Society’s president Sergei Shoigu - Russian defence minister - even hinted at possibility of cloning during annual meeting.
Shamans performed a rite to bless the start of excavation at the ancient Tunnug burial mound. Picture: Alexey Mikhailov/RGS
‘Very keen to find organic matter. I think you understand what might follow - if not for Dolly the sheep, it would be possible to make something out of it’, Sergey Shoigu, 66 said in a somewhat bizarre statement during 14 April’s board meeting.
The interest to discover organic matter referred to the Tunnug burial mound in the Valley of the Kings, Republic of Tuva, where excavations started in summer 2018.
First season showed that the vast burial site of nomadic warriors, often laid to rest with with their horses is in fact the oldest of all discovered, dating to the IX century BC.
Excavation works at the Tunnug royal burial in the Valley of the Kings, Republic of Tuva. Picture: Alexey Mikhailov/RGS
When the Russian-Swiss archeological expedition started to work in Tuva, a modern-day shaman had to be invited to by scientists to bless the work and to ensure the excavations ‘did not anger the spirits.’
Aerial view of the The Valley of the Kings in the Republic of Tuva. Pictures: Sergey Skudin
Archeologists discovered a new stone bracelet, two sharp pins, a marble ring and fox tooth pendants.
Comments (4)
I also would suggest that the bones should be returned to their graves, all of them and the site presented with closed glass protection instead of the old graves for tourism ? Interesting heritage worth a small museum all above to protect from the blizzard.