The Lusatian culture existed in the later Bronze Age and early Iron Age (1300–500 BC) in most of what is now Poland and parts of what are now the Czech Republic, Slovakia, eastern Germany and western Ukraine. It covers the Periods Montelius III (early Lusatian culture) to V of the Northern European chronological scheme. It has been associated or closely linked with the Nordic Bronze Age. Hallstatt influences can also be seen particularly in ornaments (fibulae, pins) and weapons.
Origins
thumb|Reconstructed [[Biskupin (Poland)]]
The Lusatian culture developed as the preceding Trzciniec culture experienced influences from the Tumulus culture of the Middle Bronze Age, essentially incorporating the local communities into the socio-political network of Iron Age Europe. It formed part of the Urnfield systems, origin of the Celts and Italic peoples, including the Romans, found from eastern France, southern Germany and Austria, to Hungary and the Nordic Bronze Age in northwestern Germany and Scandinavia. It was followed by the of the Early Iron Age to the west. In the area that is now modern-day Poland, the Lusatian culture was succeeded by the Pomeranian culture.
Lusatian-type burials were first described by the German pathologist and archaeologist Rudolf Virchow (1821–1902). The name refers to the Lusatia area in eastern Germany (Brandenburg and Saxony) and western Poland.
Early German scholars, particularly those influenced by Gustaf Kossinna's settlement archaeology approach, sometimes interpreted the culture as an early Germanic one. Virchow himself identified the pottery artifacts as "pre-Germanic", but did not speculate on the ethnicity of their makers.
The Tollense valley battlefield (), located in a border zone with Nordic Bronze Age and Urnfield influences, shows evidence of mixed warrior groups with diverse material culture and genetic profiles, but does not resolve the broader ethnic or linguistic affiliation of the Lusatian complex.
The Polish archeologist Józef Kostrzewski, who in 1934 started extensive excavations of a Lusatian settlement of Biskupin, hypothesised that the Lusatian culture was a forerunner of later cultures belonging to the early Slavs. Modern archeologists, such as both Kazimierz Godłowski and , hold the view that the ethnic geography of Bronze Age Central Europe then included peoples whose languages and ethnic identity are simply unknown.
<!--These additions of JAN and MAY 2026 are cited to forum posts and a commercial website: Genetic study of Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences from 2020s of human remains associated with the Lusatian culture showed a predominance of Y-DNA haplogroup R1a (specifically subclades under R1a-Z280), with one sample belonging to I2a (I-L596 branch). Of 11 samples 7 were Balto-Slavic and similar to people from current Poland, Lithuania, Russia, 4 were partly Balto-Slavic, these samples exhibit primarily Chalcolithic to Bronze Age Northeast European autosomal profiles with genetic affinities to present-day populations in surrounding regions of Central-Eastern Europe. Due to the limited number of samples and the challenges of working with cremated remains (common in the Lusatian culture), results should be interpreted cautiously and do not allow definitive ethnic or linguistic attributions.|Re insert when cited to WP:RS [Note ENDS]-->
Culture
Burial was by cremation; inhumations are rare. The urn is usually accompanied by numerous (up to 40) secondary vessels. Metal grave gifts are sparse, but there are numerous hoards (such as Kopaniewo, Pomerania) that contain rich metalwork, both bronze and gold (hoard of Eberswalde, Brandenburg). Graves containing moulds (like at Bataune, in Saxony) and tuyeres attest to the production of bronze tools and weapons at the village level. The "royal" tomb of Seddin, Brandenburg, Germany, covered by a large earthen barrow, contained Mediterranean imports like bronze vessels and glass beads. Cemeteries can be quite large and contain thousands of graves.
Well-known settlements include Biskupin, in Poland, and Buch, near Berlin. There are both open villages and fortified settlements (burgwall or gord) on hilltops or in swampy areas. The ramparts were constructed of wooden boxes filled with soil or stones.
Its economy was mainly based on arable agriculture, as is attested by numerous storage pits. Emmer wheat and six-row barley formed the basic crops, together with millet, rye and oats, peas, broad beans, lentils, and gold of pleasure (Camelina sativa). Flax was grown, and remains of domesticated apples, pears, and plums have been found. Cattle and pigs were the most important domestic animals, followed by sheep, goats, horses, and dogs. Pictures on Iron Age urns from Silesia attest horse riding, but horses were used to draw chariots as well. Hunting was practiced, as bones of red and roe deer, boar, European bison, elk, hare, fox, and wolf attest, but it did not provide much of the meat consumed. The numerous frog bones found at Biskupin may indicate that frogs' legs were eaten as well.
Gallery
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File:DSC 0766 (2) Lausitzer Kultur in der Bronzezeit, Bronzeschwert.jpg|Lusatian weapons
File:02019 0799 (2) Bronzegeschirr aus Schlesien, Import in der Lausitzer-Kultur im Oder-Zuflussbereich.jpg|Various artefacts, Bronze and Iron Age
File:020210828 Bronze Age hoard from Miejsce, around 1000-900 BC, Namysłów district.jpg|Socketed axes and arm rings
File:ALB - Kultwagen.jpg|Bronze cult wagon model, Germany
File:Biskupin Museum 021.JPG|Pottery from Biskupin
File:02019 0773 (3) Lausitzer Urne mit Erzählgrafiken aus Schlesien.jpg|Lusatian cinerary urn
File:Smac Eisenzeit 020.jpg|Pottery and figurines, Germany
File:020210904 113916 Bronze Treasure from Zagórze, Early Iron Age, around 600 BC, Lusatian Culture, fibula, necklace, bangle.jpg|Torcs and arm rings
File:Bronze Age Europe Jewelry and Ornaments (28140516733).jpg|Bronze fibulae, Germany
File:020210904 Bronze Treasure from Zagórze, Early Iron Age, around 600 BC, Lusatian Culture, fibula, necklace, bangle.jpg|Fibula and arm rings
File:Bronze Age Europe Bronze Ornaments (28471739120).jpg|Bronze Age ornaments, Germany
File:Lusatian1.jpg|Bronze vessel, Poland,
File:Lusatian2.jpg|Bronze collar with sun ship motifs.
File:020220130 Hoard from Woskowice Małe.jpg|Hoard from Woskowice Małe, Poland, 550 BC
File:Smac Bronzezeit 083.jpg|Bronze arm rings, Germany
File:Seddin grave contents.jpg| contents, c. 900 BC, Germany
File:Sun ship1.jpg|Belt plate with sun ship motif, Poland, 9th century BC