In the 6,600-year-old grave of a young man at Ekaterinovskia Mys in Russia’s Volga Region, archaeologists uncovered a breathtaking burial scene . He was laid to rest with a carved elk antler shaped like a bird’s head , three stone mace heads , and the skeleton of a young goat dusted with sacred red ocher . Among the grave goods were also two bones from other individuals—perhaps offerings or symbols of ancestral ties . This richly adorned burial reveals deep spiritual beliefs and complex rituals of Neolithic communities .

The tombs were found during renovations at a local park, and further excavation unearthed 70 burial goods from the tombs, including bronze mirrors and several pottery.

There were also a turtle button bronze seal, lacquered cases, wooden barrels, ear cups, and glazed pottery uncovered at the site.

One of the tombs also contained mirror brushes, bamboo hairpins, copper seals, copper hooks, iron swords, and other burial goods, archaeologists noted.

Researchers also found that the coffins could be accessed through common passageways, which were also connected to rooms with doors and windows.

An unearthed seal suggests the owner of one of the tombs is “Huan Jia”.

Two tombs contained inscriptions of the surname “Huan”, hinting at a familial connection, likely the final resting place of a married couple.

“What is rare is that two of the three tombs have been unearthed with seals and the same surname is Huan, so it can be inferred that the cemetery should belong to the tombs of the Huan family,” the institute said.

Archaeologists also found the “exquisitely crafted and uncommon” traces of a coffin carriage with “two round wooden wheels” likely used to transport the deceased to the grave site.