On the occasion of 2222th anniversary of the foundation of Mongolian Statehood, a research expedition of the Archeological faculty at the Ulaanbaatar University displayed findings of 10 years work in an exhibition in the Archeology museum at the university. Between 2001 and 2011, the research expedition conducted excavations in a burial place called Golmod-2 in Balgasiin steppe, Undur-Ulaan Soum of Arkhangai Aimag and discovered over 4000 items where the grave of a Khunnu King was found.
This is the 2222th anniversary of the foundation of Statehood. Therefore, the university is displaying findings from Khunnu period graves in an exhibition to publicize Mongolia’s history, culture and customs. Dr. D.Erdenebaatar, Dean of the Archeological faculty, who led the expedition said, “There were many rare and important items in the findings from the Gol mod graveyard, including a glass cup made in the Roman Empire and a jade decoration. The Roman period glass cup has a 250 gram capacity. A total of nine such kinds of glass cup have been found in the world. The US has two, and museums of Rome and Hermitage each preserve three such cups. However they are not like the one found in this grave. The technology that was used to make this cup can be said to be the nanotechnology of that time. Because blue and white colored glass could not be combined, they were mixed with delicate high technology. This finding is also very important evidence of foreign relations of the Khunnu state”.
“Decorations made of jade have been found in over 30 graves of the Khunnu period since 1024. However, no one has found a complete piece with no breaks like this one. Various animal figures were illustrated on this decoration, so we think this may have been a present from the Han Dynasty of that time. But the decoration was made of jade stone which exists only in Mongolian territory” stated Mr. Erdenebaatar.
‘The findings prove that the expertise craftsmanship of the Khunnu period was very high. For example, the Japanese tried to make such cups like the Roman cup, but they failed.
We also found a pot with bronze and iron welded together. Even now there is no technology to weld bronze and iron together. Therefore, even though today’s technology is highly developed, it cannot match the skills of Khunnu period craftsmen’ said D.Erdenebaatar.