Archaeological cultures of the early Neolithic in the North-Eastern Fennoscandia (the problem of origin)

The early Neolithic period on the territory of the north-eastern Fennoscandia is characterized by two archaeological and cultural alliances: sperrings (Finnish Ka 1:1) and säräisniemi I. The area of sperrings cultural monuments comprises the territory of south-ern and central Karelia, Finland and the Aland islands. A small number ofsettlements was discovered in Vologda, Leningrad and Arkhangelsk regions. Säräisniemi I ceramic monuments are known in northern Karelia, northern Finland, northern Norway (Pasvik river and Varanger fjord area) and Kola Peninsula. A similar series of AMS-dates that define the beginning of the early neolithic in the interval of 5300-5200 BC., was obtained in Karelia, Finland and northern Norway. There is no consensus on the origin of the early neolithic cultures found on the territory of the north-eastern Fennoscandia. Some researchers believe that the sperrings culture and säräisniemi I emerged on the basis of local mesolithic cultures, while others associate them with the emergence of new groups of population. In the author's opinion, pottery of the second phase of the upper Volga early neolithic culture is the most similar in the form of vessels, in ochre painting of the vessels, in the set of ornamental elements and ornamental compositions. These clay artifacts could influence the appearance of pottery in the basin of the lake Onega. The appearance of pottery could also occur through the penetration (infiltration) of certain groups of people.