neolithic
6,000 BCE
Starčevo
Serbia
Starčevo culture (c. 5500-4500 BCE)
5,500 BCE
Pločnik
Serbia
Starčevo culture (c. 5500-4500 BCE)
5,500 BCE
Plovdiv
Bulgaria
Karanovo culture (c. 6200-4000 BCE)
5,000 BCE
Varna
Bulgaria
Karanovo culture (c. 6200-4000 BCE)
5,000 BCE
Hallstatt
Austria
Linear Pottery culture (c. 5500-4500 BCE)
5,000 BCE
Argos
Peloponnese, Greece
5,000 BCE
Bratislava
Slovakia
Linear Pottery culture (c. 5500-4500 BCE)
5,000 BCE
Nitra
Slovakia
Linear Pottery culture (c. 5500-4500 BCE)
4,800 BCE
Dimini
Thessaly, Greece
Thessalian Neolithic
4,500 BCE
Lerna †
Peloponnese, Greece
4,500 BCE
Glauberg †
Hesse, Germany
Linear Pottery culture (c. 5500-4500 BCE)
4,000 BCE
Phaistos †
Crete, Greece
3,900 BCE
Bruchsal-Aue
Baden, Germany
Michelsberg culture (c. 4400–3500 BCE)
3,900 BCE
Michelsberg
Baden, Germany
Michelsberg culture (c. 4400–3500 BCE)
3,800 BCE
Dobrovody
Ukraine
Cucuteni-Trypillian culture (c. 6000-3500 BCE)
3,700 BCE
Talianki †
Ukraine
Cucuteni-Trypillian culture (c. 6000-3500 BCE)
3,700 BCE
Maydanets
Ukraine
Cucuteni-Trypillian culture (c. 6000-3500 BCE)
3,500 BCE
Leceia †
Estremadura, Portugal
Megalithic culture
3,250 BCE
Kasenovka †
Ukraine
Cucuteni-Trypillian culture (c. 6000-3500 BCE)
3,200 BCE
Los Millares †
Andalusia, Spain
3,200 BCE
Skara Brae †
Scotland
3,000 BCE
Troy †
Turkey
Western Anatolian EB 1 (3000-2600 BCE)
3,000 BCE
Castelo Velho de Freixo de Numão †
North Portugal
Megalithic culture
3,000 BCE
Almizaraque †
Andalusia, Spain
3,000 BCE
Huelva
Andalusia, Spain
3,000 BCE
Myrtos Pyrgos †
Crete, Greece
Minoan civilization (2000-1500 BCE)
3,000 BCE
Akrotiri †
Cyprus
Minoan civilization (2000-1500 BCE)
3,000 BCE
Athens
Greece
Early Helladic period (3200-2000 BCE)
2,800 BCE
Zambujal †
Portugal
Bell-Beaker culture (c. 2800–1800 BCE)
2,700 BCE
Knossos †
Crete, Greece
Minoan civilization (2000-1500 BCE)
2,600 BCE
Vila Nova de São Pedro †
Estremadura, Portugal
Megalithic culture
2,500 BCE
Santa Justa †
Algarve, Portugal
Megalithic culture
2,500 BCE
Nicosia
Cyprus
2,500 BCE
Monte da Tumba †
Setubal, Portugal
Megalithic culture
2,500 BCE
Kastri,
Kythera, Greece
Minoan civilization (2000-1500 BCE)
2,400 BCE
Pragança †
Estremadura, Portugal
Megalithic culture
2,300 BCE
Gournia †
Crete, Greece
Minoan civilization (2000-1500 BCE)
2,300 BCE
Manika †
Euboea, Greece
Early Helladic period II (2800–2200 BCE)
2,000 BCE
Mantua
Italy
Bell-Beaker culture (c. 2800–1800 BCE)
1,900 BCE
Mycenae †
Greece
Mycenaean civilization (c. 1600–1100 BCE)
1,900 BCE
Mallia †
Crete, Greece
Minoan civilization (2000-1500 BCE)
1,900 BCE
Kato Zakros †
Crete, Greece
Minoan civilization (2000-1500 BCE)
1,800 BCE
Antas
Andalusia, Spain
Argaric culture (2200-1550 BCE)
1,800 BCE
El Argar †
Murcia, Spain
Argaric culture (2200-1550 BCE)
1,800 BCE
Lugarico Viejo †
Andalusia, Spain
Argaric culture (2200-1550 BCE
1,800 BCE
Ifre †
Murcia, Spain
Argaric culture (2200-1550 BCE)
1,800 BCE
Zapata †
Murcia, Spain
Argaric culture (2200-1550 BCE)
1,800 BCE
Puntarrón Chico †
Murcia, Spain
Argaric culture (2200-1550 BCE)
1,800 BCE
Cabezo Redondo †
Murcia, Spain
Argaric culture (2200-1550 BCE)
1,800 BCE
Gatas
Andalusia, Spain
Argaric culture (2200-1550 BCE
1,800 BCE
Cerro de la Virgen de Orce †
Andalusia, Spain
Argaric culture (2200-1550 BCE
1,800 BCE
Cerro de la Encina †
Andalusia, Spain
Argaric culture (2200-1550 BCE
1,700 BCE
Cuesta del Negro †
Andalusia, Spain
Argaric culture (2200-1550 BCE
1,600 BCE
Hagia Triada †
Crete, Greece
Minoan civilization (2000-1500 BCE)
1,600 BCE
Chania
Crete, Greece
Minoan civilization (2000-1500 BCE)
1,600 BCE
Thebes
Boeotia, Greece
Mycenaean civilization (c. 1600–1100 BCE)
1,550 BCE
Fuente Álamo
Andalusia, Spain
1,400 BCE
Larnaca
Cyprus
City-kingdom of Kition (c. 1250 BCE–342 CE)
1,300 BCE
Heuneburg †
Württemberg, Germany
Tumulus culture (1600-1200 BCE)
1,200 BCE
Lisbon
Portugal
Atlantic Bronze Age (1300-700 BCE)
1,200 BCE
Chalcis
Euboea, Greece
Mycenaean civilization (c. 1600–1100 BCE)
1,200 BCE
Trikala
Thessaly, Greece
Mycenaean civilization (c. 1600–1100 BCE)
1,100 BCE
Cadiz
Spain
Phoenician civilization (1500-539 BCE)
1,100 BCE
Patras
Peloponnese, Greece
Mycenaean civilization (c. 1600–1100 BCE)
1,050 BCE
Zadar
Croatia
Liburnians
1,000 BCE
Würzburg
Bavaria, Germany
Urnfield culture (c. 1300 BCE-750 BCE)
Follow-up
Discuss history, civilizations and population genetics on the Eupedia Forum.