Glazkovskoe predmestie, Archaeological site in Irkutsk, Russia.
Glazkovskoe Predmestie is an archaeological site on the left bank of the Angara River in Irkutsk containing burial grounds from the Neolithic and Bronze Age. Located within Paris Commune Park in the Sverdlovsky district, it preserves the remains of multiple burial periods spanning several millennia.
The site was discovered in 1887 by archaeologist Nikolai Vitkovsky, who found bones and artifacts during orphanage construction. Later excavations revealed burials from different prehistoric periods at this settlement location along the Angara.
The burial sites show practices where bodies were oriented toward the northeast and covered with red ochre, placed alongside stone axes and jade ornaments. These customs reveal the spiritual beliefs and social structures of early communities living near the Angara River.
The archaeological grounds are located within the park and are best reached on foot, with easier access during warmer months. Visitors should know that actual burials lie underground and are only fully visible during planned excavations or with guided tours.
The site contains the only known burial worldwide where a northern wolf skeleton was found holding a human skull in its paws. This unusual discovery raises questions about the relationship between people and animals in this prehistoric society.
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