Ulaanbaatar, December 18, 2024 /MONTSAME/. On December 12, 2024, the Institute of Archaeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Wrocław in Poland jointly presented the discovery of ancient human remains from the Pleistocene era in Mongolia.

“Joint archaeological research between Mongolia and Poland commenced in 2014. A notable discovery found from the"Tsakhiurt Valley: Ancient Lakes, Ancient Caves" research project, an ancient human bone was unearthed within the seventh cultural layer of the Khutul Us Cave located in Bulgan soum, Umnogobi aimag. This marks the second Pleistocene human find in Mongolia and is remarkably the first such discovery in the Northeast Asian region over the past five years,” highlighted Eregzen Gelegdorj, Director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences

Several ancient lakes in the southern part of the Tsakhiurt Valley were chosen for archaeological and paleoecological studies. The shores of these ancient lakes were actively inhabited by humans from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic periods. New, large archaeological sites were discovered during the research in the mountainous region of the Arts Bogd Mountain range, which borders the Tsakhiurt Valley to the north. Numerous open-air Paleolithic settlements were found in the valley, yielding tools made not only from flint but also from green quartzite, reddish jasper, and black flint.

In addition to animal bones, stone tools, and bone beads, a human tooth dating back 25,000 years has been discovered. Specifically, archaeologists excavating Khutul Us Cave have unearthed a human tooth belonging to an adult. This marks the second discovery of Pleistocene human remains in Mongolia, following the top of a skull found in the Salkhit area of Khentii aimag. Experts believe this tooth holds significant potential for future DNA research, offering insights into the origins of the people who inhabited the Mongolian Altai Mountains 25,000 years ago.

MONTSAME Mongolian National News Agency spoke with Associate Professor Eregzen Gelegdorj (Ph.D.), Director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, on the discovery. 

Could you please introduce the results of the joint archaeological research of Mongolia and Poland?

The joint expedition between Mongolia and Poland is a project implemented by the Institute of Archaeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Wrocław in Poland. The goal of this project is to conduct archaeological research in the Gobi region of Mongolia, focusing on uncovering ancient stone tools, artifacts related to stone tools, and traces of human activity.

The joint expedition conducted archaeological excavations over two years in the Hutul Us Cave of Bulgan Soum, Umnugobi aimag, reaching a depth of 3.5 meters. From these excavations, several cultural layers were discovered, containing traces of human activity from multiple periods. Among these, the 7th cultural layer, dating back approximately 25,000 years, revealed a fragment of a human incisor tooth. Radiocarbon dating determined the tooth to be around 24,700 years old. Despite its small size, a 2-milligram sample was taken from the fragment for radiocarbon dating. Plans include detailed genetic analysis, with some preliminary research already underway. The fragment, along with other findings, ispreserved in the collection of the Institute of Archaeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences.

How about the other findings?

The other findings consist of stone tools, such as those crafted by the people of that era, and decorative items made from animal bones. These findings suggest that people lived in the Gobi region approximately 25,000 years ago. 

Were similar discoveries made in the past?

Many stone tools and ancient human remains have been discovered in Mongolia. However, the remains of human bones or organs themselves are extremely rare. In 2006, a human skull was found at the Salhit area of Norovlin soum, Khentii aimag. That skull, estimated to be 39,000–40,000 years old, belonged to a woman. The current discovery is the second major find of its kind, with significant scientific value. It is especially notable for being a rare find of human bone remains, considered extraordinary on a global scale.

How long will the genetic analysis take, and what additional insights could it provide? 

The primary reason for conducting genetic analysis on this find is to extract its genetic information. In the Eurasian region, there are several genetic clusters. For example, we can compare this find to individuals from Denisova Cave and Beijing, China, to determine if they belong to the same ancestral group or represent a distinct lineage. 

Additionally, this research will shed light on the origins of this individual. The initial stages of genetic analysis are already underway. We anticipate that the results will be available and published in international journals within the next 1-2 years, making them accessible to the public.