Pages: 237-295

The article represents an attempt to investigate the historic-cultural situation in eastern and southeastern Europe in the late Copper Age (according to the Balkan chronology – c. 4500-4300 B.C.). Four kinds of archaeological evidence are drawn for the analysis. They are 1) the burial sites from the northwest Pontic region (the Suvorovo group) which are traditionally considered to be related to east European steppe cultures (Sredny Stog II, Khvalynsk, etc.); 2) various categories of finds which are believed to reflect the penetration or invasion of steppe stockbreeding groups into the area of early agricultural civilizations; 3) the temporal and spatial alterations of the Cucuteni-Tripolye culture based on the analysis of its settlement system; 4) comparative statistical data for the early Eneolithic cultures of the north Pontic region. The analysis to have been carried out shows that the chronological, spatial and contextual distribution of burial sites and objects (stone scepters, so-called «cheek-pieces», Unio shell beads, Cucuteni C type pottery, etc) of allegedly eastern origin does not support the idea of a westward expansion of steppe tribes. They are spread very irregularly over the territory of early farming cultures. Contextual conditions of find deposition are different. They are found either in graves, or in settlements, or as stray finds depending on a certain cultural area. Such a distribution obviously does not correspond to the situation of a single migration «wave» from the east. It tells rather in favor of a migration directed from the western part of the Cucuteni-Tripolye area. The reason that caused the migration is rooted in demographic problems. One can observe that the growth of settlement number at the Cucuteni A and B stages has constantly resulted in the appearance of Cucuteni traits in the eastern Balkan region and steppe zone. In comparison to the dramatic processes within the early agricultural area the development of steppe east European cultures looks much less dynamic. They were strongly influenced by farming cultures during the whole Copper Age.