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The paper examines animal burials in the Middle Bronze Age in the South Caucasus, particularly in Armenia. The authors analyze the burial of animals from a symbolic perspective and hypothesize about their role in human burial practices. It is noted that the burials are characterized by an exceptional quantity and diversity of animal remains. The authors attempt to reconstruct the significance and main aspects of animal burials. The study focuses on five major necropolises in the Armenian Highlands and emphasizes the presence or absence of different groups of animals in the graves. It is found that the burial of animals in the graves was a frequent and recurring practice. Both domesticated and wild animals were found in the graves, with sheep/goats and cattle being the most common animals. However, there is also a variety of wild animals in some graves. The study shows that there can be local peculiarities in ritual practices. No pigs were found in the examined graves in Lori Berd, while horses were present in all the examined sites. However, there is no exclusivity regarding the presence of horses, which are not associated with specific burial situations. Dogs were only found in the Great Kurgan of Karashamb, while they were systematically absent in all other burial contexts. The preservation of the zoological evidence regarding animal body parts is an important aspect, as usually only selected parts of the animals were buried. There is also a variety of wild animals, including foxes, martens, hares, and bears. Mollusk shells were also found and could indicate long-term contacts in protohistoric times. However, the presence of horses in the graves does not imply their widespread use or riding. There is no evidence of the use of horse harnesses or horseback fighting during this time. The iconography of animals during this period is also discussed to identify possible parallels with the archaeological findings. The Middle Bronze Age has provided some significant iconographic evidence for objects made of gold and silver, fine jewelry, and decorations on vases. These representations likely had diverse and complex symbolic meanings. It was found that the representations on exceptional objects such as the two silver cups found in the Great Kurgan of Karashamb and Kurgan V in Trialeti, Georgia, are particularly significant. Hunting wild boars likely had a ritual significance in MBA society. There are differences between the animals found as offerings in the graves and the iconographic representations on gold and silver artifacts. There are also differences between the animal depictions on ceramic vessels and the animal remains in the graves. The symbolic-ritual traditions of these protohistoric societies are complex and can only be partially reconstructed. The significance of hunting for these societies is emphasized, as the abundance and diversity of the animal world in some graves can be seen as an archaeological indication of outstanding and elite individuals. There is a clear proportionality between rich grave goods and abundant animal bones, as seen in the Great Kurgan of Karashamb. Hunting was therefore a sign of strength and power for the elite class of the 2nd millennium BC. [Extracted from the article]