Kotov V.G.

Key words: bear cult, sanctuary cave, Upper Paleolithiс, South Urals.
The article presents the results of research at Zapovednaya cave in the Beloretsky region of Bashkortostan. The cave has numerous anthropogenic assemblages related to the worship of cave bear bones and skulls. Investigations revealed the traces of multilayer occupation sites inside the cave. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples revealed that the sanctuary is 11–12 thousand years old. The cave bear bones are over 28 thousand years old. Research at Zapovednaya cave throws light on the early stage of the bear cult in the Urals region during the transitional time from the Paleolithic to the Mesolithic.