Over 120 prehistoric pottery sherds from mainland Finland and the Åland
Islands in the north Baltic region were studied for their organic
residue content. Preserved fat residues found in these vessels indicated
that the food procurement pattern was broad during the Neolithic and
Early Metal periods. Based on previous research and these results, it
appears that animal husbandry came to Finland with the Corded Ware
culture. Groups using the succeeding Late Neolithic Kiukainen Ware did
not, however, practice animal husbandry to any great extent, as there is
an indication of dairy fats in only a single sherd. In general, even
after dairy farming arrived in the area, prehistoric groups in southern
and south-western Finland continued or returned to a hunter-gatherer
lifestyle. During the Early Metal period, animal husbandry increased in
importance among the groups living in the area, and the level of
dairying then intensified.