Stable isotope and radiocarbon analyses of livestock from the Mongol Empire site of Avraga, Mongolia

Abstract

The Mongol Empire site of Avraga in eastern Mongolia has been proposed to be the site of Chinggis Khan's ordū, or winter base camp. We performed radiocarbon and multi-element stable isotope analyses of livestock bones and teeth from Avraga to assess its chronological association with Chinggis Khan and to investigate livestock husbandry and isotopic variability. The radiocarbon results indicate that the primary occupation of Avraga was during and perhaps just after Chinggis Khan's lifetime, and that there was a later use of a large platform area which has been argued to have a ritual function related to Chinggis Khan. Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and strontium stable isotope analysis of sheep, goat, cattle and horse bones and teeth provide insight into the management of livestock during the Empire, and also provide an improved basis for evaluating human stable isotope data from the region.