Products of amber items from the settlements of the Primorskya culture eastern group

the excavations of Primorskaya culture settlements Pribrezhnoye, ushakovo-1 and ushakovo-3 (Kaliningrad region) have yielded products of amber. Amber items were retrieved from constructions as well as pits, presumably interpreted as burials. Radiocarbon dates from the constructions with amber items in Pribrezhnoye fall within 3100 – 2700 Bc (fig. 1). Object A from dwelling 9 is notable for a necklace consisting of flattened pendants, lentoid buttons and discs (fig. 2). Another amber necklace from Object No 60 included 3 rings and lens-shaped button (fig. 3). two fragments of ceramic and a piece of cylindrical-shaped amber bead were found in Object No 46. All products of amber found in Pribrezhnoye entirely correspond to amber repertoire from the settlements of the late IV – first half of the III mill. Bc. close analogies are revealed also at the settlements Šventoji 6 and 2/4А. the similarity is not limited to amber jewelry. ceramic ware and stone axes are also similar in their ornaments and shapes. Amber waste products and raw materials have not been found at Pribrezhnoye. there are no traces of amber workshop at the site, which evidences that products of amber were not manufactured at the settlement. the same concerns other large settlements of Primorskaya culture. It means that population of the eastern group of Primorskaya culture worked out a distinctive approach to making items of amber. these were made at seasonal short-term sites in the areas where raw amber was collected and then half-finished and finished products of amber were transported to large centers including Pribrezhnoye, Nida, Sukhach, etc. Most likely, the initial period of amber working was related to the early stage of the Primorskaya culture which dates back to the end of IV – first half of III mill. Bc).