Burial of the Mongol Imperial period in the Zhombolok river valley (Okinsky district of the Republic of Buryatia)

Abstract

In 2024, we excavated the first burial of the Mongolian imperial period (XIII-XIV centuries A. D.) in the Zhombolok river valley (Okinsky district of the Republic of Buryatia). The gravestone structure of burial is oval annular in shape, measuring 5.2 x 4.4 m, oriented with a long axis along the North-South line. The masonry is made of stones in 1-3 layers. Under the masonry, we found an oval-shaped grave pit, measuring 2.85 x 0.90 m, and up to 1.02 m deep from the modern surface of the earth. In the pit itself, we have discovered the remains of a wooden deck and the remains of a buried man. As we think, the burial was looted in ancient times. Most likely, the deceased was stretched out on his back, with his head on the North. In the process of clearing the tombstone structure and the grave pit, we found products and their fragments made of iron (stirrup, stirrups, etc.), bones (saddle edges, etc.) and birch bark. In the western part of the burial, we found a few fragments of livestock bones. Based on a number of features (planography, design features, specifics of the funeral rite, etc.) and the radiocarbon dating method, we date the excavated burial to the 14^th century AD, that it is corresponds to the Mongol imperial period.