This is especially surprising because the common idea is that civilization arrived later into northern, colder Europe. Bushcraft like on the wonderful Primitive Technology youtube channel is harder when you don't have a year-round growing period. You need not just warmer clothes, but ways to stockpile and preserve food. Traditional Polish cuisine has many ways - preserves in glass jars, salt, pickling... Actually the cuisine is the aspect that positively surprises visitors the most. So many peoples and empires were present in the region, so many culinary influences. It's only lacking in saltwater fish because historically there was limited sea access.
Arguably in colder climates technology is even more important, due to having to survive in the harsher environment. You need better clothing, better shelter and are more reliant on tools and food preservation techniques.
> the common idea is that civilization arrived later into northern, colder Europe
Some people interpret the notion of "civilized" people vs not-civilized people as racist. I don't agree with that - but that is why that word gives people negative emotions. I subscribe to the literal definition of "civilized" to mean the use of written civil laws (civil society) - which would make its use in this context meaningless since a piece of jewellery does not the codification of laws.
Maybe the climate was different?