The Burial Construction of Noin Ula Mound 20, Mongolia

Bibliographic Data

ID6037069
AuthorsNatalia V Polosmak (0000-0002-3760-265X, Institute of Archaeology, corresponding author), E S Bogdanov (0000-0001-7073-8914), Е С Богданов (Institute of Archaeology), Damdinsuren Tseveendorj (Mongolian Academy of Sciences), Nasan-Ochir Erdene-Ochir (Mongolian Academy of Sciences), N Erdene-Ochir
Year2008
Volume34
Issue2
Pages77-87
Publication date2008-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchaeology Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1563-0110 • E-ISSN: 1531-832X
PublisherInstitute of Archaeology and Ethnography SB RAS (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.aeae.2008.07.007
OpenAlexW2090675892
LanguageEN
Citations received13

In 2006, a joint Russian-Mongolian archaeological expedition excavated one of the last remaining mounds left by the Hunnu elite at Noin Ula, northern Mongolia. Because excavations were conducted by hand, a detailed analysis of the burial structure was possible. Its layout followed one of the most common Chinese (Han) prototypes and included: a rectangular earthen platform with a stone enclosure; a long corridor, with the entrance to the grave being oriented to the south; a deep pit (18.35 m) narrowing to the bottom in a stepwise manner; a Chinese chariot above the burial chamber; charcoal and clay placed between the walls of the chamber and those of the frame; a double frame made of pine blocks; numerous artifacts in corridors; and a laquered coffin. Four stone roofs matching four descending steps secured a dense backfill. A similar technique (multilayered backfill interspersed with stone roofs) was practiced for building foundations during the Hellenistic epoch. A distinctive feature of the Noin Ula burial rite is the presence of numerous artifacts made from organic substances

Archaeology · Coffin · Earthworks · Excavation · Geography · Geotechnical engineering · Hearth · Lime mortar · Masonry · Mining engineering · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Chinese history and philosophy · Eurasian Exchange Networks · Geology