Miniaev and Sakharovskaia 2002 S. S. Miniaev and L. M. Archaeology of the Mongolian Sakharovskaia. “Soprovoditel’nye zakhoroneniia ‘tsarskogo’ Period: A Brief Introduction kompleksa No. 7 v mogol’nike D. Tumen Tsaram.” Arkheologicheskie vesti D. Navaan (St. Petersburg), No. 9 (2002): 86- 118; in English as “Sacrifice burials M. Erdene of the royal complex no. 7 at the National University of Mongolia, Tsaraam cemetery” (http:// Ulaanbaatar www.xiongnu.boom.ru/Sacrif.htm, accessed July 19, 2006). The Mongolian period (13th-14th 1950s. In 1990-1993 the c. CE) in Inner Asia is well Mongolian-Japanese ‘Gurvan Gol’ Miniaev and Sakharovskaia 2006 documented in written historical expedition reexamined the ruin. A S. S. Miniaev and L. M. sources. These include narrative Mongolian-Japanese expedition Sakharovskaia. “Khan’skaia histories and documents in Persian, continues archaeological exca- kolesnitsa iz mogil’nika Tsaram” (A Chinese, Arabic and other vation of the Aurag Balgas ruin Han Chariot from the Tsaraam languages. For the earliest stages today. Cemetery). Arkheologicheskie of the history of the Mongol vesti (St. Petersburg), No. 13 Empire, one of main sources is ‘The Karakorum, the former capital (2006). Secret History of Mongols,’ written city of the Mongol Empire in the in the thirteenth century, whose thirteenth century, is the best Miniaev and Sakharovskaia oldest copy is written in studied archaeological site from forthcoming transcription by means of Chinese the period. Russian scholar N. M. S. S. Miniaev and L. M. characters. The ‘Secret History’ Iadrintsev first discovered its ruins Sakharovskaia. “Khan’skoe zerkalo has been studied from a variety of in 1889. The Mongolian-Russian iz mogol’nika Tsaram” (A Han viewpoints: historical, linguistic, historical and cultural expedition Mirror from the Tsaraam ethnological, and literary. The led by Russian archaeologist S. B. Cemetery). (forthcoming article). Mongols had not had their own Kiselev undertook major exca- written language and borrowed vation of the site in 1948-1950, Tal’ko-Gryntsevich 1999 scripts from other cultures, such at which time they explored what as the Uighur. However, in 1269 they determined was the ruin of Iu. D. Tal’ko-Gryntsevich. Materialy they established the new Khan Ogedei’s palace (Kiselev k paleoetnologii Zabaikal’ia. ‘squared’ script. While it never 1965). In 1976-1980, Mongolian (Materials on the Paleo- replaced Uighur, it was used in archaeologist N. Ser-Odjav and his ethnography of the Trans-Baikal.) Qubilai Khan’s time on seals and team renewed excavation of the Arkheologicheskie pamiatniki paizas or passports which city’s ruins. Among their unique Siunnu, vyp. 4. (St. Petersburg: guaranteed free passage for discoveries was a Muslim cemetery Fond “Aziatika,” 1999). diplomats and others through with burials of ordinary people. In Mongol lands. 1995 a Mongolian-Japanese expedition undertook an In addition to the written archaeological survey and made sources, archaeological inves- a topographic map of the city’s tigation in Mongolia and its ruin. Since 1999, the Mongolian- surrounding territory has German joint archaeological discovered various monuments expedition has been excavating at belonging to the period of the Karakorum (Dschingis Khan 2005). Mongol Empire, including ruins of [They found the kiln used to settlements, human statues, produce the numerous ceramic inscriptions on stone and wood, dishes and roof tiles of Karakorum and graves. Ruins of several and recently have concentrated on historically attested settlements the area in the center of the from the period of the Mongol commercial district of the city Empire have been the subject of occupied, it seems, by Chinese scholarly investigation. The earliest artisans and merchants. In one is Aurag Balgas (early exploring further the site Kiselev’s thirteenth century). The Aurag expedition had established as the Balgas ruin was discovered by palace, the Mongolian-German Mongolian scholar Kh. Perlee in the team has raised doubts about that
51 Center at the National University of Mongolia, the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology implemented the project ‘Dornod Mongol’ (Eastern Mongolia) in 2002-2005. As part of this project, the Department’s team of scholars carried out extensive archae- ological reconnaissance in the territory of eastern Mongolia and revealed a number of interesting sites, belonging to different periods of Mongolian history, from Palaeolithic to Mediaeval. The study used GPS methods to determine their exact geo- graphical location. Figs. 1 and 2 show the main routes and newly discovered archaeological sites.
In 2002 three previously unknown sites were found and partly excavated in the Tsuvraa mountain area of Khulenbuir sum, Dornod aimag. In each site were Fig. 1. ‘Eastern Mongolia’ Research Project fieldwork routes, 2002-2005. some hundred graves from the X ...... Archaeological Expedition 1, Dr. Z. Batsaikhan. Mongolian and Xiongnu periods. O —— Archaeological Expedition 2, Drs. D. Navaan, M. Erdene. In 2004 the Department’s attribution, arguing that the Transbaikalia (Russian Buriatia). archaeological team discovered building may in fact be a Buddhist These excavations have several previously unknown and temple. – Ed.] established that there are very interesting sites from the generally as few as two to three period of the Mongol Empire in Grave monuments are found all or as many as five to ten graves Tavan Tolgoi (Ongon sum), Altan over the territory of Mongolia and at one place. Grave monuments Ovoo and Gangyn Tsagan its surrounding regions. So far from Mongolia and Transbaikalia (Dariganga sum and Munkhkhaan around 300 graves have been have common surface con- sum), Sukhbaatar aimag (Fig. 3, excavated in Mongolia and struction. A common finding in next page). In each site there are Mongolian graves is more than ten graves. Some of tibial bones of sheep. them yielded valuable findings which may be related to Chingis Since 1996 the Khan’s royal lineage. Here is a brief Department of description of some of those graves Anthropology and (see also the interview with D. Archaeology of the Navaan below). National University of Mongolia has carried Grave No. 1, Tavan Tolgoi site, out archaeological Ongon sum, Sukhbaatar aimag. survey and excava- Grave No. 1 contained a skeleton tion in eastern and of a headless horse with a saddle central Mongolia. whose bow was sheathed in gold. With the support of To the right of the horse skeleton the Asia Research lay the remains of a woman
Fig. 2. Newly discovered and partly excavated archaeological sites from Xiongnu and Mongolian Periods by the archaeological expeditions from the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, National University of Mongolia (2002-2005). 1. Khairkhan chuluu site, Munkhkhaan sum, Sukhbaatar aimag (Mongolian Period). 2. Tavan Tolgoi site, Ongon sum, Sukhbaatar aimag (Xiongnu and Mongolian Periods). 3. Gangyn Tsagaan site, Altan Ovoo Site, Dariganga sum, Sukhbaatar aimag (Mongolian Period). 4. Tsuvraa Uul, Bayan Uul, Takhilagt Uul sites, Khulenbuir sum, Dornod aimag (Xiongnu and Mongolian Periods). 5, 6, 7. Nugaar, Shuus and Zuun Bayangiin Am, Bugat sites, Khentii aimag (Bronze Age, Xiongnu and Mongolian Periods). 8. Emu site, Selenge aimag (Mongolian Period).
52 harnessed horse head at the left hind corner of the burial pit. The harness had knob-like decorations at the knots, and leather pieces of harness were found elsewhere. At 1.30 m, the excavation unearthed a horse on whose saddle was a gold bow-plate with a dragon image.
To the right of the horse skeleton, separated by a large stone, lay human remains in a wooden coffin. Fig. 3. Archaeological sites from the Mongolian Period. The human skeleton, of a O Grave sites excavated by Department’s archaeological team. supine female, retained its Graves excavated by archaeologists. anatomical structure, but in Settlement ruins. X Stone-man sites: 1. Dornod aimag, 2. Sukhbaatar aimag, 3. Domo Gobi a very poor state of aimag, 4. Dund Gobi aimag, 5. Tov aimag, 6. Uberkhangai aimag, 7. Gobi Altai aimag. preservation. Further excavation revealed oriented toward the northwest. lay to the right of the human various gold and silver goods. She The woman’s skeleton was very remains. A stirrup and a birch- wore a gold ring on a finger of her well preserved. She wore a two bark arrow quiver with four left hand and a golden crown on golden rings on the fingers of her arrowheads inside were unearthed her head A pair of gold earrings left hand; on the inner surface of at the human’s legs. The was found near the skull. A small each ring was inscribed an image archaeological findings and other golden container had a black of a falcon. According to C14 mortuary materials from the powder inside, and ‘ochir’ and analysis, Grave No. 1 is dated grave, in particular the sheep tibial other decorations beautifully 1190-1230 CE or the period of and ankle bones, show that the crafted of gold were found there Great Mongol Empire. grave belongs to the Mongolian too. Other findings in the grave period. Furthermore, some included a silver pot, a bowl Grave No. 2 revealed a characteristics of palaeoan- containing grain, a human image horseman buried not far from the thropological findings from the made from jade and a bronze woman’s grave. He was holding in grave, such as trauma of the left mirror wrapped in cloth. The buried his right hand silk material in which clavicle, outer and inner woman wore a fine silk outer was wrapped a large pearl resting constructions of the grave, and garment and leather boots with upon a base that was shaped like associated archaeological sharp tips. a flower. This large pearl set onto materials suggest that the grave a flower-shaped base is called a belongs to an individual of lower Although the stone structure of jins in Mongolian and was used as social status, e.g. a common the grave on the surface appears a marker of status. warrior. to date to the Xiongnu period, the internal structure and the objects Grave TT-2005 B-4. Geo- Grave TT-2005 B-5. o recovered during excavation date graphical position: N – 45 05’55.7, Geographical position: N – 45o o it to the twelfth or thirteenth E – 112 42’47.1; elevation 1089 o 05’59.0, E – 112 43’10.9; centuries CE. Moreover, the pelvic m above sea level. The grave is elevation 1096 m above sea level. located on the southern slope of structure of the human remains The grave is located on the and the associated gold objects the Dund Ovoot hill, 500 m. to the southern slope of Dund Ovoot hill west of the hilltop. suggest that the burial belongs to of Tavan Tolgoi at the upper left a woman of high social status. The following artifacts were periphery of the group of graves. found in the grave: a sheep’s The surface structure is a ring- Grave TT-2005 B-6. Geo- shoulder blade, ribs, ankle and shaped stone construction 8.5 m. graphical position: N – 45o 05’58.9, tibia bone, all lay near a human in diameter, not mounded on the E – 112o 43’10.7; elevation 1103 skull; and a horse head with surface. m above sea level. The grave is harness lay to the left of the A horse tooth and other bones located on the southern slope of human remains. Sheep vertebrae were found at a depth of 50 cm. Dund Ovoot hill of Tavan Tolgoi, and a shin bone and a horse hoof At a depth of 1.10 m, there was a below and to the left of grave TT-
53 2005 B-5. The surface structure is trim made from bone, birch bark, The graves excavated in 2004- a ring-shaped stone construction copper and iron goods, buttons and 2005 at the Tavan Tolgoi site all 6 m in diameter, not mounded on a belt buckle. had a horse associated with the the surface. interred individual and are of great At 2.10 m, the upper lid of a importance to the archaeology of At a depth of 70 cm, ribs and wooden coffin oriented north-south the Mongolian period. Assuming foot bones of animals, bone knobs was revealed. The well-preserved that the findings are evidence that with metal centers (their purpose coffin had been placed in a stone- the Tavan Tolgoi site is connected is unclear), and pieces of birch bark sided pit and covered by large flat with the history of Great Mongol were found. At 1.1 m were the stones. One of the boards of the Empire, we can conclude that remains of a horse with a leather coffin lid was broken. The coffin graves TT-2004 B-1, TT-2004-B- saddle. At 1.80 m, there was had iron girdles at the head and 2, TT-2005 B-5, TT-2005 B-6, TT- wooden coffin, whose inner surface foot ends and appeared to have 2005 B-7 were burials of nobles was painted with red and white had a copper one in the middle. who had a close relationship to decoration and covered in some The coffin interior was lined with Chingis Khan’s Golden Lineage. places with birch bark. silky material with small white The territory of Ongon sum was Archaeological findings from the ornaments. The measurements of the land of the Onggirat tribe in grave include a golden ring, cloth the coffin were: length 2.12 m; the 12th-13th centuries, a tribe (possibly the lining of the coffin), upper width at the head 60 cm, which had an old bond with Chingis a 3-petal golden ‘ochir,’ a jade belt bottom 55 cm; upper width at the Khan’s Golden Lineage. Thus we decoration inlaid with square foot 54 cm, bottom 42 cm; height might conclude that the Tavan turquoise, and a 7-petal decoration at the head 56 cm, at the foot 50 Tolgoi area was the burial ground made of bone. Palaeoanthro- cm; thickness of lid board 3 cm, of the Onggirat tribe. side wall 6 cm, foot wall 8 cm. pological materials were uncovered The conclusion regarding the without any anatomical structure The human remains in the royal connections of the graves is and consisted of skull fragments, grave were completely disrupted, supported by some of the key a clavicle, ribs, vertebrae, a radius, and the skull with mandible was archaeological finds: the jins a fibula, feet bones and phalanxes. found out of the coffin on the north marker in the man’s grave, the Bone structure and relief of edge of its lid, facing to the east. woman’s rings with a falcon seal paleoanthropological materials Other bones, such as clavicle, inside, the gold saddle bow-plate, show that the human remains are radius and ulna were found out of and the other jewelry, all of which from a male. the coffin at a depth of 2 m. undoubtedly belonged to a royal Nonetheless, lower limb bones, family during the Great Mongolian Archaeological findings from the scapula, ribs, and sacral bone were Empire. Of particular significance grave TT-2005 B-6, among them recovered in the coffin. Since they were the gold rings with the the fully-equipped horse, suggest were out of anatomical order, it engraved image of a falcon, which that the grave dates to the was not possible to ascertain the signifies that the person to whom Mongolian period and belongs to a position of the body in the grave. the rings belonged must be of male aristocrat. The grave appears However, by the coffin shape, it great importance. The falcon is to have been pillaged in antiquity. could be supposed that the mentioned in the thirteenth- interred individual was placed century ‘Secret History of Mongols’ Grave TT-2005 B-7. Geo- supine and oriented to the north. and provides a link to Chingis graphical position: N – 45o 05’58.7, The grave also has unique Khan’s lineage. In its 63rd section E – 112o 43’11.1; elevation 1096 characteristics. A golden earring Onggirat Dei Sechen speaks to m above sea level. The grave is was discovered under the skull of Yisügei Baatar, Temüjin’s father, located on the southern slope of the human remains, which appear when he came to betrothe his 9 Dund Ovoot hill of Tavan Tolgoi, to be those of a man. year-old-son to Börte, Dei down from the grave TT-2005 B- Sechen’s daughter: ‘… This night 5. The surface structure is a ring- From the archaeological I saw the dream that the white shaped stone construction, not findings, including the wooden falcon came to me holding the sun mounded on the surface. coffin and grave structure, we can and the moon and left them on my assume that the grave dates to the hand …. Dear Yisügei, your coming Excavation was undertaken on Mongolian period and belongs to with your son explains my dream. an area of 3 x 2.2 m. At 85 cm, an individual of high social status. The totem of you, Kiyat people, the burial pit was identified and The single earring found in the has come...’ (Chengdü-yin further excavation then conducted grave may have been connected Damdinsüren 1947). Temüjin was over an area of 2.6 x 1.7 m. At a to rituals, and shows that medieval described in this story as the depth of 1.5 to 1.7 m were found Mongolian nobles used to wear a Falcon, a totem of the Kiyat horse vertebrae, a hoof, saddle single earring in their left ear. Borjigin tribe.
54 About the Authors Secret History of the Mongols: The Mongolian Cities.) Moscow: Origin of Chingis Khan. An “Nauka,” 1965. Important The authors are all members of the Adaptation by Paul Kahn. summary of the Soviet-Mongolian Department of Anthropology and Expanded ed. Boston: Cheng & Expeditions of the late 1940s to Archaeology of the National Tsui, 1998.—Ed.] ca. 1960. University of Mongolia. Prof. Navaan Dorjpagma is the Dschingis Khan 2005 Mongol’skii archeologicheskii department’s senior professor. He Dschingis Khan und seine Erben: sbornik. Posviashchaetsia received his initial training in Das Weltreich der Mongolen. slavnomu XL-letiiu Mongol’skoi Archaeology at Moscow State München: Kunst– und Aus- Narodnoi Respubliki. (Mongolian University and for many decades stellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Archaeological Symposium. th worked in the Mongolian Academy Deutschland. Hirmer Verlag, 2005. Dedicated to the Glorious 40 of Sciences. His specialty is Bronze Splendid exhibition catalogue, with Anniversary of the Mongolian Age archaeology of Eastern valuable summary of recent People’s Republic.) Moscow: Izd- Mongolia; he has published three Mongolian-German excavations at vo. Akademii nauk SSSR, 1962. monographs and over 200 Karakorum. Contains interesting articles on scholarly articles. Prof. Tumen some of the discoveries of the Dashvereg likewise received her Kiselev 1965 1950s. degrees from Russian institutions S. V. Kiselev et al. Drevne- and since 1995 has chaired her mongol’skie goroda. (Ancient department. She has held numerous visiting appointments at distinguished foreign universities and recently completed a lecture tour in the United States and Tombs of Chingisids Canada, sponsored by the Silkroad Are Still Being Foundation. Her publications in her specialization of paleoanthropology Found... include three books and some 90 articles. Her e-mail is An Interview with
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