From 1938 onwards Susuman was a major source of alluvial gold and the centre of Dalstroi’s western mining department; in 1949-1953 the western camps of the Sevvostlag complex were managed from Susuman. One of the camp burial grounds was located beyond the town cemetery.

Stakes bearing signs with numbers have survived but the inscriptions on the nameplates have disappeared. Several crosses have also survived. A tall Orthodox cross has been fastened to one of the trees in the burial ground. The number buried there is unknown.