The hypothesis that in Neolithic times men lived for the most part in pit-dwellings is fairly widely distributed in archaeological literature. Thus, for example, W. Radig from 188 neolithic sites examined in Germany up to 1930 listed 109 as having pit-dwellings (Grubenwohnungen), an additional sixteen having pit-dwellings with a cone-shaped covering (Grubenwohnungen mit schrägen Pfostenlöchern), eight with vertical walls (Grubenwohnungen mit senkrechten Pfostenlöchern) and two of mixed type. This hypothesis was also widely held among Soviet archaeologists who often described their discoveries of pit-dwellings in their accounts of excavations of neolithic sites. A completely contrary opinion has been put forward by G. Childe in relation to neolithic dwellings in the temperate zone of Europe.