Khyadag and Zunii Gol: Animal Art and the Bronze to Iron Age Transition in Northern Mongolia

The Late Bronze Age Mongolian culture known for its memorial deer stones and khirigsuur burials, the Deer Stone-Khirigsuur complex (hereafter DSK) dating to 1300–700 BCE, displays persistence over several hundred years. Radiocarbon dates from hearths horse remains associated with these sites show little change in architecture, ritual practice, iconography, giving impression of an unchanging mortuary cultural regime. New research demonstrates that are memorials recently deceased leaders display distinctive features personal identification within unifying framework over-arching religious theme represented by deer-bird iconography. Despite continuity, DSK is not monolithic. This paper presents evidence regional chronological variation stone art ceremonial activity based on at Khyadag Zunii Gol northcentral Mongolia. Areal excavation, detailed survey, recording revealed presence a new class miniature copper smelting, — unusual carrying elements Scytho-Saka animal style art. These data indicate geographic overlap V. Volkov’s types changes later period complex. In future, emphasis needs be given broad excavation strategies explore contextual history individual sites, Type II III stones, comparisons Xinjiang, Baikal, Gornyi Altai.