Bioarchaeology of Bronze and Iron Age skeletal finds from a microregion in Central Mongolia

A groundbreaking bioarchaeological study of Bronze and Iron Age cemeteries in the Orkhon Valley, Mongolia, reveals that freshwater fish was a regular part of the diet in this region during these periods. The research, centered on the Maikhan Tolgoi site, combines osteological analysis with stable isotope analysis to reconstruct paleodiet and subsistence patterns. Findings indicate that adults often lived to advanced ages, and isotopic sourcing suggests a broad catchment area for the burial site. This study also sheds light on the emergence of mounted nomads in Central Mongolia, offering new insights into the lifestyle and subsistence economy of this microregion.

Grupe, G., Marx, M., Schellerer, P.-M., Bemmann, J., Brosseder, U., Yeruul-Erdene, C., & Gantulga, J.-O. (2019). Bioarchaeology of Bronze and Iron Age skeletal finds from a microregion in Central Mongolia. Anthropologischer Anzeiger, 76(3), 233–243. https://doi.org/10.1127/anthranz/2019/0879