UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Cemetery Complexes of the Xiongnu Nobility

This serial property comprises eight funerary complexes of the Xiongnu nobility. The Xiongnu, ancient predecessors of a confederation of Eurasian nomadic peoples, established a powerful empire between the 3rd century BCE and the 2nd century CE that eventually occupied a vast terr

This serial property comprises eight funerary complexes of the Xiongnu nobility. The Xiongnu, ancient predecessors of a confederation of Eurasian nomadic peoples, established a powerful empire between the 3rd century BCE and the 2nd century CE that eventually occupied a vast territory centred on what is now Mongolia. They interacted with the Han Chinese and controlled nodes along the main parts of the Steppe Route of the Silk Roads. Among the numerous archaeological remains found across the former expanse of the empire, their cemeteries provide important insights into Xiongnu burial culture. The main burials, notable for their substantial size and depth, are accompanied by satellite graves marked by small ring-shaped mounds, as well as sacrificial structures consisting of alignments of paired stones. A wide range of artefacts found in the tombs, including horse tack and chariots as well

Country
Mongolia
Region
Asia
Category
Cultural
Inscribed
2026
UNESCO reference
1759
Area
3,409 ha

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