Medieval burials near Mount Yashil (Northern Mongolia)

Abstract

In September 2022, as part of a joint Mongolian-Russian Expedition organized by the staff of the Mongolian National University and Altai State University, archaeological research was conducted near Mount Yashil (Orkhontuul Somon Selenge aimag of Mongolia). As a result, three burial mounds of Mongolian time were excavated. Mounds 1 and 3 contained unrobbed adult burials, while the skeleton of a child in mound 2 appeared to be disturbed. Sheep tibiae (?) were found in the graves, which was an important feature of the burial ritual. In addition to them, vertebrae and a shoulder blade of small horned cattle were found. A fragment of a small iron axe was found on the right side of the chest of a man buried in barrow No. 1. The remains of a birch bark quiver, a palm tip, armor plates and other objects were found in barrow No. 3. The appearance and internal structure of the burial mounds at Mount Yashil reflect the main features of Mongolian burials. At the same time, barrow No. 3 had different features. The article presents descriptions of the excavation results and analysis of the obtained materials, which allows comparison with other similar archaeological sites investigated in Northern Mongolia and nearby regions. It is noted that the items of armour found at the Mount Yashil site are mentioned in the famous work of Plano Carpini, who visited the Mongol Empire in the 1240s. The findings at Mount Yashil will become additional material in correlating the written and archaeological sources of the considered period. In addition to the results of the excavations, the history of the study of funerary sites in Northern Mongolia is summarised. To date, rock burials and burial mounds are known at 41 archaeological complexes.