Neolithic Ukraine: A Review of Theoretical and Chronological Interpretations

Abstract

This paper reviews the Neolithic period in Ukraine. First, the author analyses what the term 'Neolithic' actually means in Ukraine. The paper demonstrates the absence of a universal definition for Neolithic, through a review of some 'Western school' archaeological traditions. The term Neolithic is de-emphasised in relation to the study of early cereal cultivation in Ukraine, providing a general understanding of the concept. The paper introduces the main archaeological Neolithic cultures of Ukraine, by presenting their chronological frameworks, areas of distribution and key characteristics. Particular attention is paid to the main chronological pitfalls in the region.

The Neolithic Transition in the Baltic Was Not Driven by Admixture with Early European Farmers

“…In contrast to central Europe, the adoption of agriculture in northern and eastern parts of this continent, in the areas which encompass modern-day Latvia and Ukraine, was slow and relatively recent [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Although some features of the Neolithic package, such as ceramics, appeared as early as 8,500–7,500 cal BP [ 17 , 18 ], agriculture was not adopted as a primary subsistence economy until the Late Neolithic/Bronze Age [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 19 ].…”

“…The chronology of the Latvian site of Zvejnieki is adapted from [ 21 ]. The Ukrainian chronology is taken from [ 18 , 22 , 23 ].…”

Animal remains from Neolithic settlements of the Middle Dnieper area (Ukraine)

“…In total, six Neolithic cultural entities have been defined on the territory of Ukraine: Bug‐Dniester, Sursko‐Dnieper, Linear Pottery, Dnieper‐Donets, Neolithic Crimea, and Pit‐Comb Ware (Motuzaitė Matuzevičiūtė, ; Telegin, ). Two of them (namely, Sursko‐Dnieper and Dnieper‐Donets) are represented in the Middle Dnieper area.…”

“…The basis of economy for the representatives of above‐mentioned Neolithic cultures were hunting and fishing, slightly supplemented by agriculture and cattle breeding (Telegin, ). People of Sursko‐Dnieper culture kept cattle, pig, horse, and dog (Motuzaitė Matuzevičiūtė, ). Two studied settlements (Surskyi Island and Shulaiv Island) belong to this cultural entity.…”

“…Neolithic cultures in Ukraine have been subjects of archaeological research for a long time. It is believed that some of them (e.g., Bug‐Dniester) have developed on the local Mesolithic basis under the influence of Criş culture (Kotova, ; Motuzaitė Matuzevičiūtė, ), whereas others (e.g., Sursko‐Dnieper culture)—under the influence of the Neolithic migrants from the Asia Minor. There is an opinion that the Bug‐Dniester culture in Ukraine (previous to Dnieper‐Donets culture) is the same as Criş in Romania, Körös in Hungary, Starčevo in Serbia, and Karanovo in Bulgaria (Motuzaitė Matuzevičiūtė, ).…”