Time to revise. Dating the emergence of Typical Comb Ware in Latvia

The emergence of Typical Comb Ware pottery, marking the beginning of the Middle Neolithic, is currently dated in Latvia to approximately 4100 BCE. This is several centuries earlier than the onset of this phenomenon in other regions, including those believed to be the origin of Typical Comb Ware influence. This discrepancy is implausible, and this paper explores the rea­sons behind it. The article compiles all published dates associated with the beginning of the Middle Neolithic and Typical Comb Ware in Latvia. The evaluation of the data shows that most dates previously connected with this phase cannot be definitively associated with Typical Comb Ware material culture, or are affected by other issues, such as dietary offsets. It is proposed that the boundary for the beginning of Typical Comb Ware in Latvia should be more closely aligned with current understandings of the dating of this phase elsewhere in northeastern Europe and should be set at 3900–3800 BCE at the earliest.