Funeral and memorial rites of the Svetlovodsk burial ground of the Scythians in Central Ukraine

The article is devoted to the characteristics of the funeral rite of the Svetlovodsk burial ground. It is located in the south of the Dnieper Right-Bank Forest-Steppe region, on the border with the Scythian Steppe. The necropolis was explored in 1975, 1979-1986, 1989-990 under the direction of N.M. Boky and I.A. Kozyr’. During the work, 161 burials of the Scythian time were excavated. The burial ground arose in the Middle Scythian time, but was mainly used in the 4th century BC. The dead were buried in pits, catacombs, pits with a step, a wooden tomb. The dead were buried in a position directly on their backs. Most often orienting them with their heads to the west. They were accompanied by weapons, jewelry and mirrors, dishes, tools. The necropolis belonged not to the wealthy, but to the numerous Scythian community.