Water for the Khan: Unveiling the Hidden Well of Karabalgasun

Authors

Christina Franken German Archaeological Institute https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1562-1291
Hendrik Rohland German Archaeological Institute
Ulambayar Erdenebat Department of Archaeology, Anthropology and Demography, Institute of Nomadic Archaeology, National University of Mongolia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0867-3691
Mendbazar Oyuntulga Cultural Heritage Centre of Mongolia
Bat-Ochir Dejidmaa Kharakhorum Museum

Archaeology, conservation of waterlogged artefacts, Uyghur Khanate, water well, Orkhon Valley

This article presents the first study of the well of Karabalgasun (Ordu Baliq), the Uyghur capital

in Mongolia’s Orkhon Valley, integrating archaeological, historical, and conservation perspectives. Systematic

excavations of the citadel from 2012 to 2018 uncovered prestigious architecture and a deep, technically

complex well, built during the construction of the citadel. Exceptional finds ‒ including lacquered wooden

poles, jade books inscribed with Tang dynasty imperial decrees, high-status objects, and the skeleton of a traded

gyrfalcon ‒ provide insights into the courtly culture, diplomatic ties, and ritual practices spanning the Uyghur

and Khitan periods. The multidisciplinary conservation project pioneered the use of trehalose-based methods

in Mongolia, succeeding for the first time in preserving waterlogged wooden artefacts for detailed research and

public exhibition. The findings illuminate the political importance of Karabalgasun, demonstrate its function as

a hub for prestige, trade, and diplomacy on the Silk Road, and advance archaeological conservation science in

Mongolia.

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