CONTACTS AND THE NEOLITHIC ARCHAEOLOGY OF NORTH-EASTERN EUROPE
This paper discusses the role the borders and different research traditions have had in the formation of archaeological views and narratives. It focuses on the Neolithic Stone Age (ca. 5500- 1800 calBC) of Finland and the Karelian Republic (Russia), and uses four case studies to discuss different aspects of Neolithic development, as well as how restrictions and stimuli coming from outside (and inside) the archaeological community affect the image created of prehistory, especially of the contacts and interaction between different regions. The case studies include the following topics: the appearance of pottery (Sperrings 1 and Säräisniemi 1 Wares, the late 6th and early 5th millennia calBC), Typical Comb Ware (the early 4th millennium calBC), the asbestosand organic-tempered wares (the mid-4th millennium calBC) and Corded Ware (the 3rd millennium calBC) (Fig. 1). As a conclusion, North-Eastern Europe can be presented as an example of how artificial divisions can appear into prehistory due to modern factors affecting the research. The petrified and stereotyped images of the neighboring areas do not fit the currently existing archaeological materials (Fig. 2; 3) - inter-regional comparisons show variable interaction between the areas, which needs to be studied on case-by-case-basis.