The early European communities in the regions that are now Ukraine and Moldova followed a predominantly plant-based diet, as a recent study indicates. The findings, published in a prestigious journal, shed new light on how ancient populations nourished themselves long before the rise of classic city-states in this part of the world.
Archaeologists have uncovered the first megacities associated with the Trypillian culture, which emerged nearly seven thousand years ago in the territories of modern Ukraine and Moldova. Estimates place the population of these vast settlements at around 15,000 residents, with urban footprints reaching up to 320 hectares. These megacities stood out not only for their impressive size but also for their status as some of the oldest urban centers in Europe, potentially predating early Mesopotamian cities by centuries. Researchers have long sought to understand how such large communities could sustain themselves using Stone Age technology without modern farming or animal husbandry practices.
To unravel this mystery, scientists conducted a wide analysis of carbon and nitrogen isotopes extracted from hundreds of samples, including animal, human, and plant remains. By tracing the isotopic signatures that become part of a person’s bones after consuming food, researchers can infer the relative contributions of different food sources in ancient diets. This approach revealed patterns that illuminate how Trypillian people balanced their meals and where their calories came from over generations.
The isotope data pointed to a substantial role for domesticated animals, with cattle and sheep being managed in fenced pastures. Animal manure played a key role in agricultural practices, especially in the fertilization of legume crops such as peas, which were likely important for soil health and protein intake. Fundamentally, cereals dominated the human diet, providing the bulk of daily calories while also delivering essential amino acids critical for growth and maintenance. The agricultural system appears energy-intensive, yet it avoided large-scale waste in meat production, suggesting a strategic emphasis on plant-based nutrition complemented by animal products rather than heavy reliance on meat as the primary energy source. This complex network of pastures, crop fields, and managed livestock persisted well into the third millennium BC, after which Trypillian communities began to reorganize into smaller settlements for social reasons.
In a broader sense, these findings contribute to a more nuanced picture of early European foodways. They illustrate how technological constraints could be overcome through sophisticated agrarian practices and careful ecological management. The study also highlights how isotopic analysis can reveal long-standing dietary patterns, offering a window into the daily lives of people who built some of Europe’s earliest urban landscapes. While the specifics of bone chemistry tell one part of the story, the overall reconstruction points to a society that valued grain crops and legumes alongside pastoral animals, cultivating a sustainable food system that supported large populations over many generations.
Earlier findings regarding other regional practices—such as evidence of diverse subsistence strategies in nearby cultures—complement this narrative. The continuity between agricultural innovation and urban development appears to have been a driving force behind the resilience of Trypillian societies. As archaeologists continue to excavate and compare artifacts, it becomes clearer how these ancient people managed resources, maintained nutrition, and built the social structures that enabled some of Europe’s first large settlements.
In sum, the Trypillian megacities represent not just remarkable urban achievements but also a testament to adaptive food systems that prioritized plant-based staples while integrating animal products in a controlled, efficient way. The research underscores that even in prehistoric times, communities could achieve high population densities through a careful balance of crops, livestock, and soil fertility—deliberate, calculated choices that sustained life across generations. This evolving picture helps historians and scientists better understand the roots of European urban evolution and the dietary strategies that supported it.