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Society
Copper Age people lived in settlements comprising several households, each containing a large family. At Arbon Bleiche 3 in Switzerland the village community consisted of 30 such households.
Several settlements probably united to form regional groups. People gathered at central assembly or culture sites.
Specialized crafts developed along with copper smelting, which required sophisticated technical know-how. The precious new material became a symbol of power and wealth.
It led to a marked differentiation within the social structure and the emergence of social groups. The production of weapons attests to an increased number of conflicts, which probably arose in connection with the possession of property and the need to protect it.
