The colors triad in the burial rite of the East European steppes in the bronze age

The paper explores the use of three colours (white, black and red) in the burial practice of the East European steppes in the Bronze Age. Evidence of the use of thesecolours in the preceding period is provided. Ochre (red pigment) is present in the burials ingreat quantities, while chalk (white pigment) was present to a lesser extent Essentially, itis suggested that the matting and the covering of the dead were, probably, of black colour.The paper concludes that in the burial rite the white colour is associated with purification;the black colour is associated with eternal rest while the red colour is a symbol of rebirth.