The man, the woman and the hyoid bone: from archaeology to the burial practices of the Xiongnu people (Egyin Gol valley, Mongolia)

A man and a woman were found in a double burial dating from the 1st century BC and located in a Xiongnu burial site in northern Mongolia. An offering box at the head of the man's coffin contained both remains of domestic animals and a human hyoid bone. The skeleton of the man was complete where...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Antiquity 2000-09, Vol.74 (285), p.531-536
Main Authors: Murail, P., Crubézy, E., Martin, H., Haye, L., Bruzek, J., Giscard, P.H., Turbat, T., Erdenebaatar, D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaeological artifacts
Archaeological discoveries
Archaeological excavation
Archaeological sites
Archaeology
Asia
Biological anthropology
Burial
burial practices
Central Asia
Human remains
Humanities and Social Sciences
Metal Ages
Mongolia
News & notes
osteoarchaeology
Prehistory and protohistory
Rites, ceremonies and celebrations
Sacrifice
Tongue
Women
Xiongnu
Xiongnu (Asian people)
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Summary:A man and a woman were found in a double burial dating from the 1st century BC and located in a Xiongnu burial site in northern Mongolia. An offering box at the head of the man's coffin contained both remains of domestic animals and a human hyoid bone. The skeleton of the man was complete whereas the woman's hyoid bone was missing. The isolated hyoid bone could belong to the buried woman, which suggests the removal of her tongue and probably her sacrifice.
ISSN:0003-598X
1745-1744
DOI:10.1017/S0003598X00059883