AS A RESULT of field surveys and (rescue or systematic) archaeological excavations, a rich and diverse array of archaeological material regarding the populations to the north of the Lower Danube in the eighth– ninth centuries have been assembled. Registering, mapping, and analysing these archaeological data allow us to distinguish some archaeological features of human habitation from this period in the regions that are the subject of this research. Geo-climatic conditions have played an important role in influencing the lifestyle of human society and thus in the study of the peculiarities of habitations from particular eras.

The Carpathian-Danube basin has undergone many environmental changes over the past two millennia; geo-climatic conditions directly influenced the lifestyle of human societies. The natural features of the landscape are also important in studying changes in the environment in relation to the human habitat. An increase or decrease in the number of archaeological sites in a region speaks of the attractiveness or insignificance of that area in the period studied.

During the Holocene, the development of a temperate climate favoured the development of complex vegetation. Beech forests came from areas west and northwest; oak forests came from the south, and steppe vegetation came from the east. During the time of the Roman Empire (150 BC to AD 300) a cooling period began that lasted until about AD 900, the so-called Roman Climatic Optimum (although the average global temperature remained relatively warm until about AD 600). The archaeological record of the Carpathian-Danube region from the end of the seventh until the late ninth century reveals significant historical developments in Central and Southeast Europe. The lower chronological limit marks the migration of the Bulgars south of the Danube (680/ 681) and the upper limit coincides with the movement of the Hungarians from the East-European steppes to Pannonia (895/ 896).

After a cold period with higher-than-average precipitation at the end of seventh century, a dry period started that peaked at the end of eighth century and affected large areas of Asia and Western Europe.