New¹⁴C Dates of Neolithic and Early Metal Period Ceramics in Lithuania

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Twenty-three samples of charred food remains, charcoal, burned animals, and human bones from 14 Lithuanian prehistoric sites were dated by radiocarbon as part of a dating project oriented towards renewing the prehistoric ceramics chronology. The new dates modified the dating of ceramic styles by hundreds to a thousand years. Three Textile Ware sherds were dated to 4230-2920 cal BC-the oldest known dates of Textile Ware pottery in the East Baltic. The organic-tempered pointed-bottomed Narva and Combed-like Wares were dated to 3970-3370 cal BC, while Bay Coast Ware (Haffküstenkultur, Rzucewo), including vessels decorated with cord impressions, were dated to 3940-3540 cal BC, i.e. to a period well preceding the Corded Ware/Battle Axe horizon in Europe. Three dates of Globular Amphorae Ware placed the phenomenon directly beyond the Bay Coast chronology, i.e. in 3450-2920 cal BC. Chamotte-tempered Corded Ware from SE Lithuania was dated to 2840-2570 cal BC. The first absolute dating of coarse ware of the Žalioji type pointed to a period of 760-515 cal BC instead of the previously assumed 2nd millennium cal BC. Cremated human bones from urns found at Paveisininkai, Kernavě, and Naudvaris cemeteries were dated to 790-380 cal BC. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dates obtained from charred food remains should be treated with a certain caution due to a possible freshwater reservoir effect that has not yet been examined in Lithuania.

The freshwater reservoir effect in radiocarbon dating

“…On coastal Lithuanian sites such as Nida on the bank of the Currish Lagoon, δ 13 C values below -25 indicate freshwater resources, and food crust 14 C dates appeared 400 to 500 years older than the earliest terrestrial dates from the same site [81]. Pottery from the Danish fjord sites Bjørnsholm and Norsminde showed evidence for the heating of fish oils, but interestingly, not for marine ingredients, in spite of the availiability of marine resources [82].…”

Aquatic Radiocarbon Reservoir Offsets in the Southeastern Baltic

“…The data support a minor FRE only at Lake Biržulis and the results of paired dates from the graves suggest that dates made on human bones at the Spiginas and Donkalnis cemeteries should be recognized as reliable. Foodcrust dates from Daktariškė 5, which is situated on the shore of Lake Biržulis, might be also reliable and may not need correction (Table 2; Piličiauskas et al 2011), although the spatial variability of the FRE is unknown.…”

“…A charcoal date (Poz-49776: 4290 ± 35 BP) from the lower part of the section, together with bulk soil date (Poz-49778: 4230 ± 35 BP) from the mid-section appear reasonable. It is very likely that the charcoal (Poz-49776: Piličiauskas et al 2011foodcrust, EM2243:2087, 1974 Hela-2475 4850 ± 34 Rzucewo I Piličiauskas et al 2011charcoal, area 2, fireplace 46, 1975Vs-632 4460 ± 110 Rimantienė 1989charcoal, fireplace 56, 1975Bln-25924070 ± 50 Rimantienė 1989wood, 1976 Vs-321 4630 ± 120 Rimantienė 1989foodcrust, sherd EM2243:3778, 1976 Hela-2469 4946 ± 34 4340 ± 56 1 Rzucewo I 4.3 34.6 9.4 8.8 -29.4 Piličiauskas et al 2011;this study foodcrust, sherd EM2243:3760, 1976 Hela-2728 4818 ± 43 4210 ± 62 1 Rzucewo I 5.0 47.5 11.0 8.5 -31.6 this study charcoal, area 1, fireplace 24,1977 Vs-631 4620 ± 110 Rimantienė 1989foodcrust, sherd EM2243:4331, 1977 Hela-2467 5041 ± 34 4430 ± 56 1 Rzucewo I 6.5 30.8 5.6 9.6 -27.1 Piličiauskas et al 2011;this study foodcrust, sherd EM2243:5337, 1978 Hela-2729 5220 ± 40…”

“…In the east Baltic, the problem was first recognized only in 2010 when surprisingly old 14 C dates were obtained on Subneolithic and Neolithic 1 foodcrusts or visible charred deposits adhering to the surfaces of ceramic vessel walls. At the time, an AMS dating program of 18 foodcrusts from various Subneolithic/Neolithic sites in Lithuania was initiated (Piličiauskas et al 2011). Two main shortcomings prevented an adequate understanding and definition of the extent of the suspected aquatic reservoir offsets at that time.…”

Reconstruction of the Dead (Grey) Dune evolution along the Curonian Spit, Southeastern Baltic

“…radiocarbon dating of artefacts. The oldest radiocarbon dates received by the archaeologists testified that about 5800 years BP the Curonian Spit was already populated (Rimantiene, 1999;Piliciauskas et al, 2011), i.e. it happened immediately after the spit was overgrown and the first paleosol generation was established.…”