A cenotaph of late catacomb culture from the Khar Zukha I cemetery in Kalmykia

The paper publishes materials of a spectacular assemblage - cenotaph of theEast Manych Catacomb culture (the second half of the 3rd mill. BC taking into accountcalibrated radiocarbon dates) from Khar Zukha I cemetery in Kalmykia. Characteristics ofthe quasi-grave construction and the composition of the artifacts found inside are analyzedin comparison with a standard burial rite typical of burial sites of this culture. The authorsbelieve that the Khar Zukha I cenotaph shows traces of sacrifices, which were, most likely,performed not to worship ancestors (or at least to worship not only ancestors) but to a deityor gods, the links with which were established during the funeral and memorial rite.