Mysteries of Ancient Ukraine: The Remarkable Trypilian Culture (5400-2700 BC)

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November 29, 2008 to March 22, 2009
Who were the Trypilians? How were they able to build the largest settlements in Europe, well over five thousand years ago? And why did they burn them down? These and other questions are explored in this fascinating exhibition that uncovers the secrets surrounding this mysterious people.

Nestled in the forest steppes of modern-day Ukraine, the prehistoric Trypilian people lived and prospered between 5400 and 2700 BC. Highly sophisticated, the Trypilians were both farmers and hunters. Their ability to adapt to different terrain led to their prosperity, and soon they had the largest population growth of any other Neolithic people. They built the largest settlements in Europe at that time, some with an estimated population of 10-15,000 people. Every 60 to 80 years, they burned some settlements to the ground and moved to settle another location.

In 1896, Ukrainian archaeologist Vikenty Khvoika discovered one of these settlements near the village of Trypillia. The artifacts he uncovered were instrumental in reconstructing the daily lives of this prehistoric civilization. Ancient Ukraine presents household tools, evidence of clothing, spiritual artifacts and art, all of which help to build the story of how the Trypilians lived, flourished and then all but mysteriously disappeared.

Learn more about Mysteries of Ancient Ukraine: The Remarkable Trypilian Culture (5400-2700 BC)

Trypilians (PDF)
Settlements (PDF)
Objects (PDF)

Publications

Available for sale in the ROM Museum Store is the full-colour publication, Mysteries of Ancient Ukraine: The Remarkable Trypilian Culture (5400-2700 BC).  The Trypilians, a Neolithic-Bronze Age culture, were pre-eminent as ceramicists, their creations ranging from amphorae to plates, bowls, spoons, jewelry, models of houses, and figurines of women. The publication contains 256 pages and features colour photographs of over 300 artifacts. Regular retail price $60.00.
More Information

This exhibition was organized by the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada and the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, Kyiv in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, The Archaeological Museum of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, The Odessa Archaeological Museum, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and The Vinnytsia Regional Museum, Ukraine.