The beginning of the «early metal age» in Karelia: materials and research

The paper presents the results of the archaeological study of the transition stage from the stone age to the «early metal age». On the territory of Karelia, this period is represented by cultures of comb-pit and rhomb-pit ceramics. The development of neolithic cultures is controversial. The objective of the study is to present materials and research. Special attention is paid to the monuments with rhomb-pit ceramics and signs of acquaintance of the population with metal. The sources are increased, the analysis of materials is carried out, the main provisions in the development of cultural processes are rethought. Ceramics is the first artificial material. Ceramics ornamentation is the main cultural-defining marker in the study of ancient cultures. According to morpho-typological features, rhomb-pit ceramics is similar to ceramics with a pit-comb ornamentation system. The author of the paper refers the monuments with rhomb-pit ceramics to the transition stage from the Neolithic to the Eneolithic. The researcher focuses on the features of the development of ancient pottery in the IV - early III mil BC.