ENEOLITHIC FLINT INDUSTRIES IN FAR NORTHEASTERN EUROPE: AN APPEARANCE OF NEW COMPLEXITY

Abstract

The article presents the results of studying the flint knapping dynamics according to the distribution of the early metal. The model region is far northeastern Europe (The Republic of Komi, Nenets autonomous area and eastern part of the Archangelsk region). The reference data are informative assemblages of 3rd millenium BC with the evidences of the copper use and its processing. According to modern concepts, they are related to the “Chirkovo-Seimino” cultural type and the Garino (Choinovty) culture. For comparison, regional data submitted to the L’yalovo and Chuzhyayol’ traditions were chosen. The research is based on the concept of technological criteria of archaeological periodization and definition of the Eneolithic as a period of the use of stone tools and copper artefacts made by forging or melting. The methodical basis of studying flint knapping is E. Yu. Girya’s works. The region specifics are the presence of population of the Russian Plain, Urals and Western Siberia cultures, and this fact allows comparing two ways of variability of flint industries during the distribution of the early metal. The bearers of the “Chirkovo-Seimino” cultural type inherit and keep the L’yalovo culture tradition of flint knapping of the Neolithic. It is characterized by manufacture and use of tanged arrowheads. In the Urals, the Garino culture population spread technology of bifacial secondary thinning for making arrowheads and figurines, the amount of them exceeds domestic consumption. The artefacts are given esthetic, symbolic and maybe game functions. In the region under study such cardinal changes are related to the migration of new populations, probably provoked by the challenges of the Eneolithic.