Ulaanbaatar
Ancient Burial Sites Uncovered During Geological Surveys
Art & Culture
Bayan-Undur, December 17, 2025 /MONTSAME/ Under the permit given by the Government of Mongolia to the "Erdenet Mining Corporation (EMC)" State-Owned Enterprise to explore minerals in the territories of Orkhon and Bulgan aimags, exploration works commenced at the Oyut Deposit in 2023. As a result of the exploration, the deposit is confirmed to hold 357 million tonnes of ore and more than 1.1 million tonnes of pure copper.
During the geological explorations at the Oyut Deposit, 10
ancient burial mounds (khirgisuur) were discovered in 2024 within the
exploration field. According to the related cultural heritage law, the
archaeologists from the EMC's excavation team collaborated with the Institute
of Nomadic Archaeology at the National University of Mongolia (NUM) to study
these sites. In October this year, they completed their fieldwork and finalized
their report.
A total of 10 graves were excavated and studied: 4 graves
dating back to the Bronze Age, 4 graves with undetermined timelines, and 2
graves from the Medieval period. The findings are remarkably well-preserved
Bronze Age relics and burials dating from the 8th to the 13th centuries. Key
finds included bronze toli, felt items, animal bones, and various funerary goods.
The archaeological research and excavation covered a total area of 1,032 hectares within the Oyut Deposit's exploration field.
