The Dolmen Kolikho, Western Caucasus: Isotopic Investigation of Funeral Practice and Human Mobility

A unique, undisturbed dolmen on the Black Sea coast of Russia, discovered in 2008, reveals significant insights into human mobility and funeral practices from the late Bronze Age (19th to 13th centuries BC). Strontium isotope analysis of human remains from around 70 individuals buried in the megalithic structure indicates diverse origins, suggesting that the site served as a gathering place for people from different regions. This finding challenges assumptions about regional isolation and highlights the complexity of social networks during this period.

Trifonov, V. A., Zaitseva, G. I., van der Plicht, J., Burova, N. D., Bogomolov, E. S., Sementsov, A. A., & Lokhova, O. V. (2012). The Dolmen Kolikho, Western Caucasus: Isotopic Investigation of Funeral Practice and Human Mobility. Radiocarbon, 54(3-4), 761–769. https://doi.org/10.1017/s003382220004741x