Gol River Research Articles

Mongolian sculptor Tsevegmid Amgalan and the monument dedicated to the victory in the battle on the Khalkhin Gol River

Mongolian sculptor Tsevegmid Amgalan and the monument dedicated to the victory in the battle on the Khalkhin Gol River

Burials of the XIII–XIV centuries in the Egiin-Gol river valley (Northern Mongolia): burial rite features

The article analyzes of the results of studies, condacted in 1997–2000 by archaeologists in the Egiin Gol river valley, northern Mongolia. The findings of 3 burial grounds, where burials of the XIII–XIV centuries were excavated, were examined – Mukhdagiin am, Kholtost nuga and Elst hotol. Based on the characteristics of the funeral rite, 4 groups of burials have been identified. The first included 9 graves from the necropolises of Elst hotol and Kholtost nuga. Corpses in them were placed without additional intra-grave structures. They were laid on their backs. The body was oriented with the head facing northwest, north, northeast or east. A shin, head or part of the spine of small cattle were placed near the hands or feet of the deceased in the grave. The second group included 4 burials of the Mukhdagiin am burial ground. The deceased were placed in wooden coffins and were oriented with their heads to the north or northwest. The shin of a sheep was placed vertically near the head. The third group included single burial of the the Mukhdagiin am burial ground. It had an undercut in the grave pit, where the body was buried. The fourth group included a grave from the Kholtost nuga necropolis. In it the deceased was wrapped in birch bark. During the first half of the II millennium, in the lower part of the Egiin Gola valley, the dominant position was occupied by the bearers of burial traditions of the first group. Representatives of the second group of burials appear in this area in the XIII century, comparable to the Sayantui funeral rite. The burials of the third and fourth groups date back to the beginning of the II millennium.

ОПЫТ ДЕЙСТВИЙ БРОНЕТАНКОВЫХ ВОЙСК КРАСНОЙ АРМИИ НА ХАСАНЕ И ХАЛХИН-ГОЛЕ: РЕФЛЕКСИИ ВОЕННОЙ ЭЛИТЫ

In the article, based on documents from the collections of the Russian State Military Archive (RGVA), an attempt is made to analyze the process of understanding by representatives of the Red Army command the experience of the actions of Armored forces during local military conflicts at lake Khasan and Khalkhin Gol river in 1938–1939. The conclusions made by commanders at various levels, in general, accurately recorded the main shortcomings and errors in the use of tank units and formations, which completely repeated those during the Civil War in Spain. It is concluded that by the time the conflicts began, that experience was unknown to tank and combined arms commanders. In addition, based on content analysis, the inability of specialists to assess the weak armoring of tanks is revealed as the main reason for heavy losses. Attention is drawn to the fact that while correctly recording the extremely low level of training of commanders and personnel of the tank forces, the final conclusions of the reports to the higher command contained exceptionally high assessments of combat effectiveness and assurances of readiness to carry out any order. At the same time, the country’s top military-political leadership received a sufficient amount of truthful information from its representatives from the conflict zone, but preferred to broadcast to the public a picture of the highest combat readiness of the armored forces, which was clearly and convincingly reflected in mass Soviet culture.

Монголия в историографическом наследии профессора И. И. Кузнецова

Goals. The article aims to determine the place of Mongolia and plots related to the history of this country in works of the famous Soviet and Russian historian Ilya I. Kuznetsov, to evaluate his contribution to the study of the military conflict between the Red Army and armed forces of Japan in 1939 at the River of Khalkhin, and to characterize the role of I. Kuznetsov in preparing the memoirs of Yu. Tsedenbal. Materials and methods. The article analyzes memoirs and correspondence of I. Kuznetsov, materials of periodicals and mainly scientific works of the historian dealing with exploits of Soviet and Mongolian soldiers during the conflict on the Khalkhin Gol River. The methodology employed — in addition to the general scientific method of analysis — includes special historical research methods, i.e. the retrospective and chronological ones. Results. The study determines the chronological framework of issues related to events on the Khalkhin Gol River and studied by I. Kuznetsov — from mid-1960s to mid-1980s. The scholar prepared a number of articles and monographs that forever inscribed his name in the historiography of the events at Khalkhin Gol. Assistance in the preparation of Yu. Tsedenbal’s memoirs also became an important and interesting part of the historian’s scientific path, although this work remained unfinished. Conclusions. The study shows that despite issues of Mongolian history were not central to the scientific endeavors of I. Kuznetsov, his insights into the events on the Khalkhin Gol River were important in developing another research interest of the historian — destinies of Heroes of the Soviet Union and feats accomplished by soldiers of the Soviet and Mongolian armies. Publications of I. Kuznetsov’s works in the Mongolian People’s Republic and the Soviet Union unequivocally attest to the significance of his academic efforts aimed at exploring destinies of the heroes of Khalkhin Gol. This is confirmed by the very fact the scholar was invited to assist Yu. Tsedenbal in writing the latter’s memoirs. I. Kuznetsov was a historian with diverse scientific interests who with genuine enthusiasm tackled new research topics. The Mongolian theme is undoubtedly a significant contribution to his scientific background. And for the Mongolian people proper, the perpetuation of their compatriots’ feats in the conflict at Khalkhin Gol was of great importance.

Loess soil distribution and properties in Mongolia

Loess and loess-like soil formations are distributed in 3 regions across Mongolia. The lower part of the Orkhon and Selenge river basin in North Mongolia is the main loess area and another two are located in east Mongolia, in the Onon and Ulz river basins and the Khalka Gol river area. Loess-like soil covers a total of 109,000 sq.km or 6.95 per cent of the territory of the country. Loess soil properties have been studied on the basis of 8 sections and 83 samples. Fine sand fraction is predominant in the loess granulometric composition and its mean value is 51.3 per cent, and silt content mean value is about 34.9 per cent. A typical loess is a non-stony silt or fine sand, but there are also gravel loess. The average stone gravel content in the loess sediments is 8.1 per cent, sandy loess doesn’t contain any stone, but coarse fragment is high (20.5 per cent) in gravel loess. There is higher sand content (57.0 per cent) in gravel loess as compared to sandy loess (47.4 per cent). Mongolian loess soil average calcium carbonate content is 2.9 per cent, and Organic Matter (0.93 per cent) is higher than Chinese loess (0.41 per cent). Using 14C isotope data analysis and sediment properties we have tried to define the loess stratigraphy. Lower base section of fine sand silty loess sediments or about 1-3 meter thick layers were mostly formed during the mid-Holocene (7.5-3.0 ka) period. Upper parts of silty loess or 1.0-0.7 meter top layers were accumulated in the late Holocene (3ka BP to present) period. Kastanozem topsoil humus horizon (15-30 cm) formation starts at 1.5-1.0 ka BP. Mid-Holocene period probably witnessed the most active loess accumulation with a warm and dry windy condition prevailing. Sandy loess with a thickness of 1-2 meters predominate in Mongolia, and in some places loess thickness reaches up to 20-30 meters.

New Findings of Lower Cambrian Trilobites in the Southern Hövsgöl Area (Mongolia) and Their Significance for Stratigraphy and Interregional Correlation

Abstract —Based on the materials collected by L.N. Repina in the southern Hövsgöl area (Mongolia) in 1986–1988, we describe three sections and identify lower Cambrian trilobites. The sections of Mt. Hurtel Harna and along the Ujigin Gol River were studied earlier. We consider trilobites that have been found in these sections for the first time: Redlihia zharkovi, Lermontoviella shanganica, Erbia granulosa, Kootenia siberica, and Parapoulsenia lata. The section along the ravine of the Zuun-Shuvuutyn-Sair Brook and the findings of trilobites in it are described for the first time. The found new trilobites make it possible to correlate the coeval lower Cambrian strata in the southern Hövsgöl area, Altai–Sayan folded area, and western Siberian Platform and refine the age of the certain parts of the Egyin Gol, Ukhaa Tolgoi, and Ujigin Gol formations.

Effects of floods on macroinvertebrate communities in the Zarin Gol River of\xa0northern Iran: implications for water quality monitoring and biological assessment

BackgroundThe timing, magnitude, and duration of extreme hydrological disasters have the potential to threaten the species diversity and river habitats. On August 8, 2014, and August 19, 2017, disastrous floods struck mountainous regions of Iran’s Zarin Gol River basin. Macroinvertebrate communities were studied at seven upstreams prior to the floods in June 2014 and 2017 and after the floods in September 2014 and 2017 and 9 months after the second flood in June 2018. The effects of floods on macroinvertebrate communities, recovery rate of macroinvertebrate community resilience and influencing factors were investigated.ResultsDespite the fact that extreme floods were the only reason of the disruption, the effects of biological water quality assessment metrics after the disaster were comparable to those of heavily polluted waters. Biological indicators revealed that the communities were unaffected prior to the floods, and the water quality remained within acceptable limits. Following the disasters, the density of macroinvertebrates declined, and biological indicators demonstrated the severe depletion of water quality. Community indicators (species richness, percent model affinity (PMA), and Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) richness) rebounded after 9 months (June 2018), demonstrating that Zarin Gol River’s macroinvertebrate communities could recover even after the severe impact of the floods. As a result, macroinvertebrate samples taken from flood-affected areas revealed that extreme flooding, rather than a decrease in water quality, causes a loss of diversity and abundance.ConclusionBecause of shifts in hydrological regimes in streams around the world, understanding the short-term impacts of strong flooding and the comparatively quick recovery of macroinvertebrate ecosystems has important consequences for bio-assessment programs after severe floods.

Military and Diplomatic History of the Khalkhin Gol War of 1939: New Concept of Mongolian Historian and Government Leader - R. Bold (Review of R. Bolds book «Limited War: The Military-Diplomatic History of the Battle at the Khalkhin Gol River». Moscow, The whole world, 2019. 568 p.)

More than 80 years have passed since notorious military events on the Khalkhin-Gol river in which four states took part: on the one hand, Japan and Manchukuo, on the other, the USSR and Mongolia. International scientific conferences were timed to coincide with this event, a lot of research was done, and relevant scientific papers were published. One of them was the book of Doctor of Historical Science R. Bold, «Limited War: The Military Diplomatic History of the Battle of the Khalkhin-Gol River», published by the Whole World Publishing House (2019 - 568 pp.), which proposed a slightly different interpretation of the historical battles at the Khalkhin-Gol river (May-September 1939). This article is a brief analysis of this book and a kind of review of it.

The Contribution of Scientists of the Kirov Military Medical Academy to the Development of Military Transfusiology, in Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Professor S.V. Ryzhkov

June 23, 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of prominent Russian transfusiologist, professor, student of academic V.N. Shamov, participant of the Stalingrad Battle Semyon Vavilovich Ryzhkov (1919-2004). He was the one who established the Russian Ministry of Defense Blood Service. In 1961, he founded the Research Laboratory of Fibrinolysis Blood and Tissue Preservation, which since 1964 bears the name of the Blood and Tissue Center. He had been the head of the Center for20 years. His academic interests covered such issues as the use of hemodialysis in acute renal failure, the cryopreservation of red blood cells and bone marrow, which brought him the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics State Prize in 1978, the substantiation of the safety of a 400 ml blood donation, and the use of donor hardware plasmacytopheresis. The article presents data on the contribution of the scientists of the Military Medical Academy to the development of the national blood transfusion service from the 2nd half of the XIX century till the establishment of the Ministry of Defense Blood Service in 1965. June 21, 1919V.N. Shamov, N.N. Elansky, and I.R. Petrov carried out the first donor and recipient matching blood transfusion in Russia. They contributed a lot to teaching medical practitioners to do blood type tests. In 1926, N.N.Yelansky was the first in Russia to publish the study Blood Transfusion. In 1944, V.N.Shamov was the first in Russia to publish The Blood Transfusion Manual for Military Doctors. On the battlefields of Lake Hassan, the Khalkhin Gol River, and in Spain, the surgeons of the Military Medical Academy proved the universal type 0 blood transfusion to be a successful technique. The opinions of scientists on blood donation and preservation, indications and contraindications to blood transfusion in peacetime and wartime are presented.

New Spiriferids (Brachiopoda) from the Middle–Late Permian of Northeastern Mongolian Boreal Basin

Three new spiriferid species are established from the Mongolian key sections of the Middle Permian Tsagaan-Temete horizon and Late Permian Binder horizon, Uldza formation. Crassispirifer galinae sp. nov. (order Spiriferida) and Tumarinia uldsiensis sp. nov. (order Spiriferinida) were found in the inequigranular sandstones of Tsagaan-Temete Horizon of Mts. Tsagaan-Temete and Tavan-Tologoi, Uldza Permian Field, northeastern Mongolia. Few molds and imprints of Neospirifer borealis sp. nov. (order Spiriferida) were collected from the interbedding series of calcareous siltstones and sandstones of Binder horizon, upper Uldza subformation, key section on the slope of Mt. Ikh-Uldziit on the left bank of the Khurakhu Gol River.

A New Interpretation of the History of the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939 or a Subjective Assessment of the Researcher?

The author of the book, O.S. Smyslov, interprets the military events in the area of the Khalkhin Gol river in 1939, defines the causes of the war, the role of commanders, military casualties and participants of military actions. The battle of Khalkhin Gol becomes the subject of much attention and study of Russian and Mongolian historians, especially the most complex and controversial issues of military and diplomatic history. Most of the research is original and contributes significantly to the interpretation of the military conflict, its geopolitical nature and its role in the world history of the 20th century. A new interpretation of the role of Georgy Zhukov in the crushing defeat of the Japanese troops at Khalkhin Gol is proposed in the monograph of the military historian O.S. Smyslov. The author of the book made an attempt to downplay and misrepresent the participation of Zhukov in the historical events. The author’s approach to the cause of the military conflict is critically examined as well as the methodology of historical research. The author of the review believes that the attempt of a new interpretation of the war in the Khalkhin Gol area is controversial and historically unconvincing. The matter merits professional discussion. There is a need to make a special encyclopedia, “The Battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939”, which will enable to avoid misrepresentation of the tragic and heroic military events of history of the USSR and Russia of the 20th century.

Положение повстанцев Внутренней Монголии после смерти их лидера Бавужава в 1916 г.

Introduction. Although the national liberation movement of the Mongols in the early 20th century was studied generally well, the so called Kharachin movement and the Kharachin issue have been understudied yet. The article concerns, first of all, the period following the death of its leader Babujab. Data on Babujab’s detachments after his death are fragmentary. Goals and materials. The paper aims to reconstruct the situation faced by these detachments at that time as evidenced from archival data, first of all, reconnaissance and diplomatic reports contained in the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire (Rus. AVPRI) and Russian State Archive of Military History (Rus. RGVIA), as compared to previously published data. Results. After Babujab’s death in October 1916, the movement in Inner Mongolia did not stop. Some of his followers surrendered to the Chinese, dispersed for robberies, while others (ca. 1 200 men) relocated to Zuun Uzumchin Banner of Inner Mongolia. In early December, a detachment of 1 800 men was in Solun Shan area. Since mid-December, Mongolian guerrillas started to move from Uzumchin to Linzhixian and Chifeng counties. In late December 1916, one of Kharachin leaders, Fushengge, visited Hailar in Barga (Hulunbuir) claiming provision for the Mongolian guerrillas and removal of all Daurs from the government of Barga. The latter declined the claims and started mobilization of troops. According to Fushengge, the detachment of guerrillas consisted of 6 000 Mongols, 400 Chinese, 4 Japanese officers and 218 Japanese soldiers. The guerrillas had Japanese guns. On December 1, 1916, leaders of guerrillas elected the gung Chadarbal to replace the deceased Babujab (Sebjingge, a more skillful military leader, had refused). On the advice of the Japanese, Mongolian guerrillas moved to the southern bank of the Khalkhyn Gol River where they encamped till the spring of 1917. The total number of guerrillas in that camp was estimated sometimes up to 10 000 men, still most probably being 3 000–5 000. The guerrillas planned to participate in restoring the Manchu Qing Dynasty to power. Conclusions. The paper provides detailed descriptions of that camp and life of the guerrillas, as well as some data on their raids to Outer Mongolia. Hailar became the first target of the guerrillas.

Reconstruction of paleoenvironmental conditions of ancient people habitation in the Togootyn Gol River valley (Eastern Mongolia)

The paper presents initial materials from the archaeological site of Togootyn gol-V (Eastern Mongolia). At the end of the early and mid-Holocene on the territory of the Eastern Mongolia there was major reorganization of the river network, regional meadow and rich black (chernozem-like) soil was formed. The ancient man settled on the site at the beginning of the mid-Holocene (the end of the Early Neolithic period). Forest-steppe landscapes were developed in the valley of Togootyn gol River. At the Holocene optimum (5.5-4.9 ka), the borderline of the taiga-forest zone shifted 250–300 km to the south of the modern one. Afforestation of the Togootyn gol River valley was highest possible for the entire Holocene period. The archaeological material of this period is typologically similar to the materials of the Baikal region (7.9-4.5 ka) and the northeastern China (7.5-5 ka). On the plains of the Eastern Mongolia the arid stage began about 4–3.5 ka. Significant reduction in atmospheric humidification led to the displacement of the forest vegetation to the foothills of the Khentii Mountains, to the expansion of steppe ecosystems and to the intensification of their xerophytization. The modern zonal distribution of the eastern Mongolian territory landscapes with complete dominance of steppes began in the second half of the late Holocene (Dinesman et al., 1989). At present, in the Togootyn gol River valley dry steppe landscapes are common, and the closest fragments of forest vegetation occupy the upper levels of the Delgerkhaan Mountain.

Разведка палеолитических памятников в среднем течении реки Харганын-гол (Монголия)

Разведка палеолитических памятников в среднем течении реки Харганын-гол (Монголия)

Assessment of a catastrophic rock avalanche in the West Mongolian Altai Mountains

A giant rock avalanche that resulted in the formation of a dammed lake was discovered during geological mapping in the valley of the Dund Tsenkher Gol River, Munhkhairkhan Soum, Western Mongolian Altai. Field and satellite data (WorldView-2 and SENTINEL-1) were used to obtain a geomorphological description of the landslide and a 3D geometric reconstruction of the rock avalanche. With deposits exceeding 14 million cubic meters in volume, the rock avalanche is one of the largest catastrophic landslides in the world. The rock avalanche was controlled by tectonic setting. The slope instability was favored by the presence of NW-SE and NE-SW trending fault systems, steep foliation and morphology. The rock avalanche was likely triggered by an earthquake related to the activity of the Tolbonuur and Hovd faults. Although the area is sparsely populated, the settlement of Munhkhairkhan Soum is threatened by rockfalls or even by rock avalanches that could be triggered by future earthquakes along these faults.

New evidence for Paleolithic human behavior in Mongolia: The Kharganyn Gol 5 site

Situated between the Altai Mountains and the Chinese Loess Plateau, the current territory of Mongolia played a pivotal role in Pleistocene human population dynamics in Northeast Asia with archaeological evidence suggesting the existence of cultural links with southern Siberia beginning in the Late Pleistocene. Here, we present preliminary results from the newly discovered site of Kharganyn Gol 5 in northern Mongolia. The results obtained from the Kharganyn Gol 5 site allow new reconstructions of chrono-cultural sequences and human behavior in eastern Central Asia. The site has yielded evidence of human occupation corresponding to several phases of the regional Upper Paleolithic. In addition, we present the first evidence of human occupation of the region prior to Greenland Interstadial 12 (GI12; 40,000–43,000 BP) and discuss the implications of such data. The Kharganyn Gol River basin contains sedimentary rock formations including numerous raw material outcrops, containing various types of chert. Prehistoric people used all these chert varieties for tool production, but the modes of raw material exploitation changed through time. This paper reports the presence, unique in Central and North Asia, of a non-utilitarian object made of muscovite mica in an Initial Upper Paleolithic assemblage in Archaeological Horizon 5 of the Kharganyn Gol 5 site.

The Sacred Mountain Shiveet Khairkhan (Bayan Ölgiy aimag, Mongolia) and the Centering of Cultural Indicators in the Age of Nomadic Pastoralism

Located in the upper valley of Tsagaan Gol, in northwestern Mongolia's Altai Mountains, the sacred mountain Shiveet Khairkhan is surrounded by archaeological monuments extending in time from the Bronze Age (early third millennium BCE) through the Turkic Period (sixth to ninth centuries CE). The character of the high valley it centers and the extended physical context including rivers and glaciated mountains call to mind a sacred diagram involving a mountainous landscape, directionality, and color symbolism. Such general associations with Buddhist concepts would not be the reason Shiveet Khairkhan is considered sacred, however. The wealth of archaeology around the mountain's base and lining the Tsagaan Gol river valley indicates that this status might go back for several thousand years, to a period much earlier than Buddhism. The material presented here derives from two decades of original archaeological survey and documentation and draws on the approaches of several different disciplines. By considering this topic in terms of integrated approaches, it is possible to suggest the complexity of Shiveet Khairkhan within its larger cultural and geographical context and to explore the ways in which this mountain might have become designated as sacred.

Formation Chronology of Arsain Pingo, Darhad Basin, Northern Mongolia

AbstractNumerous frost mounds exist on the meander belt and alluvial fan around Arsain Gol River in Darhad basin, northern Mongolia, at the southern fringe of the north‐eastern Eurasian permafrost zone. In this environment, abundant water supply and inter‐permafrost taliks may allow the development of artesian pressure that leads to groundwater upwelling. The aim of this study was to determine the formation chronology of pingos in this region. The Arsain pingo was drilled to a depth of 35 m to determine the stratigraphy, and data were collected on ground‐ice stable isotopic composition, electrical resistivity, ground temperature, and radiocarbon dating and interpreted in conjunction with the chronology of paleo‐lake retreat in the basin. A 10 m thick ice core sandwiched between fine‐grained lacustrine sediments was identified by drilling and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). Stable isotope values of ice core samples indicated Rayleigh‐type isotope fractionation during the freezing of liquid water. Consequently, closed‐system freezing of artesian groundwater appears to be the driving mechanism of pingo formation. Near‐surface, segregated ground ice formed from the open‐system freezing of meteoric water, concurrent with pingo growth. The lake coverage was extensive until about 10,000 years before present (yr bp), and the growth of the Arsain pingo began after 4500 yr bp, when the paleo‐lake was completely drained. The pingo is not presently growing because of a limited groundwater supply to feed the ice core. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Genetic variation of the mtDNA cyt b locus in graylings (Thymalus sp.: Thymalidae, Pisces) introduced into the Baydrag Gol River of the Valley of Lakes basin (Mongolia)

Based on sequence variation of the mtDNA cyt b gene, an analysis of graylings introduced from the Arctic Ocean basin (Selenga River basin) into one of the rivers of Central Asian inland basin (Baydrag Goal River of the Valley of Lakes basin) was carried out. Morphological and molecular genetic identification was performed, and it was established that the introduced species corresponded to the Baikal grayling. The relationships among Central Asian grayling species are discussed.

Mercury contamination in Khramulia (Capoeta capoeta) from the Cheshme Kile and Zarrin Gol Rivers in Iran and human health risk assessment.

Total mercury concentrations were determined in muscle tissue of Khramulia (Capoeta capoeta) captured in the Cheshme Kile and Zarrin Gol Rivers, Iran. In Cheshme Kile River, 49 fish samples were collected. The mean total mercury concentration in the muscles of C. capoeta from this area was 249 ng g(-1) dw. In Zarrin Gol River, where 62 fish samples were collected, the total mercury in muscles averaged 164 ng g(-1) dw. A significant difference was found between means of mercury in the rivers (p < 0.001). All samples from the two rivers had mean mercury concentrations below the maximum allowable limits for mercury set by the Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, Standardization Administration of China and Environmental Protection Agency. The results of this study indicate that the values of hazard target quotient and estimated weekly intake are low and represent a negligible risk for human health.