Kokurkina O.V.

Key words: diagonal burials, ideological notions, religious beliefs, semantics, symbols, ideology, rite, ceremony.
Diagonal burials reflect certain ideological notions and religious beliefs. “Deciphering” the semantics of early diagonal burials and clarification of the meaning of their symbolic elements shall give us a clearer understanding of the ancient people who practiced them. Rituals were polysemantic symbols and expressed certain ideas and outlook, and also were elements of the social hierarchy. A square burial chamber and diagonal position of the corpse are the main elements and symbols in diagonal burials. Analysis of the main symbolic elements in diagonal burials allows concluding that the burials reflected certain cosmogonical notions.