Chronological schemes of the Late Hallstatt period (HaD) in Central Europe: new opportuni-ties for the synchronization and refinement of dates

Abstract

Unification of regional chronological schemes is one of the key issues in Early Iron Age archaeology. The main markers of the Late Hallstatt period are Scythian arrowheads and antique imports. Biconical glass beads, produced at the Yahorlyk settlement (in the first third of the VIth century BC), were found in the Eastern European Forest-Steppe and in the area of the Tarnobrzeg Lusatian Culture. This period is synchronised with the HaD1 of Central Europe, phase III/1 of the TLC and the late group of burials of the second phase of the Kelermes period. Its final phase is associated with the so-called “Scythian invasions” in Central Europe, which led to the decline of the Chotyniec agglomeration, West-Podolian and East-Podolian groups. A few TLC complexes of the Grodzisko Dolne, site 22, can be dated somewhat later, to the middle or second half of the VIth century BC (HaD2). Also, at this time, the Pomeranian population appeared in the south-eastern area of the Lusatian tribes and a new culture model (post Lusatian-Pomeranian stage) arose.