> There is abundant
> evidence of this in the steppes of Europe and adjacent
> areas as of the mid-3rd millennium BC (and even
> earlier).
A steppe is not an environment where a civilization could develop,
increase in number and finally to expand in such a way in which the
Indo-Europeans have done.
Please take a look today and see what is the human density per
square-km in the Ukraine's steppes...and what is that density in
Holland
If you will take a look an other examples first you need a big river
(see Nile,Euphrat,Tigris,Indus etc... as valid historical examples
where such a civilization could appear) or at least a proximity to
the sea and/or a 'Mediteranean' climate (see Greeks, & Romans)
I cannot see how a civilization can increase in such a huge number
(as was the case for IE-s) ...if you place their homeland in a
region with temperatures of -30C in the winter and +40 during the
summer..without important reserves in vegetation, animals, waters,
salt, minerals and woods
The single big river that I can see in Europe with such a temperate
climate (Note: at that time (7000-5000 BCE) the climate was much
colder than it is today, so we need to go more to the south) is the
Danube River. So if there was a European homeland for the Indo-
Europeans, this should be: 'all along the medium and/or the inferior
course of the Danube River' ...(where Europe is defined here as
usual should be -> from Atlantic Ocean until the Ural Mountains) ..
More exactly I will place the center of this zone 'the ideal Danube
zone' along today border between Romanian & Serbia 'Iron Gate zone':
waters, salt, minerals, wood, birds/animals/fishes, temperate
climate with Mediteranian influences.
http://encarta.msn.com/map_701511972/Danube.html
Best Regards,
Marius