The Globular Amphora Culture in the Eastern Baltic: New Discoveries

Abstract Until now, Šventoji in northwest Lithuania was considered the most northern site of Neolithic Globular Amphora Culture (hereafter GAC ; ca. 3400–2500 cal BC ) Europe. Recently, however, ceramics typologically resembling ware were identified among materials from multi-period sites Abora 1 and Iča Latvia further to north Tamula southeast Estonia. Here we present multi-disciplinary analyses these ceramics, including their morphology, function chronology, ascertain whether they could represent sporadic migrations groups into region or exchange increasing social contacts with indigenous hunter-gatherers during period 3000–2600 . Overall, our results align previous studies showing that Eastern Baltic possibly reorientated economy animal husbandry towards fishing, as recently evidenced by composition zooarchaeological assemblages, organic residue analysis ceramic vessels, which markedly differ communities Central Indeed, several coastal southern regions Lithuania, it would appear some migrants replaced Subneolithic forager groups, whilst other areas, had little no impact on local cultural economic development.