The problems of absolute dating of catacomb culture in the North Pontic zone

The paper discusses the results of application of scientific methods in constructing absolute chronology of the Bronze Age cultures in the East European steppes. Parallel to the increase of number of radiocarbon dates from the Catacomb sites, new complications have arisen. These are related mostly to the methodic approaches specialists use. On the example of Catacomb culture of the North Pontic zone the author shows importance of critical assessment and dates crosschecking. According to the material and association context they are obtained from, the dates are divided into two quality classes. Statistical processing of dates allows obtaining more precise chronology. Thus, it is shown that the early Catacomb culture at least for certain period of time (ca. 2800-2500 BC) coexisted with Pit-grave culture. Methodically, samples should be taken from materials with short lifetime and from several burials of single kurgan forming a stratigraphic sequence. In general, it is necessary to improve quality of publications. Thus it will become possible to construct a reliable chronology of the Bronze Age steppe cultures.