A team of archaeologists, led by Alexey Kovalev of the Russian Academy of Sciences, discovered a cemetery of warriors at the Bayanbulag archaeological site in southern Mongolia. The site includes a 2,100-year-old mass grave containing the dismembered bodies of Han soldiers who fought against the nomadic Xiongnu tribe in the 2nd century BCE.
Researchers found a pit containing more than 20 skeletons, many showing signs of dismemberment, decapitation, and mutilation. The pit was initially used for clay mining before being converted into a mass grave, providing insight into the brutal nature of ancient warfare during the Han-Xiongnu conflicts.
"Dismemberment was considered in Han culture the most humiliating way to die. Execution by dismemberment was the most shameful form of execution. It was done by enemies so that the souls of these people could never be reborn," said Alexey Kovalev.
At least two men were found buried in a kneeling position, suggesting they may have been executed on the spot, possibly indicating ritualized punishment.
Genetic and isotopic analyses revealed that these warriors shared similarities with the population of northern China, reinforcing the theory that they were troops recruited from different parts of the Han Empire. DNA tests on 14 skeletons confirmed genetic links to present-day Han and northern Chinese populations. Strontium isotope testing indicated that the men came from different regions and were likely not local to the site. "The soldiers inside the grave were a heterogeneous group of men from different regions of Northeast Asia who fought as part of the Han army," noted Michael Rivera, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Hong Kong.
"The research successfully combined historical context with genetic, archaeological, and isotopic analyses," said Rivera. "This study details a grave where Han soldiers were killed by the enemy and later buried by their comrades for the first time, providing key insights into Han military strategy and the soldiers' backgrounds," he said.
The Bayanbulag fortress, built in 104 BCE, was one of many Han outposts designed to defend against Xiongnu incursions. These fortifications were manned by Han troops deployed from rural China.
The Xiongnu confederation was a nomadic group that dominated the Mongolian steppes, engaging in fierce confrontations with Chinese civilization during the Han-Xiongnu War.
Excavations at the Bayanbulag fortress revealed evidence of dismemberment, decapitation, and mutilation with a sword, suggesting that the men were executed captives. A macabre detail is that at least one of the bodies was decapitated, and its head was never found. This could indicate that the Xiongnu took the heads of Han warriors as war trophies.
"According to Chinese beliefs, it is necessary to bury the deceased's body with complete integrity, and those who buried these soldiers sought to make them feel satisfied in the afterlife. It is important that all the small pieces of arms, legs, severed heads, and other human remains were collected for burial," said Kovalev.
The circumstances of the soldiers' deaths and how their bodies were placed in the pit remain unknown. One theory suggests that they were prisoners of war, captured and killed by the Xiongnu as a warning or ritual sacrifice. Researchers suggest that the pit was used as a disposal site for executed individuals. Alternatively, the punishment may have been a result of mutiny, desertion, or internal conflict within the outpost.
"Despite the breakthrough, many questions remain about burial customs for ordinary people from this period," said Rivera, adding that more extensive research is needed to fully understand the mass grave in Bayanbulag.
The results of the study were published in the Journal of Archaeological Science
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.