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Archeologists find ancient mummy approximately 1,500 years old in Mongolia

By Anna Liesowska
09 April 2016

Remains of suspected female of Turkik origin found in at an altitude of 2,803 metres in the Altai Mountains.

'The finds show us that these people were very skilled craftsmen.' Picture: Khovd Museum

The ancient human remains are wrapped in felt but the excavation is being hailed as the first complete Turkik burial found in Central Asia. B.Sukhbaatar, researcher at Khovd Museum, said: 'This person was not from elite, and we believe it was likely a woman, because there is no bow in the tomb. 

'Now we are carefully unwrapping the body and once this is complete the specialists will be able to say more precisely about the gender.'

In the mummy's grave archeologists found - alongside the human remains - a saddle, bridle, clay vase, wooden bowl, trough, iron kettle, the remains of entire horse, and four different 'Dool' (Mongolian clothes).

Hand


Bridle

'Now we are carefully unwrapping the body and the specialists could say more precisely about the gender.' Pictures: Khovd Museum

There were also pillows, a sheep's head and felt travel bag in which were placed the whole back of a sheep, goat bones and small leather bag for the cup.

He said: 'It is the first complete Turkik burial at least in Mongolia - and probably in all Central Asia. This is a very rare phenomenon. These finds show us the beliefs and rituals of Turkiks. 

'We can see clearly that the horse was deliberately sacrificed. It was a mare, between four and eight years old. Four coats we found were made of cotton.  

Bag


Saddle

Elaboated embroidery on the bag and a saddle - all very good preserved. Picture: Khovd Museum

'An interesting thing we found is that not only sheep wool was used, but also camel wool. We can date the burial by the things we have found there, also the type of hat. It gives us a preliminary date of around the 6th century AD.'

Archeologists from the city museum in Khovd were alerted to the burial site by local herdsmen. The finds will help form a deeper understanding of the native Turks in ancient Mongolia. 

bag ropes


Researchers

In the mummy's grave archeologists found - alongside the human remains - a saddle, bridle, clay vase, wooden bowl, trough, iron kettle, the remains of entire horse, and four different 'Dool' (Mongolian clothes). Pictures: Khovd Museum

'The grave was located 2803 meters above sea level,' said B.Sukhbaatar. 'This fact and the cool temperatures helped to preserve the grave. The grave was three metres deep.

'The finds show us that these people were very skilled craftsmen. Given that this was the grave of a simple person, we understand that craft skills were rather well developed.'

The Altai Mountains unite Siberia, in Russia, and Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan. 

The grave was located 2803 meters above sea level, in Mongolian Altai. Pictures: The Siberian Times

Map


Map

Comments (41)

@mars In sweden they teach to children that Bulgars at that time were turks and speaking turkic language when they became Christian they changed their names, language and culture. Perhaps you still live with communist time russian propaganda :))
Kaya, Sweden
18/04/2016 17:32
7
5
Apparently gokturk khanate.



@mars : Bolgars were a Turkic tribe speaking and writing in Turkish runic alphabet. As you can see in gokturk monuments.First khan asparuk the founder of bulgaria was a Turk too.



@aman being slant eyed and mongoloid are very different. Ancient Turks were not mongoloid. They were Brakisefal. Since Turks tribes raided all asia and east europe persia hazar even india, they killed the men of the countries and possess the women.Ancestry goes on the fathers blood line in Turk "töre" tarlaya bakma tohuma bak.
Batur, Ankara
16/04/2016 11:12
10
8
As someone who studies textiles and hand sewing of the time period - and I also happen to portray an Mongolian Mounted Archer in a re-creation group- The shoes are not that remarkable, nor are they modern. The stitches are simple and sturdy. The twisted iron snaffle horse bit was Quite a surprise and a huge advancement in bits. Now THAT I find amazing.
Dawn, Charlotte NC
16/04/2016 09:26
16
1
Keep up with the great finds!! This one will show levels of workmanship, and possibly local trade. Please find and share more. This information belongs to the people of the world; while it is not my ancestry, it belongs to possibly hundreds of thousands. My MtDNA comes from Mesopotamia and the rest is 100% Europe West, and I want to know more, as should the descendants of the Turkik peoples. The find is only the beginning of the story. Happily.
Robin, Sacramento, USA
16/04/2016 05:07
9
1
Ótima descoberta.. De uma preservação e riqueza de detalhes impressionante! Parabéns aos arqueólogos!
Márcia Borba dos Santos, Brasil
16/04/2016 03:02
0
1
Amazing... the quality and the details are awesome... we still have to learn a lot of all ancient cultures, their technology and never underestimate how rich is our heritage as humans
Jaime, Santiago de Chile
15/04/2016 22:00
9
0
I'm no archeologyst but those shoes look machine made, look at the stiches
Clau, Argentina
15/04/2016 21:13
8
10
So fascinating! I won horses, and I was impressed to see how advanced the twisted metal bit was- something almost identicle we use use today! The bridle, saddle, her beautiful bag- this is so incredible! Oh to actually have a live view of the past!!!
Sofia, USA
15/04/2016 21:05
6
0
Is there a DNA made for the body yet, if not u can't conclude anything, only by clothes, and mounted horses and burials are mark of the thracians, scythians who essentualy are the bulgarians, and not the turks(ottomans) or even the mongol tatars.. And we all know who were the real skilled people of everything on this planet (thracians, scythians, bolgars), everyone else is just a student of their teachings even the indian people, who recieve the Vedas from them. Don't forget even today's Mongols are writing in Bulgarian ALPHABET :) And this "shoes" looks like old bulgarian made.
Mars, Bolgar Thracian Scythian Empire
15/04/2016 06:06
5
28
This is an incredible discovery for humanity. 1500 years of history and mystery are into this mummy, I hope that the government and officials do not hide things that might reveal. The pair of shoes is really beautiful.
WINED SERROT, PERU
15/04/2016 04:23
11
0
These findings made me proud of my Turkik heritage. Bravo!
Ben, Ottawa/Canada
14/04/2016 21:29
21
2
Is nobody gonna mention the pair of trainers in the first photo?
Dave, Gateshead/UK
14/04/2016 17:31
9
20
Nice work with a nice find. Please keep the information flowing despite world politics. People to people friendships are what is important.
Steven Dawson, Milwaukee / USA
14/04/2016 13:45
10
0
Excellent find,how much history... Congratulations
Walter Garcia, Lima _ Perú
14/04/2016 10:11
4
1
Ancient Turks were Mongoloid people. Ottomans or so-called Turks from Anatolia are caucasions who are mostly Greeks and other locals.
Aman, Central Asia
14/04/2016 06:53
7
7

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