The Comb Ceramic Culture was a North-East European stone age culture, ca 4200 BC - 2000 BC. The name is derived from the most common decoration on the ceramic finds that look like the imprints of a comb. It appears to have corresponded to the Finno-Ugric cultures of the time.

Distribution

The culture existed in Finland, Carelia, North-West Russia, the Baltic States, and North-Eastern Poland. It (or very closely related cultures) also existed towards the Urals in the east, around the Volga and the Kama River.

Ceramics

The ceramics consists of large pots that are rounded or pointed below, and which could contain 40-60 litres. The forms of the vessels remained unchanged but the decoration changed during the centuries. By dating the elevation of the land, the ceramics have been divided into the following periods: early (ca 4200 BC- ca 3300 BC), typical (ca 3300 BC- ca 2700 BC) and late Comb Ceramic (ca 2800 BC- ca 2000 BC).

Habitations

The settlements were located at sea shores or banks of lakes and the economy was based on hunting, fishing and the gathering of plants. In Finland, it was a maritime culture which became more and more specialised in hunting seals. The dominant dwelling was a teepee of ca 30 square meters and where lived 15 people. Graves were dug at the settlements and the dead were covered with red ochre. The typical Comb Ceramic age shows an extensive use of objects made of flintstone and amber as grave offerings. Within the Järkelä group there are empty dolmens made of sandstone.

Tools

The stone tools changed very little. They were made of local materials, such as slate and quartz, whereas flintstone was imported from the Valdai area in north-western Russia.

Art

The culture was characterised by small figurines of burnt clay and of animal heads made of stone. The animal heads usually depict moose and bears and were derived from the art of the mesolithic. There were also many rock paintings.

Source: Nationalencyklopedin