Deconstructing the concept of Subneolithic farming in the southeastern Baltic

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: AMS; Neolitizacija; Archeozoologija; Archeobotanika; Lenkija (Lenkijos karalystė. Kingdom of Poland. Poland); AMS dates; Neolithisation; Archaeozoology; Archaeobotany; Pollen; Lithuania.

ENThe paper presents a critical review of the zooarchaeological, macrobotanical, palynological and archaeological data from Lithuania and their previous interpretations, which formerly served as the basis for the concept of development of pre-Neolithic or Subneolithic low intensity farming and/or livestock breeding in the eastern Baltic region. Moreover, it presents the first direct AMS dates from the crop remains and domestic animal bones discovered in Lithuanian Subneolithic and Neolithic settlements. An investigation proved that most of, or possibly all, the early farming “evidence” came from the wrong identification of the plant and animal species and incorrect dating of crop remains and domestic animal bones. The errors of dating were caused by the fresh water reservoir effect being ignored when dating the bulk lacustrine sediment samples, by the failure to evaluate the impact of the palimpsest and bioturbation phenomena on the formation of an archaeological layer, and by insufficient attention to stratigraphy and spatial documentation of the finds during very extensive archaeological excavations in the second half of the 20th century. To date, no credible evidence is available in Lithuania that domestic animals had been kept and crops grown before the Neolithic Globular Amphora and Corded Ware cultures in 3200/2700 cal bc. However, this does not mean such evidence may not appear in the future, provided direct AMS dating of animal and crop residues from Subneolithic contexts continues, and systematic macrobotanical studies finally start not only in the lake settlement and fishing sites, but also in higher altitude areas. [From the publication]

• A Closer look at Šventoji 2/4 – a stratified stone age fishing site in coastal Lithuania, 3200–2600 cal BC / Gytis Piličiauskas, Giedrė Vaikutienė, Dalia Kisielienė, Aldona Damušytė , Giedrė Piličiauskienė, Kęstutis Peseckas, Lukas Gaižauskas. Lietuvos archeologija. 2019, t. 45, p. 105–143.
• Bronze casting and communication in the Southeastern Baltic Bronze Age / Vytenis Podėnas, Agnė Čivilytė. Lietuvos archeologija. 2019, t. 45, p. 169–199.
• Comb ware culture in Lithuania: new evidence from Šventoji 43 / Gytis Piličiauskas, Dalia Kisielienė, Giedrė Piličiauskienė, Likas Gaižauskas. Algirdas Kalinauskas. Lietuvos archeologija. 2019, t. 45, p. 67-103.
• Emergence of hilltop settlements in the Southeastern Baltic: new AMS 14C dates from Lithuania and revised chronology / Vytenis Podėnas. Radiocarbon. 2020, Vol. 62, nr. 2, p. 361-377.
• Grūdus bežarstant: ankstyvoji Lietuvos archeobotanikos istorija / Karolis Minkevičius. Atrasti praeitį. Išsaugoti ateičiai : straipsniai, skirti archeologo Gintauto Zabielos 60-mečiui / sudarytojai: Vykintas Vaitkevičius, Audronė Bliujienė. Klaipėda : Klaipėdos universiteto leidykla, 2022. P. 88-110.
• Mityba Lietuvoje 4500-1200 cal BC maisto liekanų keramikoje bendrųjų mėginių izotopinių tyrimų duomenimis / Gytis Piličiauskas, Raminta Skipitytė, Carl Heron. Lietuvos archeologija. 2018, t. 44, p. 9-37.
• New insights into the subsistence economy of the Late Bronze Age (1100-400 cal BC) communities in the southeastern Baltic / Karolis Minkevičius, Giedrė Piličiauskienė, Vytenis Podėnas, Viktorija Micelicaitė, Darius Kontrimas, Justina Šapolaitė, Žilvinas Ežerinskis, Andrius Garbaras, Agnė Čivilytė, Heidi Luik and Linas Tamulynas. Archaeologia Baltica. 2023, t. 30, p. 58-79.
• Paleomitybos tyrimai archeologijoje ir eksperimentinės archeologijos galimybės / Giedrė Motuzaitė-Matuzevičiūtė, Auksė Rusteikytė. Eksperimentinė archeologija : Lietuvos materialaus paveldo rekonstrukcija. T. 2 / sudarytoja Daiva Luchtanienė. Vilnius: Akademinė leidyba, 2017. P. 57-80.
• Peripheral or non-peripheral? The "world view" of the Bronze Age people in the eastern Baltic / Agnė Čivilytė. Baltic in the Bronze Age: regional patterns, interactions and boundaries / edited by Daniela Hofmann, Frank Nikulka & Robert Schumann Leiden : Sidestone Press, 2022. P. 309-324.
• The Decorated spindle - shaped bone dagger from Šarnelė: the earliest example of hunter - gatherer mobile art in Lithuania / Tomas Rimkus, Adomas Butrimas, Marius Iršėnas, John Meadows. Archaeologia Baltica. 2019, t. 26, p. 50-63.
• The Earliest evidence for crop cultivation during the Early Bronze Age in the southeastern Baltic / Gytis Piličiauskas, Rokas Vengalis, Karolis Minkevičius, Dalia Kisielienė, Žilvinas Ežerinskis, Justina Šapolaitė, Raminta Skipitytė, Harry K. Robsone. Journal of archaeological science: reports. 2021, 36, 102881, p. 1-9.
• The Possible geographic margin effect on the delay of agriculture introduction into the East Baltic / Giedre Motuzaite Matuzeviciute. Estonian journal of archaeology 2018, vol. 22, iss. 2, p. 149-162.
• Vėlyvojo bronzos amžiaus ekonomika Rytų Baltijos regione: naujo modelio link / Agnė Čivilytė, Vytenis Podėnas, Karolis Minkevičius, Heidi Luik. Lietuvos archeologija. 2022, t. 48, p. 57-99.
• Vilniaus miesto šunų pėdsakų tyrimai / Povilas Blaževičius. Lituanistica. 2021, Nr. 3, p. 194-210.
• Zooarchaeology in Lithuania / Giedrė Piličiauskienė, Viktorija Micelicaitė. Archaeologia Lituana. 2020, t. 21, p. 155-168.