The Neolithic sites Okhta 1 and costal landscape in St. Petersburg region

The Neolithic site Okhta 1 is the first archaeological site with well-preserved wooden constructions in the St. Petersburg region. The territory of the site was occupied by ancient peoples several times during the Neolithic Age and the Early Metal Age in periods from 7000 to 3000 BP. The first people settled on the coast of the shallow sea bay in 4070 cal BC, after Litorina Sea transgression. The ancient natural environment of the settlement Okhta 1 was reconstructed through examination of the cultural layer deposits by a complex of research methods: archaeological, lithological, mineralogy-geochemical methods, and also pollen, diatoms analysis, radiocarbon dating. The obtained data allowed us to connect the dynamics of cultural development with changes in region paleogeography. The prehistoric peoples of the Neolithic period mainly used the coast zone for fishing. The archaeological collection includes archaeological findings: pottery, stone tools, products of organic origin, wood, and amber jewelry. The remains of wooden structures — stakes, treated wooden slats and rails, and piles — were found. Features of the sites micro relief, its stratigraphy and archaeological observations allowed us to select an earlier coastal fishing zone located on the coast of the gulf, and another fishing and living area connected to river canals.