“Deer” stones in the center of Ulzyit somon (Arkhangai aimag, Mongolia)

In August 2022, as part of the planned work of the Mongolian-Russian expedition organized by Ulaanbaatar and Altai State Universities, an archaeological survey was conducted in Arkhangai aimag to identify ‘deer' stones in Central Mongolia. The surveys monitored and re-examined the archaeological complex of Khushuutiin Denj, located near the center of Ulzyit Somon. There, in Soviet times, the famous scientist V.V. Volkov discovered and described archaeological sites in the center of Ulziyt Somon. Volkov discovered and described four “deer” stones, which were published in his famous monograph. But the presented graphic illustrations are given without scale and do not fully reflect all available petroglyphs. In the course of further inspection of the site, Mongolian specialists photographed ancient sculptures, including two new ones, the study of which was undertaken by Ts. Turbat. The first volume of the catalogue published in 2021 in Mongolia contains demonstration photos of only five “deer” stones and brief information about them, including references to publications. The main objective of the re-survey of the feature in the summer of 2022 was to further document the “deer” stones and to obtain graphic illustrations of all the sculptures, which were carried out taking into account the available information and using light shading at different times of the day. In the course of the work it turned out that there is no “deer” stone on the complex, which V.V. Volkov assigned number 4. During the inspection of the local history museum in the center of Ulziyt Somon it turned out that the “deer” stone, information about which had not been previously introduced into the scientific turnover, was kept there. The article presents the results of the conducted research and outlines the prospects for further work.

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