A settlement of the Funnel Beaker culture

The culture of these first North German farmers was called Funnel Beaker Culture. The Funnel Beaker people made pottery with a funnel-shaped neck - hence the name.

Look at this picture: the first farm in Schleswig-Holstein probably looked like this.

Around 4,000 BC the first settlements with permanent houses, domestic animals and agriculture were established in the north. The culture of these first North German farmers was called Funnel Beaker Culture. The Funnel Beaker people made pottery with a funnel-shaped neck – hence the name. The settlements of the Funnel Beaker people were small villages with a number of longhouses. Several families lived together in communities.

Presumably, Funnel Beaker people did not share their homes with animals, what became common later. More likely, animals were kept in pens near the houses during the winter and at night. Otherwise they were herded in pastures nearby.