Due to the originality of its components, the bell beaker phenomenon has always presented a very specivic problem. In effect, the extensive geographic distribution ot the cultural components attributed to the bell beakers cannot correspond to a single, culturally homogeneous, population. The scheme presented here is based on a clear distinction between richly ornamented bell beaker ceramics on one hand, and "Begleiterkeramik" mainly used in a domestic context on the other. The latter can be used to characterize cultural entities. With this approach, it is possible to identify three original centres of the emergence of cultural components, all situated on the fringe occupied by the corded ware culture. In future, it is important to explore this phenomenon in relation to the establishment of celtic and italic languages.