Impressions after the 2nd 'The Transformation of Europe in the Third Millennium BC' conference in Budapest

After the success of the first conference in Riva del Garda, Italy, in October 2023, the second part of the conference exploring 'The Transformation of Europe in the Third Millennium BC' unfolded over another four days, from April 24 to 27, 2024 in the vibrant city of Budapest, Hungary.

The second 'The Transformation of Europe in the Third Millennium BC' conference unfolded over four days, from April 24 to 27, 2024 in the vibrant city of Budapest, Hungary. Hosted by the Research Centre for Human Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, this gathering brought together a diverse array of European and American scholars. 

Throughout the conference, both in-person attendees and those tuning in via a live YouTube transmission were treated to an intellectually stimulating program, with 13 lectures and 13 keynotes, all insightful and captivating, curated into six sessions. These sessions were vibrant forums for lively discussions, showcasing the latest findings in interdisciplinary research involving archaeology as well as genetics, bioanthropology, and isotope studies, spanning from the Caucasus to Central and Northern Europe during the 4th and 3rd millennia BC. 

The conversation seamlessly extended into more informal settings in the evenings, where the exchange of ideas flowed freely amidst the backdrop of delicious Hungarian cuisine and the city's beautiful night lights.

Despite the conference’s packed agenda, opportunities still existed to appreciate Hungary’s cultural richness. On Thursday evening, attendees were captivated by Budapest’s breathtaking scenery during a boat ride conference dinner along the Danube river, marvelling at iconic landmarks such as the majestic Parliament Building. Friday offered a thematic excursion to Kiskunság National Park, where the participants immersed themselves in the westernmost steppe landscape of the Hungarian Plain.  Here, they had the privilege of visiting one of the region’s most imposing burial mounds, bearing witness to the area’s rich archaeological heritage.

Lecture recordings available

For a longer lasting impact, the Transformation of Europe in the Third Millennia BC conference is proud to provide recordings of the presentations by top researchers for everyone to enjoy. 

These following 23 conference presentations can be found on HUN-REN Bölcsészettudományi Kutatóközpont's YouTube channel:

  • Volker Heyd, Franco Nicolis & Gabriella Kulcsár: Introduction to the ‘Transformation'
  • Svend Hansen: The 4th Millennium BC between the Carpathians and the Caucasus. New Results on Technologies and Innovations
  • Sabine Reinhold, Wolfgang Haak, Ayshin Ghalichi, and Christina Warinner: Bioarchaeology of Innovations – The 4th/3rd Millennium BC in the Caucasus and Beyond
  • Igor Manzura: Sequence of Changes in the Northwest Pontic Region in the 4th Millennium BC – Reasons and Consequences
  • Stefan Alexandrov and Piotr Włodarczak: Pre-Yamna Barrow Graves in Bulgaria. Current Stage of the Investigations
  • Piotr Włodarczak: Migrations – Transformations – Long-distance Unifications on the Steppes of South-Eastern Europe in 4th Millennium BC
  • Stefano Palalidis and Denis Topal: Yamnaya Funerary Trends and Socio-Economic Dynamics in the East and West
  • Bianca Preda-Bălănică and Jens Blöcher: Ancestry and Identity in the Balkans and the Carpathian Basin in the 4th and 3rd Millennia BC
  • Florin Gogâltan: Locals and Foreigners — Transylvania in the 3rd Millennium BC
  • Jacqueline Balen and Ina Miloglav: Late Copper/Early Bronze Age in the Area between the Sava, Drava and Danube Rivers – New Results
  • Anna Szécsényi-Nagy: Human Genetics Perspective of the Carpathian Basin at the Dawn of the 3rd Millennium BCE
  • Gabriella Kulcsár: Meet along the Danube — Towards to the Bronze Age in the Carpathian Basin
  • Johannes Müller and Marzena Szmyt: Globular Amphora: Linking Archives of Socio-Cultural Transformations
  • Niels N. Johannsen: Globular Amphora Culture, Networks and Migration: A View from the Jutland Peninsula
  • Marzena Szmyt and Johannes Müller: Globular Amphora Sedentary Pastoralists in Changing Landscapes
  • Quentin Bourgeois: Networks of Information in the Corded Ware Realm
  • Martin Sikora: The Origins and Genetic Structure of Corded Ware-Associated Individuals – Insights from Networks of Recent Genetic Co-Ancestry 
  • Anna Tornberg: More than Numbers. Multiproxy Analyses of Conflict in the Nordic Corded Ware Complex
  • Kerkko Nordqvist: The Corded Ware Expansion into the Northeast European Lowlands: Assessing Environmental, Social and Cultural Challenges
  • Martin Furholt: Riva 2023 Recap. Big Picture and Important Details on the 3rd Millennium BCE in Europe
  • David Reich: The Genetic Origin of the Indo-Europeans
  • David Anthony and Dorcas R. Brown: The Yamnaya Origins and the Expansion of Late PIE Languages
  • Volker Heyd, Franco Nicolis & Gabriella Kulcsár: Concluding the Meeting and Farewell