New14C Dates of Neolithic and Early Metal Period Ceramics in Lithuania

New radiocarbon dating of Neolithic and Early Metal Period ceramics in Lithuania has significantly revised the chronology of prehistoric pottery styles, shifting some by hundreds to a thousand years. The study, involving 23 samples from 14 sites, identified Textile Ware sherds as the oldest known in the East Baltic (4230–2920 cal BC) and dated Narva and Combed-like Wares to 3970–3370 cal BC. Bay Coast Ware, including cord-impressed vessels, was found to predate the Corded Ware/Battle Axe horizon in Europe (3940–3540 cal BC). Additionally, Globular Amphorae Ware was placed beyond the Bay Coast chronology (3450–2920 cal BC), while Žalioji type coarse ware was dated to 760–515 cal BC instead of the previously assumed 2nd millennium. Cremated human bones from urns were dated to 790–380 cal BC. The study used accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) but noted potential freshwater reservoir effects in dates derived from charred food remains.

Piličiauskas, G., Lavento, M., Oinonen, M., & Grižas, G. (2011). New¹⁴C Dates of Neolithic and Early Metal Period Ceramics in Lithuania. Radiocarbon, 53(4), 629–643. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033822200039096