Added December 25, 1997. Updated November 28, 2000.

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Trade and Communication within the Neolithic Funnel Beaker Culture (TRB) of the Baltic Region.

There is no trade without communication. Flint was of major importance for the TRB. However, the sources of good quality flint were limited. Implements made from flint originating in the Vistula region reached western Pommerania. This western border coincides with that of the boundary between the TRB East and North Group. If such archaeological groups represent regional communication zones, they must also represent exchange systems. In the North Group amber was used for beads. Their distribution keeps to a broad strip of land parallel to the Mecklenburg/Schleswig-Holstein coast. Bronze Age mounds often align in long chains, interpreted as ("amber") routes a century ago. The megalithic tombs sometimes have similar alignments, suggesting communication lines.

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Dr. Jürgen Hoika

Schleswig-Holsteinisches Landesmuseum

Christian-Albrechts-Universität

Schloß Gottorp

D-24837 Schleswig,

Germany

Tel. +49 46 21 8 13 3 00 Ext. 302, Fax +49 46 21 8 13 5 35, Hoika@t-online.de

Please send comments or questions to Max Baldia.