Pages: 224-254

The objective of this work is to develop the absolute and relative chronology of the Basarabi culture that occupies territories of the North Serbia, Banat, North Bulgaria, most part of Romania, and the territory of the Middle Dniester. The research is founded on the ornamentation of the Basarabi pottery. All ornamental patterns distinguished on a vessel are considered as a closed complex, which can be segregated by induction.
Comparison of ornamentation patterns allowed to distinguish three main stages in the evolution of the Basarabi culture.
Stage I (early VIII – middle VIII cc. B.C.). The stamp ornamentation predominates.
Stage II (second half of VIII – first half of VII cc. B.C.). The stamp and the incised ornamentation are used equally.
Stage III (second half of VII c. B.C.). The incised ornamentation is combined with the plastic ornament (the channel art).
The research of the ornamentation confirms the opinion of the majority of the researchers that the Basarabi culture «was born» in south-western part of Romania. Three cultural traditions contributed to the process of its formation: Gornea-Kalakaca (incised ornamentation), Insula Banului (stamp ornamentation), Gava-Medias (plastic ornamentation). Gradually, the sources of influence disappeared and the Basarabi began to move towards the east to occupy the territories of the Danube Lowland. Here it experienced another influence from the sites of Tlacene and Babadag III types, manifested in a change of the ornamentation style (use of a combination of the incised with the plastic ornamentation).