Pages: 379-390

The funerary complex of the Eneolithic period from the Konstantinovsky-6 cemetery represents a typical example of the most ancient burial complexes under kurgans which are related to the tribes of the proto-Pit-Grave (proto-Yamnaya) culture. The buried man was laid on his back with legs bent at the knees symbolizing a special magic contact of human feet with the earth. His body was abundantly sprinkled with red paint including the area of the feet.
The burial of two children disposed close to the first grave reflects the fact that the erection of the mound was connected not only with the burial of an adult but with infants too. Ornaments from the child’s burial in the shape of copper pendants–shells represent long-distance relations of the population from the Northern Caucasus with Eneolithic cultures of the Danube region and can be considered as symbols of the cult of the goddess of fertility.

Keywords: North Caucasus, Constantine plateau, Eneolithic, tumulus, embankment, burial, stratigraphy, ornaments, child, ochre, chronology, funerary ritual

Information about authors:

Sergei Korenevskiy (Moscow, Russian Federation). Doctor of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dmitry Ulyanov St., 19, Moscow, 117036, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]
Yakov Berezin (Kislovodsk, Russian Federation). “Heritage” Ltd. Dzerzhinsky St., 158, room 727, Stavropol, 355003, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]