Religion in ancient times

Remains of burials found by archaeologists give us a clue to understanding of religious beliefs of ancient people. Traces of red paint that plays important role in pagan beliefs were often met in the burials. It was used to recondition the dead or as a symbol of fire. Numerous magical pictures on household goods and embellishments were used as charm against the dark magic of the enemies; they also testify to the fact that people idolized animals and natural forces.

Archaeologist Konstantin Istomin recollects the way they discovered burial ground in Sorochy Mountains:

“The beginning of our excavations was simply fantastic. We stayed by the fire talking all night until the dawn, nobody wanted to sleep any more, and at 5 a.m. we crossed the river to think of where to start excavations. I stuck my spade into the ground and, like in a poor film, saw a bronze arrow-head, a hatchet and some embellishments right under my feet.”

And later Anrew Chizhevsky and his expedition found there burials where Harinoborian tribes buried their dead. The lived almost 5000 years ago and scientists knew nothing about their burials up to this case. And what’s important - the burials in Sorochy Mountains was well-preserved. It’s also unique because people there were buried in squatting position.

About a thousand years later this ancient graveyard was chosen by Cherkaskul people (according to one of beliefs they were the legendary Aryans, who traveled all over the world in their chariots, and were depicted as super-people by the Third Reich).

And in IX – VII centuries B.C. right above the burials of Harinoborian tribes there appeared new ones of Anansky people. Their burials seem to be the most exotic.  For some unknown reason these people viewed funerals as a complicated kind of art: they divided body into parts and either would put a leg above the head or sometimes even make a path of the bones… Their graves have the form of a semicircle, sprinkled with red paint – symbolizing life - along the borders. On this line of paint was the weapon, within the circle were the dead, and outside the line were embellishments.

In the society of Pjanoborian people there surely was a caste of priests-shamans, and they had an idea of a god-father and a god-mother.