Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Where Did Bronze Age Mongolians Prepare Their Feasts?
Archaeology Magazine ^ | April 3, 2026 | editors / unattributed

Posted on 04/13/2026 6:56:41 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

According to a Phys.org report, a team of researchers led by Jean-Luc Houle of Western Kentucky University explored two Late Bronze Age mounds in Mongolia known as khirigsuurs for evidence of feasting. Khirigsuurs, found in Mongolia and parts of southern Siberia, usually contain human burials and are surrounded by deposits of horse skulls. These are sometimes accompanied by horse neck vertebrae and hooves, and the burned bones of sheep or goats. Houle and his colleagues looked for the rest of these horses and evidence of butchering at khirigsuur ZK-956, which has been dated to between 1054 and 906 B.C. A well-preserved winter settlement has been found near this mound. The second mound in the study, ZK-2022-118, was surrounded by many deposits and has been dated to between 933 and 822 B.C. Soil samples were taken across each of these two sites, but no animal remains were found and chemical testing reflected normal soil composition. There were no missing horse bones recovered at the settlement near ZK-956. Had many horses been slaughtered at these sites, the researchers would have expected to recover bones and find elevated phosphate levels in the soil as a result of large-scale slaughter. The team members plan to continue looking for horse butchering sites. "We're thinking about exploring hill slopes away from habitation sites, as well as terraces and areas near seasonal water sources adjacent to ancient habitation sites, where butchering may have been more practical," Houle explained. To read about a medieval urban center built by nomads of the Uighur Empire, go to "Letter from Mongolia: Building the Black City."

(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: bronzeage; china; godsgravesglyphs; mongolia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-32 last
To: SunkenCiv

Good one. Little known fact.


21 posted on 04/13/2026 9:43:12 AM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Da Coyote; BlueLancer

Rice, rice, baby.


22 posted on 04/13/2026 9:44:19 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: frank ballenger
🙂😊😁😀😃😆😅😂🤣

23 posted on 04/13/2026 9:59:50 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: bwest

Alex, I’ll take Bronze Age Mongolian cooking facilities for $400


24 posted on 04/13/2026 10:07:16 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel

What was that good burger joint on base? The Wayfarer or something like that?


25 posted on 04/13/2026 10:35:50 AM PDT by dinodino ( Shut it down anyway. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: dinodino

Heh, I was there in the Sixties, so they didn’t have a burger joint in the base as they probably now would. But I do recall if you went out the Main Gate, took a right, and went a few hundred yards up the street, there was a burger place that everybody went to called “Wimpy’s”. I was just a kid, but for some reason, the concept of having a corn dog that they served there as well was something I had a desire for!


26 posted on 04/13/2026 10:55:40 AM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel

If you get to the Phoenix area there is :
https://www.ycs-mongoliangrill.com/

It has been many years since I have been there, so I can’t speak for it now, but it was the most wonderful eating experience I ever had. I used to go a minimum of once a week. Sometimes 2-3 times.

The absolutely ONLY thing I miss about living in Phoenix is YC’s Mongolian Barbecue.


27 posted on 04/13/2026 11:25:28 AM PDT by LegendHasIt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: LegendHasIt

It is grand food-I love that I can make it whatever I want, and the flavor is much lighter and more flavorful than standard Chinese food, which I still enjoy...I was gratified to learn Mongolian Barbecue still exists, but in my area, if I search for Mongolian Barbecue, it shows...Chinese restaurants.

They did have one nearby called “Fire and Ice”, and while it was ostensibly prepared the same way on the large griddle, the sauces were much thicker.

When I got it at other places, the sauces were less thick, more like water, and after they cooked it, it didn’t turn the cooked food kind of gloopy and thick.

Ah, good stuff. I have got to keep looking!


28 posted on 04/13/2026 11:52:29 AM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

I’m going out on a limb here, but I suspect that Mongolians prepared most of their feasts in Mongolia, unless they were in another country.


29 posted on 04/13/2026 12:28:26 PM PDT by Disambiguator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel

I missed those corn dogs. I think the burger joint was the Seafarer.


30 posted on 04/13/2026 1:56:27 PM PDT by dinodino ( Shut it down anyway. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: dinodino

Nowadays, I wouldn’t be surprised if they had McDonalds or Burger King, but back then, my idea of a great thing to eat was paying 25 cents at the Exchange cafeteria for a scoop of that sticky white rice with the green chicken gravy on it!

Heh, sounds disgusting today, but to an 11 year old kid who was growing...we used to beg for a quarter from passing sailors, who did always seem to have a soft spot for kids!


31 posted on 04/13/2026 3:00:35 PM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: rlmorel; All

As told to me by Taiwan Chinese, Mongolian Barbeque was invented in the original form by ROC Chinese soldiers, who would use empty oil drums turned upside down and placed over a fire for cooking meat, vegetables, noodles, sauces and spices.


32 posted on 04/14/2026 1:40:56 AM PDT by SteveH
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-32 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson