Problematic issues of cultural genesis in the Neolithic of the Mari Volga region (study results)

The article is devoted to the results of researches of archaeological cultures of the Neolithic era led by the Mari archaeological expedition in 1956-2015. As a result of field work, numerous collections of material culture of the inhabitants of long-term settlements and short-term sites were obtained, which allowed researchers to distinguish four cultural formations on the base of the original complexes of earthenware (the main indicator of culture): 1 - Dubovskaya, 2 - Kamskaya, 3 - Jurinskaya, 4 - Maidanskaya. The author characterizes the basic elements of each cultural complex, as well as the principles of the distinction of cultures.