 Archaeological discoveries show that the first settlements in the area of present @-@ day Białystok occurred during the Stone Age . Tombs of ancient settlers can be found in the district of Dojlidy . In the early Iron Age a mix of Prussians , Yotvingians and Wielbark culture people settled in the area producing kurgans , the tombs of the chiefs in the area located in the current village of <unk> . Since then , the Białystok area has been at the crossroads of cultures . Trade routes linking the Baltic to the Black Sea favored the development of settlements with <unk> @-@ Ruthenian @-@ Polish cultural characteristics . 
