The CoÃÂofeni culture (), also known as the Baden-CoÃÂofeni culture, and generally associated with the Usatove culture, was an Early Bronze Age archaeological culture that existed between 3500 and 2500 BC in the mid-Danube area of south-eastern Central Europe.
The first report of a CoÃÂofeni find was made by Fr. Schuster in 1865 from the Râpa RoÃÂie site in Sebeà(present-day Alba County, Romania). Since then, this culture has been studied by a number of people to varying degrees. Some of the more prominent contributors to the study of this culture include C. Gooss, K. Benkà Â, B. Orbán, G. Téglas, K. Herepey, S. Fenichel, Julius Teutsch, Cezar Bolliac, V. Christescu, Teohari Antonescu, and Cristian Popa.
The CoÃÂofeni culture area can be seen from two perspectives, as a fluctuation zone, or in its maximum area of extent. This covers present day MaramureÃÂ, some areas in SÃÂtmar, the mountainous and hilly areas of CriÃÂana, Transylvania, Banat, Oltenia, Muntenia (not including the North-East), and across the Danube in present-day eastern Serbia and northwestern Bulgaria.
Bronze Age in Romania Unfortunately, most of the CoÃÂofeni culture chronology is based on just three samples collected at three different CoÃÂofeni sites. Based on these radiocarbon dates, this culture can be placed between roughly 3500 and 2500 BC.
Cultural synchronisms have been established based on mutual trade relations (visible as imported items) as well as stratigraphic observations. There is an evident synchronicity between:
CoÃÂofeni I - Cernavoda III - Baden A - Spherical Amphorae;
CoÃÂofeni II - Baden B-C Kostolac;
CoÃÂofeni III - Kostolac-VuÃÂedol A-B.
During the evolution of the CoÃÂofeni culture, there were clearly relationships with other neighbouring cultures. The influence between the CoÃÂofeni and their neighbours the Baden, Kostolac, VuÃÂedol, Globular Amphora culture as well as the Ochre Burial populations was reciprocal. The areas bordering these cultures show cultural traits that have mixed aspects, for example CoÃÂofeni-Baden and CoÃÂofeni-Kostolac finds. These finds of mixed aspects suggest a cohabitation between related populations. It also supports the idea of well established trade between cultures.