Short Description
The neolithic collection (5,600-2,200 BC)comprises appr. 250.000 objects, mainly from Central Europe - among them objects from Brunn a. Gebirge (5.600 BC), the female statuette from Pazardzik (4,500 BC Bulgaria), the copper age hoard from Stollhof (4,000 BC) and finds from the World Heritage Pile Dwellings (3,800 - 3,300 BC).
Around 5,600 BC neolithic farmers came along from the Middle East via the Balkans to Brunn am Gebirge taking with them domestic animals and plants. Pots, ceramic figurines and stone tools from this oldest neolithic settlement in Austria were excavated on behalf of the Prehistoric Department of the Natural History Museum Vienna. The copper hoard from Stollhof (4,500 BC) was transported from the South Eastern Europe via the Danube to Lower Austria. Pottery and copper objects from the World Heritage sites at Mondsee and Attersee give evidence of early copper processing in the Austrian Alps.
Contact Person
Dr. Caroline Posch
Research Services
Support of research and material studies on the neolithic period collection. Expertise on neolithic period archaeological remains
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
Collection, conservation and research of material remains of human history of the neolithic period.
Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the artifacts, interdisciplinary cooperation with other departments, especially the central research laboratories of the NHM Vienna.
Contextualization of the artifacts with the archaeological evidence, studying the documentation of the excavations (images, graphics, excavation documentation, etc.). For artefacts that were excavated in the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, historical documents and images from the excavations or collections / acquisitions are to be studied (archives of the prehistoric department).
Allocation to research infrastructure
Work with original artifacts is subject to the Austrian law on the protection of historical monuments.
Sampling of objects is only possible in scientific cooperations.
Cultural Heritagy Authority Austria
University Vienna
Austrian Academy of Sciences
Museum Lower Austria