Environment and economic activities of Neolithic and Bronze age populations of the Northern Pontic area

Available archaeological and archaeobotanical evidence shows that the colonization of the Ukraine by agrarian tribes occurred in the Atlantic and at the beginning of the Subboreal periods of the Holocene. Conditions were quite favourable for agricultural activities. Under conditions of a dry Subboreal climate with the frequent occurrence of droughts and cold spells, significant changes occurred in the economy, social structure and material culture of the populations. The Bronze Age economy in the steppe of Ukraine was based on pastoral stock-breeding and agriculture. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.