C14 dates and absolute chronology of Cucutenitrypillia: what and how do we actually date?
C14 dates and absolute chronology of Cucutenitrypillia: what and how do we actually date?

Summary/Abstract: In the last decade, C14 data have been obtained for the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture, which exceeds the total number obtained in the last 50 years by several times. However, the picture obtained using the latest AMS data differs significantly from the periodization developed on the basis of archaeological materials. As a result, the discussion of a “crisis of the traditional periodization” of the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture began. One of the reasons for the anomalies may be the selection of materials for dating. For example, for the data from Nebelivka, animal bones, charcoal (including carbonized plant grains) and ceramics were used. In addition to several unidentified species, the laboratory received about 12 varieties of bones from different parts of the skeleton of domestic and wild animals. The carbonized remains consist of three different plant species. This list of specimens would enrich a special study of animal and plant life existing about six thousand years ago. Special studies in this direction have already given very interesting results regarding the feeding of domestic animals (Makarewicz et al. 2022) or the use of organic fertilizers in the cultivation of cereals (Schlütz et al. 2023). However, the type of samples must be standardized in such a way that the bones are from a certain type of animal. They must also belong to a certain part of the skeleton. This will make it possible to study and compensate for deviations, as is done with the reservoir effect. The same applies to human bones. The values ​​are based on the geological characteristics of the territory. In order to investigate the real situation, it is necessary to start dating only the fully investigated sites, but not those surveyed by surveys. Thus, the risks of erroneous conclusions regarding the absolute chronology of the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture and its archaeological periodization will be minimized.

• Details
• Contents