The main features of the eneolithic cultures of the forest zone in Eastern Europe

Abstract

The aim of the study is to identify universal features in the most studied Eneolithic cultures of the forest zone (asbestos-tempered pottery culture such as Voynavolok, Orovnavolok and Palayguba, the Volosovo, Choynovtin, Chuzhyayel, Garin, Bor cultures). The territorial limits are from Finland and Karelia to the Urals. The chronological framework of the study is IVII thousand BC, since the cultures of the Eneolithic of this territory date from this period. The signs of the transition from the Neolithic to the Eneolithic include significant innovations in the creation of metal, a change in the approach to the production of ceramic tableware and the widespread use of objects with bifacial refinement, an increase in dwellings, the appearance of non-utilitarian items and the development of local production focused on mutually beneficial exchange with neighboring regions. Based on the analysis of the cultures, we can conclude that the most developed ones are the Volosovo, Choynovtin, Garin cultures and the culture of asbestos-tempered pottery ceramics, in which all the indicated signs are present. The less developed ones belong to the Bor and Chuzhyayel cultures. It is not excluded that the results obtained can be adjusted with further studies of these territories.