Modern concepts of Neolithic cultures in northeastern Europe

The authors summarize and systematize data on Neolithic cultures in northeastern Europe. It is a modern territory of the Komi Republic, the northern part of the Perm Territory, the Vologda and Arkhangelsk Regions, and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Based on the critical analysis of evidences, their analysis and interpretation, the authors present their views on the features of the formation, development and fate of the Neolithic cultures of the region. It has been established that the studied region contains northern and northeastern provinces of the famous cultures of the early and middle Neolithic of Eastern Europe: Verkhnevolzhskaya, Kamskaya, Lyalovskaya and Kargopolskaya. In addition, fragments of some cultures were identified. Their initial areas of formation are not yet reliably determined. They are represented by early Neolithic sites such as Dutovo 1, Chernoborskaya III, Enty IА and Chyornaya Vadya. Some types of pottery without a specific context document the presence of population groups in northeastern Europe whose status has not been defined yet. The authors suggest that the formation of Neolithic cultures in the region is associated with the search for undeveloped feeding areas, their development and short-term exploitation by small groups of people commensurate with elementary or unified families. Until the Eneolithic in the greater territory of northeastern Europe the conditions for long-term residence of the Neolithic population were absent as well as the formation of local traditions.