Resilience and Cyclicity: Towards a macrohistory of the Central European Neolithic

In this paper estimates of the demographic trend are used as key variables to apply the concept of 'adaptive cycles', derived from socio-ecological resilience theory, to Archaeology. The question how to operationalize resilience theory in an archaeological context is discussed and resilience thinking is linked to evolutionary theories. The development of two archaeological cultures is outlined as 'cultural cycle' and the long-term history of Central Europe is investigated from a resilience perspective.