1 of the enduring mysteries of Bronze Age Mongolia is the Bayan Olgy complex with humanoid figures with insect antennae & wings(?)
While its genetics emains unknown to me Sintashta, Yamnaya, BMAC derived ancestries have been found in the general vicinity in the period. The ibex
While its genetics emains unknown to me Sintashta, Yamnaya, BMAC derived ancestries have been found in the general vicinity in the period. The ibex
figure is over a thousand years later in the tamgha of the Ashina clan of the Turkic Khaghanate. There are also depictions of both skiers & horsemen.
To the south of this region Andronovan chariots riding among herds of deer are depicted
Another scene from the same site shows a procession of bullock carts with flags, deer, & horsemen with Ibexes & a dog?
Another scene from this site shows what look like horsemen with flags and charioteers with ibex &the legendary deer that figures in the origin myth of the much later Mongols
Antennae men also appear around the same time in Southern Mongolia. One is reminded of equally remarkable Okunevo culture for parallels; see: manasataramgini.wordpress.com
The location of the holy mountain of Shiveet Khairkhan near the Bayan Olgiy sites noted above. There few things that provide a profound religious experience like a mountain on the steppe with a stream. Climbing this mountain or hunting on it is forbidden by the Mongols
A stone stele from the Bronze Age reminiscent of those from other Mongol sites with Sintashta-derived/Andronovan ancestry. In the vicinity there are numerous Bronze Age petroglyphs like above suggesting the holiness of site goes back to at least that phase.
On the eastern side of these are anthropomorphic stelae of certain clans of the Turkic Khaghanate suggesting it continued to be a holy site through the Turkic period.
An etching with 9 complete & probably incomplete Andronovan chariots: dasharathAH at Tsaagan Gol little to the east of Shiveet Khairkhan mountain.
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