ORIENTATION OF BRONZE AGE MOUNDS IN MONGOLIAN ALTAI MOUNTAINS

Authors

  • Cecilia Dal Zovo Incipit-CSIC Institute of Heritage Sciences-Spanish National Research Council, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  • Antonio César González-García Incipit-CSIC Institute of Heritage Sciences-Spanish National Research Council, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  • Yolanda Seoane-Veiga Incipit-CSIC Institute of Heritage Sciences-Spanish National Research Council, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Keywords:

khirigsuur mounds, Mongolian archaeoastronomy, calendar, lunistice

Abstract

This article presents the results of an archaeoastronomical study on the orientation of the prehistoric funerary mounds of the Ikh Bogd Uul Mountain, in the easternmost Mongolian Altai mountain range. After introducing the results of the measurements taken in the field, we hypothesise that the localisation pattern of mounds could be connected to an alignment with a specific mountaintop that is visible in the south eastern horizon, in coincidence with a specific lunar event: the southern major lunistice. In order to build a significant interpretative framework, we also examine several folk rituals from Central Asia that could be associated with the Mongolian traditional lunar calendar, as well as other moon-related celebrations.

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Published

2023-07-28

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 3 (2014)

Section

Articles