A XIONGNU TOMB COMPLEX: EXCAVATIONS AT GOL MOD 2 CEMETERY, MONGOLIA (2002-05)

Abstract

In July 2001, the ‘Khanuy Valley Project on Early Nomadic Pastoralism in Mongolia’ located and mapped a large cemetery believed to be associated with the Xiongnu. Named Gol Mod 2, the cemetery is located north of the Khangai mountain range in central-north Mongolia, some 12 kilometers east of the river Khanuy in Arkhangai aimag’s Ondor Ulaan sum, in a sandy level area of the valley’s flanking hills at an elevation of 1800 meters (N48°00'00" E101°13'00"). The cemetery, which measures 2.2 km west-east and 1.3 km north-south, consists of over 400 burials. Since the initial discovery and mapping of Gol Mod 2 in 2001, the Khanuy Valley project has carried out three field seasons at the cemetery (in 2002, 2004, and 2005). Work has focused on the excavation of 27 satellite burials arranged in an arc along the east side of the cemetery’s prominent ‘Tomb 1 complex. In conjunction with the on-going analysis and publication of the excavated material discussed in this paper, upcoming field seasons at Gol Mod 2 will focus on the excavation of the burial under the central platform and of the large burial #28 beside it. Exploratory excavations in the vicinity of the Tomb 1 complex will also be carried out in the hope that other (possibly non-funerary) structures may be located. The excavation of all features present at Tomb 1 complex is certain to provide a more complete and inclusive view of funerary behavior as it pertains to the Xiongnu nomadic elite, while investigations of smaller elite burials will prove useful in helping to clarify Xiongnu socio-political structure.