A 1,500-year-old mummy thought to be of Turkish origin was found in the Altai Mountains in Mongolia. In the tomb, which was thought to belong to a woman because it did not have a bow, a sacrificed horse and horse equipment, as well as colorful embroidered bags, 4 different clothes and pillows were also found in very well preserved condition. The human remains found were wrapped in felt.

Researchers say that the tomb found is the first complete Turkish tomb found in Central Asia. “This person was not a nobleman. We think it was most likely a woman because no bow was found in the tomb. Now we are carefully and slowly unwrapping the mummy, so experts can learn more about the mummy’s gender,” said B.Sukhbaatar from the Hovd Museum.

A horse, saddle, bridle, a clay pot, a wooden bowl, an iron cauldron, and four different traditional Mongolian clothes called “Dööl” were found in the tomb where the mummy was found. The grave also contained pillows, a sheep’s head, a felt travel bag with a sheep’s back inside, goat bones, and a bag used to carry the bowl. “We can clearly see that the horse was deliberately sacrificed,” Sukhbaatar said.

The horse was a mare between 4 and 8 years old. “All four jackets we found were made of cotton,” says Sukhbaatar. “This is the first complete Turkic tomb found in at least Mongolia – and most likely in all of Central Asia. This is a situation we encounter very rarely. “This shows us the beliefs and rituals of the Turkic people,” he added. “One of the interesting things we found in the grave was that it was not only sheep wool, but also camel wool.

It is possible to date the grave from the things we found here and their types. According to our current uncertain estimates, this tomb dates back to AD. “We estimate that it dates back to the 6th century.”
Museum archaeologists in the city of Hovd came to the excavation site after being informed by a shepherd. The findings will help us better understand the first Turks in Mongolia. Speaking about the tomb located 2803 meters above sea level, B.

Sukhbaatar said, “The fact that it was at such a height and the cold climate helped preserve the grave. The depth of the grave was three meters. The findings show us that these people were very good craftsmen. Considering that this was an ordinary person, their craft skills were quite well developed.” he said. Source : Siberian Times, Anna Liesowska, 9 April 2016