The earliest catacombs and symbolic aspects of striking weapons among the populations groups of the early copper-bronze age from the north pontic -fore-Caucasus steppes

The main tasks of the paper is to review the earliest catacombs and strikingweapons in the funeral rite practiced by the Pontic - Fore-Caucasus population groups ofthe Early Eneolithic (5th mill. BC) as well as to study catacomb graves containing Maikop-Novosvobodnaya ceramics dating to 4th mill. BC. The paper concludes that the form of theEneolithic catacomb in the steppe area of Eastern Europe and the Fore-Caucasus is relatedto the burial tradition used to bury some women and children. Graves containing strikingweapons (weapons, stone adzes) are related to burials of adult males made in pits. Stoneadzes have not been found in female graves. In accordance with the child burial rite, graveofferings and details of the funeral garment included things typical for both the male andthe female burial rites. The form of a catacomb or a niche burial and its cult meaning wereadopted by the Maikop and Novosvobodnaya unities and are recorded in their Kuma-Manych periphery from time to time.