In the following I shall concentrate upon the social utilisation of metal objects and their “visible pres- ence” in archaeological sources. The aim is to dis- tinguish the dimensions of metallurgy practised during the fourth and third millennia BC. The second half of the fourth and the early third millennium BC are marked by the initial emer- gence of basic techniques of production in Central and East Europe. Amongst these are new develop- ments in metallurgy. In addition to items of copper and gold, for the first time a large number of ob- jects made of silver also appear. Different kinds of copper alloys are used simultaneously, including arsenic, silver, antimony, nickel and tin. 1 This is as- sociated with the appearance of new kinds of weap- onry and tools. And along with the domestication of the horse, the wagon becomes widespread as a new means of transport. Yet, innovative techniques are not assumed, dis- seminated and developed further, because they are practical and useful. Far more instead, a corre- sponding state of technical development must have already existed, into which the innovations could be integrated. In particular, a social framework must have been present in which these innovations could be effective. Indeed, many useful innovations are not adapted, because no appropriate social frame- work exists into which they can be absorbed. Thus, it is necessary that not only discuss the technical details of innovation, but also stake out the field in which they were effective. Here I mean the network of relations to which an object, for instance a techni- cal innovation, is connected. Concerning archaeology of the fourth and third millennia BC, there is still a lot of work to be ac- complished in the description of this network of relations. Until quite recently, the cultural phenom- ena, which we shall discuss, were dated within a relatively narrow time-horizon, namely the end of the third and beginning of the second millennium BC. Only with the use of datings that are independ- ent of typology has essential progress been made. New finds from the past fieen years and, above all, the dendrochronological results from wetland selements and calibrated radiocarbon dates have led to major changes in our picture of the cultural development in Europe during the fourth and third millennia BC. 2 Widespread cultural phenomena such as the Baden Culture, Globular Amphorae and Corded Ware, Bell-Beakers and the Pit-and Catacomb Grave cultures have now been revealed as not only as be- ing older than previously thought, but also that they encompassed a distinctly longer time-span. Surprising and new questions as to the inter- pretation of these cultural phenomena have arisen through the synchronisation and comparison with early Bronze Age appearances in Southeast Europe. Thereby, early civilisations in Egypt and Meso- potamia as well as the Iranian highlands must be taken into account. These fundamental changes in archaeological relationships between East and West call for a new definition of the character of cultural appearances in Europe and a reconsideration of their significance for the emergence of a “European Bronze Age”. Although today radiocarbon dates enable an overview of the general chronological framework of the Corded Ware-, Bell-Beaker- and Pit-Grave- and Catacomb Grave cultures, the internal division of the archaeological material remains an unsolved problem. No great progress can be achieved in ordering the fourth and third millennia BC using purely typological arguments alone. This becomes clear when comparing radiocarbon dates with the traditional division into phases and sub-phases, which as a rule is scarcely founded. The longevity of metal forms as well as that of ceramic forms is a topic of its own. Thus, my approach to the mate- Svend Hansen Communication and exchange between the Northern Caucasus and Central Europe in the fourth millennium BC 1 H 1982; C 1992; S 1994; Y 2000. 2 K 2004, 109 ff. Fig. 1. Vessels from the Majkop kurgan, Russia (aer Кореневский 2004).