Badger Bart
Sr. Member
- Mar 24, 2005
- 301
- 20
ON THE TRAIL OF THE "FIND OF ALL FINDS" GHENGIS KHAN TOMB
http://dailynews.muzi.com/news/ll/english/1089990.shtml?cc=19187&ccr=
Tombs found in Mongolia might hold Genghis Khan
2001-08-17
CHICAGO - A team searching for Genghis Khan's elusive grave site said on Thursday it has discovered a walled burial ground 200 miles (322 km) northeast of the Mongolian capital that may contain the 13th century conqueror's remains along with priceless artifacts.
"It is an exciting discovery because it's located near where some other important events occurred in Khan's life," said University of Chicago history professor John Woods, who directed the summertime expedition organized by former Chicago commodities trader and lawyer Maury Kravitz, an amateur explorer who has studied Khan for 40 years, Reuters reported.
Woods said in a telephone interview he had no idea whether Khan -- who died in 1227 after a fall from a horse or a wound, or both -- was buried at the site in a partially forested and remote area near the Russian border that is 10 hours travel along rough tracks from the capital, Ulan Bator.
"This whole country is virgin in terms of archeology -- almost no excavation of any kind has been done in Mongolia," Woods said. "There are tantalizing references (in folklore) to maidens being sacrificed and booty. We don't know what to expect."
At least 20 unopened tombs counted so far are thought to belong to "people of upper status" and could contain the first imperial Mongol graves ever discovered, the team said.
Though Woods said he has not secured rights to carry out an archeological dig at the site from the Mongolian government, the team has petitioned the prime minister and two team members belong to the country's academy of sciences. Preliminary work on the site could begin in April, he said.
The site is bordered on three sides by a 2-mile-long (3.2-km) wall nine feet to 12 feet (2.7-3.6 metres) high and may lie near Khan's probable birthplace, and possibly near where he was proclaimed emperor of all the Mongols in 1206.
A preliminary survey of the site shows it contains roughly 40 more graves at a lower elevation and an ancient roadway connecting the upper and lower levels. Pottery shards found on the surface may predate Genghis Khan's birth.
The walled burial ground is known locally by a variety of names such as "the Almsgivers Castle," "Chinggis' Castle," and "Red Rock," the team said.
Legend has it that Khan, whose conquests created an empire ranging from the Caspian Sea to present-day Hong Kong, was buried in 1227 by servants who were slaughtered by soldiers, who in turn were killed to preserve the secrecy of his resting place.
Woods said the burial site lies within 31 miles (50 kms) of what is thought to be the unexcavated tomb of the 100 soldiers killed to maintain the secret.
Keeping the location of Khan's tomb secret may have been an attempt to deter grave robbers from plundering a possible treasure trove buried with him, and may also be related to the shamanistic belief that disturbing the remains of the dead would destroy the soul of the interred, Woods said.
Khan's undiscovered tomb became known as the Ikh Khoring, or the Great Taboo.
Kravitz's team, dubbed the Genghis Khan Geo-Historical Expedition, said they were lucky to make the discovery near the Mongolian town of Batshireet in Hentii Province, after they were prepared to write off the site. An elderly Mongolian geographer suggested they climb the 600-foot (183 metre) hill -- which asthma precluded him from doing -- where they could discern the huge structure.
Kravitz has said the grave -- which he called "the find of all finds" -- could contain an enormous treasure, citing the absence of any spoils of war from Khan's conquests in the world's museums or private collections. Mention of treasure has raised Mongolian suspicions, though he and Woods said anything found would belong to the country.
Earlier this week, Turkish archeologists announced the discovery in Mongolia of eighth-century central Asian ruler Bilge Kagan's grave site, which contained 2,800 gold and silver objects and precious stones.
Chinese archeologists said in September 2000 they had discovered what they believed was Khan's tomb in northwest China, and a Japanese team using satellite equipment combed Mongolia for three years in the early 1990s before giving up.
http://dailynews.muzi.com/news/ll/english/1089990.shtml?cc=19187&ccr=
Tombs found in Mongolia might hold Genghis Khan
2001-08-17
CHICAGO - A team searching for Genghis Khan's elusive grave site said on Thursday it has discovered a walled burial ground 200 miles (322 km) northeast of the Mongolian capital that may contain the 13th century conqueror's remains along with priceless artifacts.
"It is an exciting discovery because it's located near where some other important events occurred in Khan's life," said University of Chicago history professor John Woods, who directed the summertime expedition organized by former Chicago commodities trader and lawyer Maury Kravitz, an amateur explorer who has studied Khan for 40 years, Reuters reported.
Woods said in a telephone interview he had no idea whether Khan -- who died in 1227 after a fall from a horse or a wound, or both -- was buried at the site in a partially forested and remote area near the Russian border that is 10 hours travel along rough tracks from the capital, Ulan Bator.
"This whole country is virgin in terms of archeology -- almost no excavation of any kind has been done in Mongolia," Woods said. "There are tantalizing references (in folklore) to maidens being sacrificed and booty. We don't know what to expect."
At least 20 unopened tombs counted so far are thought to belong to "people of upper status" and could contain the first imperial Mongol graves ever discovered, the team said.
Though Woods said he has not secured rights to carry out an archeological dig at the site from the Mongolian government, the team has petitioned the prime minister and two team members belong to the country's academy of sciences. Preliminary work on the site could begin in April, he said.
The site is bordered on three sides by a 2-mile-long (3.2-km) wall nine feet to 12 feet (2.7-3.6 metres) high and may lie near Khan's probable birthplace, and possibly near where he was proclaimed emperor of all the Mongols in 1206.
A preliminary survey of the site shows it contains roughly 40 more graves at a lower elevation and an ancient roadway connecting the upper and lower levels. Pottery shards found on the surface may predate Genghis Khan's birth.
The walled burial ground is known locally by a variety of names such as "the Almsgivers Castle," "Chinggis' Castle," and "Red Rock," the team said.
Legend has it that Khan, whose conquests created an empire ranging from the Caspian Sea to present-day Hong Kong, was buried in 1227 by servants who were slaughtered by soldiers, who in turn were killed to preserve the secrecy of his resting place.
Woods said the burial site lies within 31 miles (50 kms) of what is thought to be the unexcavated tomb of the 100 soldiers killed to maintain the secret.
Keeping the location of Khan's tomb secret may have been an attempt to deter grave robbers from plundering a possible treasure trove buried with him, and may also be related to the shamanistic belief that disturbing the remains of the dead would destroy the soul of the interred, Woods said.
Khan's undiscovered tomb became known as the Ikh Khoring, or the Great Taboo.
Kravitz's team, dubbed the Genghis Khan Geo-Historical Expedition, said they were lucky to make the discovery near the Mongolian town of Batshireet in Hentii Province, after they were prepared to write off the site. An elderly Mongolian geographer suggested they climb the 600-foot (183 metre) hill -- which asthma precluded him from doing -- where they could discern the huge structure.
Kravitz has said the grave -- which he called "the find of all finds" -- could contain an enormous treasure, citing the absence of any spoils of war from Khan's conquests in the world's museums or private collections. Mention of treasure has raised Mongolian suspicions, though he and Woods said anything found would belong to the country.
Earlier this week, Turkish archeologists announced the discovery in Mongolia of eighth-century central Asian ruler Bilge Kagan's grave site, which contained 2,800 gold and silver objects and precious stones.
Chinese archeologists said in September 2000 they had discovered what they believed was Khan's tomb in northwest China, and a Japanese team using satellite equipment combed Mongolia for three years in the early 1990s before giving up.
