The Early Eneolithic burial ground at Ekaterinovsky Cape in the forest-steppe Volga region

Abstract

The Ekaterinovsky Cape burial ground is located on the territory of the Samara region of Russia on the left bank of the River Volga. The excavation of the burial ground was carried out in 2013–2018. During this time we studied 100 graves, including sacrificial sites with ceramics of collar type and sacrificial complexes. Most of the skeletons were in an extended position on their backs. There are some skeletons on their backs with legs bent at the knees, secondary burials and separate burials of skulls. Ochre was used. The inventory included beads made from shells, stone products, animal teeth, bones and horns. There we distinguished graves with stone sceptres and zoomorphic rods made from the horn. The burial ground belongs to the Samara culture and dates from the second half of the 6th millennium BC.