Improving archaeological site analysis: a rampart in the middle Orkhon Valley investigated with combined geoscience techniques

A rampart in the Orkhon Valley, Mongolia, was dated to the Turk/Uighur period (6th–9th century AD) with potential reuse during Mongolian rule (12th–17th century AD), marking it as one of the farthest walled structures from Khar Balgas. The study combined geophysical techniques—including SQUID magnetometry, ground-penetrating radar, and electric resistivity measurements—with high-resolution topographic mapping to analyze MOR-2, a challenging site with scarce surface finds. Sediment cores from a nearby meander revealed increased organic content during Medieval times, supporting the dating hypothesis. While the rampart's specific function remains unclear, its construction aligns with known Uighur sites, offering new insights into Eurasian Steppe settlement history.

Grützner, C., Bemmann, J., Berking, J., Frechen, M., Klinger, R., Klitzsch, N., Linzen, S., Mackens, S., Oczipka, M., Piezonka, H., Reichert, S., Schneider, M., & Schütt, B. (2012). Improving archaeological site analysis: a rampart in the middle Orkhon Valley investigated with combined geoscience techniques. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 9(4), S70–S80. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-2132/9/4/s70