Chronology of Pit-Comb Ware in the Middle Volga Region (Russia): 14C Dates of Organic Substances within Pottery Matrix

The Volga-Oka interfluve (Central Russia) Neolithic sites with Pit-Comb Ware were dated to the 3rd millennium BC by the majority of archeologists during the period of 1950–1970. With the appearance of radiocarbon dates for Lyalovo culture, characterized by pit-comb decorated pottery, in 1970, its chronology and periodization correcting was started. At the present time this culture is dated to the period from the end of the 5th till the middle of the 3rd millennium BC. At the beginning of the 21st century, the dating of organic matter in pottery began. The Middle Volga region (south-east area of European Russia) Pit-Comb Ware 14C dates of organic substances within pottery matrix correspond with the dates, which were obtained by the samples from another material in Volga-Oka interfluve. These dates permit to date the Middle Volga region sites with this type of pottery to the first half of the 5th millennium BC and show that Pit-Comb Ware spread to this region quite quickly, but ended earlier than in staging area.