INTENTION OF THE WESTERN CAUCASUS DOLMENS

Abstract

In the present article the critical analysis of the most interesting hypotheses of the appointment of
dolmens of the Western Caucasus is carried out. A number of the arguments testifying against the main
scientific hypothesis of their appointment existing now – constructions for burials is given. The main
argument against this hypothesis is the complete absence of remains of burial contents in the vast
majority of dolmens. The authors proposed and substantiated a new and most probable hypothesis of the
initial appointment of the dolmens of the Western Caucasus. Dolmens served as shelters for children from
large predators, random single hunters from other tribes and some natural phenomena. In favor of the
hypothesis put forward by us testify the location, design and size of dolmens, their orientation on the
sides of the world, as well as the way of life and living conditions of the population living at that time.
The proposed hypothesis does not reject the possibility of later use of part of the dolmens for burial.