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Two cultures: Zarubynets (red) and Przeworsk (green)

The Zarubintsy culture was one of the major archaeological cultures which flourished in the area north of the Black Sea along the upper Dnieper and Pripyat Rivers, stretching west towards the Bug River from the 3rd or 2nd centuries BC until the 2nd century AD. It was identified ca 1899 and is now attested by about 500 sites. It is regarded as the eastern version of the Przeworsk culture, with which it is usually joined as a single archaeological complex^{[citation needed]}.

Like its successor, the Chernyakhov culture, it was of mixed origins, influenced by the Celtic La Tène culture and the nomads of the steppes (the Scythians and the Sarmatians). Later it was also influenced by the Roman Empire's communities on the Danube. The Scythian-Sarmatian influence is evident, especially in pottery, weaponry, domestic objects and personal ornaments.

The bearers of the culture engaged in agriculture and livestock raising as well as hunting. There is evidence they also traded wild animal skins with Black Sea towns. They practiced cremation burials, with the ashes placed in an urn or pit.

Their ethnic identity has been much discussed, though the dispute continues to be marred by political and ideological motives. Slavic scholars have argued that the Zarubintsy culture was Proto-Slavic. German scholars have tried to connect the culture to the migrations of certain Germanic tribes such as the Scirii, which are recorded by Latin and Greek authors. The Bastarnae, a tribe which came into repeated, often violent contact with the Roman empire from about 200BC, corresponds especially well - both geographically and chronologically - with the Zarubintsy culture. It is uncertain to which linguistic group the Bastarnae belonged.

It is possible that the Proto-Slavic people emerged out of this cultural mix; a hypothesis which is supported by Ancient Slavic hydronyms (river-names)^{[citation needed]} in the region.

From the 3rd century and onwards, the culture was overrun by the Goths and became part of the Chernyakhov culture.

• J. P. Mallory, "Zarubintsy Culture", Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture, Fitzroy Dearborn, 1997.
• The Early Germans
• The Slavs in Antiquity