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Turkish Team Finds Treasure Trove in Mongolia
By Irja Halasz
ULAN BATOR (Reuters) - Turkish archaeologists have found a treasure trove in central Mongolia, including a golden crown they believe belonged to a Turkic emperor who ruled from the Black Sea to Korea in the early eighth Century A.D.
The discovery in early August was the first major find of a Khan's personal riches dating back to the pre-Islamic period, Ankara University researcher Sadettin Gomec told Reuters in Mongolia's capital, Ulan Bator.
The treasure was likely to have belonged to emperor Bilge Khagan, who ruled the vast Turkic empire and controlled the Silk Road from 716 to 734 A.D., or to his son Icen Khagan, Gomec said.
The crown was engraved with a mythological bird carrying a ring with a precious stone symbolising royalty, and a belt with golden ornaments matching those depicted in an ancient statue of Bilge Khagan near the shrine, he said.
``Because of the crown symbols and the belt, we are sure that the grave belonged to either Bilge Khagan or his son,'' Gomec said.
``This is a very important finding because it is the first time we have found a grave of a Khan or royal person from the pre-Islamic period.''
The Turkish-Mongolian research team also found two golden deer statues, known to be symbols of the Khan and his wife, in the grave.
``We are ninety percent sure they are Bilge Khagan's personal belongings,'' Gomec said.
The team found the treasure in the remnants of a wooden box while excavating a shrine in the Orkhon valley, about 30 miles north of the ancient Mongolian capital Karakorum and some 250 miles west of Ulan Bator.
The findings also include earrings, golden cups, silver and precious stones, and more than 1,500 pieces of silver decorated with flowers, thought to have been part of the treasure box.
The gravestone, written mostly in ancient Turkic and partly in Chinese, praised Bilge Khan, also called the ``Wise Khan.''
It also gave details of the nomadic society of his empire, which had a highly developed military, built brick buildings and castles, cultivated land, ran postal services and large trade operations, and crafted metal artefacts.
TREASURES TRANSFERRED
The Turkic empire, dating back to 552 A.D., at its largest extended from Korea, China and Tibet to Persia and the Russian Black Sea. It was defeated by a rival Uighur dynasty in 745.
Some of the Turks migrated to today's Turkey from Central Asia around the 11th Century A.D., but many ethnic Turkic peoples still remain in the area.
The archaeologists have transferred the treasures to the Mongolian government, which is keeping them in the National Historical Museum.
The excavations, part of a Turkish-funded project to protect Turkic heritage in Mongolia, will continue next year at other sites.
Separately, an American-Mongolian team looking for the tomb of Genghis Khan said on Thursday it had found a walled burial ground 200 miles northeast of Ulan Bator that may contain the 13th century ruler's remains along with priceless artefacts.
``It is an exciting discovery because it's located near where some other important events occurred in Khan's life,'' said University of Chicago history professor John Woods, who directed the expedition.
The site, near the ruler's probable birthplace and where he was proclaimed emperor of all the Mongols in 1206, is in a remote area near the Russian border about 10 hours travel along rough tracks from Ulan Bator.
Excavations are scheduled to start next year.
Legend has it that Genghis Khan, whose conquests created an empire ranging from the Caspian Sea to Beijing, was buried in 1227 by servants who were slaughtered by soldiers, who in turn were killed to preserve the secrecy of his resting place.
Genghis Khan's generals raided Persia and Russia and his successors extended their power over China, Central Asia, the Middle East, Russia and eastern Europe to create the largest contiguous land empire in human history.
Chinese archaeologists said in September 2000 they had discovered what they believed was Khan's tomb in northwest China, and a Japanese team using satellite equipment combed Mongolia for three years in the early 1990s before giving up.
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ETIC REPORT 2000 
