Neolithic decline

The Neolithic decline was a rapid collapse in populations between 5000 and 6000 years ago (approximately 3000 BCE) during the Neolithic period in western Eurasia. The specific causes of that broad population decline are still debated.^[1] While heavily populated settlements were regularly created, abandoned, and resettled during the Neolithic, after around 5400 years ago, a great number of those settlements were permanently abandoned.^[1] The population decline is associated with worsening agricultural conditions and a decrease in cereal production.^[2] Other suggested causes include the emergence of communicable diseases spread from animals living in close quarters with humans.^[1]

The population increase that preceded the decline between 5950 and 5550 BP was catalysed by the introduction of agriculture,^[2] along with the spread of technologies such as pottery, the wheel, and animal husbandry.^[1] After the Neolithic decline, there were massive human migrations from the Pontic–Caspian steppe into eastern and central Europe, beginning approximately 4600 BP.^[1]