RESEARCHERS MIGHT HAVE UNCOVERED GHENGIS KHAN'S GRAVE
Lucy Collins: 8/31/01
A EurasiaNet Partner Post from Transitions Online

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia--The joint Mongolian-American Genghis Khan Geo-Historical Expedition undertaken in July has discovered an ancient burial site 200 miles northeast of Ulaanbaatar that may divulge clues as to the whereabouts of Genghis Khan’s grave.

The burial site, located on Binder Mountain--part of the Hentii mountain range in the Hentii region--is considered an Ikhsiin Gazar (Grand Place), containing the graves of up to 60 noble people. Researchers believe that the shapes, location, and size of the graves indicate that they belong to Mongolian kings and queens who lived in the Middle Ages.

There are several other factors that have led researchers to believe that the site may lead to the discovery of the grave of Genghis Khan: The proximity of the Grand Place to Genghis Khan’s birthplace in 1162 and the fact that his father is buried nearby are all strong clues suggesting his body was returned here after he died in the Lu-Pan Mountains in China in 1227.

The book, The Secret History of the Mongols--written in the 13th Century by an unknown author--is considered the most comprehensive account of Mongolian history by scholars and asserts that Genghis Khan’s body was returned to the Hentii region.

Professor D. Bazargur of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences said that the grave of Genghis Khan, who was declared leader of the Mongols in 1206, could well be enshrined at the Grand Place, perhaps next to his father’s grave. Also, the Burkhan Haldun Mountain, part of the Hentii mountain range, is where the famous ruler took retreat from other tribes when building up his empire. The mountain is considered sacred and has been venerated by Mongolians ever since.

According to Mongolian legend, the dead body of Genghis Khan and his possessions were brought by 90 cattle-drawn carts to nearby Bumbat hill and enshrined there. This may have been a ploy to distract onlookers from the transportation of the real body to the Grand Place on Binder Mountain. Legend also has it that the "Graves of 100 Warriors" on the bank of the Onon River, located east of Binder Mountain, contain the bodies of the 50 gravediggers who buried Genghis Khan. Supposedly, the gravediggers were killed by 50 warriors so as to ensure the burial site was kept secret. The 50 warriors who murdered the gravediggers were also killed.

Members of the expedition will request official state protection of the area and continue their research in the hope of finding the grave. They may face opposition from ordinary Mongolians, many of whom hold the traditional shamanist belief that to disturb the body of the deceased will destroy their soul.

Mongolian expedition member L. Orgil said that the discovery of Genghis Khan’s burial site would "be very important not only for Mongolian history but the history of the world."

The above story is reposted with permission from Transitions Online (TOL). TOL (http://www.tol.cz) is an Internet magazine covering Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the former Soviet Union. If you aren't already a member, you can fill out the registration form at <http://www.tol.cz/trialsubscr.html> to receive a free two-month trial membership. If you're a citizen of a post-communist country, FREE annual memberships are available at <http://www.tol.cz/trialsubscr2.html>.

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Posted Augugst 31, 2001 © Eurasianet
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