Chronological Development of the Tripolye Culture Giant-Settlement of Talianki (Ukraine): 14C Dating vs. Pottery Typology

Abstract

The long tradition of relative chronology based on pottery typology has often hindered the development of radiocarbon dating amongst the Tripolye giant-settlement in Ukraine. Although it is fairly reliable, relative chronology encounters insurmountable obstacles in identifying internal phases of development within a single settlement. This paper presents the first attempt to use 14C dates to monitor the chronological development of the Talianki giant-settlement, from its formation to the various phases of development and the final decline. It then goes one step further by proving genetic links between 2 neighboring settlements, confirming that one is the result of migration processes of the other. This study does not intend to prove that one of the dating techniques is better than the other, but to demonstrate that a synergetic combination of the 2 methods will certainly lead to more reliable results.