The Earliest phase of the LBK in the Lublin region: New evidence from the Hrubieszów Basin

Abstract

This article is an attempt to initially characterize the oldest phase of the LBK in the Lublin region, or more precisely – within its eastern part, where all related discoveries are concentrated. The main point of reference is the inventory discovered in 2011-2012 in Świerszczów (Hrubieszów Basin), which is currently the largest homogenous collection originating from this region, related to the early phase of the LBK. The artefacts described herein, as well as the stylistic differentiation of other similarly dated ceramic inventories from the eastern Lublin region (and from neighbouring Volhynia) currently allow us to distinguish two essential stages of the colonisation of this area in the oldest phase of the Neolithic. The older stage corresponds to the Gniechowice-Milanovce horizon (moderte and ephemeral settlement), and younger (Zofipole style), should be correlated with the Moravian phase Ib, including at least the younger section of its development (sub-phase Ib2).