a on length of occupation, spatial connections between settlements, satellite communities, and possible ecological pressures on resources. He attributes the defensive concentrations of population to inter-regional migration processes and conflicts between eastern and western Tripol'ye communities.
Most of the authors cite soil exhaustion and, in particular, a decrease in forest resources as reasons for the end of the giant-settlements, but the evidence for ecological degradation is not presented or discussed in detail. Population pressure and ecological degradation are cited as the causes of migrations that led to the founding of the giant-settlements—and are also cited as the causes for their decline.
Although the underlying theories and approaches of these authors are at times different from Western models, a lot of valuable information and important new fieldwork is reported on a phenomenon that challenges our expectations, regardless of theoretical background. Collaborative projects such as this must be applauded and can only improve our joint understanding.