As a field of historical sciences, pre-protohistory was founded in the 19th century with a methodological framework that made it possible to establish the chronological framework essential to its research. Two main systems based on relative chronology cover Northern Europe - that of O. Montelius - and Central Europe - that of P. Reinecke. The latter, progressively refined and then adjusted to absolute chronology thanks to dating methods, is certainly a tool that can be optimised, but the criticisms are not always relevant. A concrete example is presented which concerns the final cycle of the Early Bronze Age between about 1750/1700 and 1550/1500 BC.