After nearly 800 years, the resting place of the Mongol Emperor Genghis Khan remains shrouded in mystery. The true location of Genghis Khan’s tomb and the curse surrounding it continue to perplex scientists seeking answers.
The burial site of Genghis Khan has long been a topic of debate. According to historical accounts, the founder of the Mongol Empire requested to be buried in an unmarked grave. His escorting soldiers killed everyone they encountered on the way to the burial site. The builders of the tomb were also eliminated, after which the escorting troops committed suicide.
Whether these historical records are accurate or not, archaeologists have been unable to determine the location of Genghis Khan’s tomb. For many years, they have proposed hypotheses regarding his burial place. However, due to restrictions on conducting archaeological excavations in the sacred lands of Mongolia, researchers have struggled to find concrete evidence pointing to the tomb’s location.
According to the International Business Times, Genghis Khan died in late summer of 1227 at the Liupan Mountains in China. His body was taken back to Mongolia for burial.
To unravel the mystery surrounding Genghis Khan’s burial site, journalist Robin Ackroyd traveled to Mongolia. He spent two months covering 700 km on horseback across the land where Genghis Khan once lived, visiting numerous potential burial sites to recreate the landscape of the steppe 800 years ago.
In his book “Genghis Khan: The Sacred Tomb and the Secret Treasure”, Ackroyd recounts his journey in Mongolia, interweaving historical records about Genghis Khan’s life and his successors. After analyzing ancient texts and studying contemporary life in Mongolia, Ackroyd claims to have discovered the location of Genghis Khan’s tomb.
Portrait of Genghis Khan at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan. (Photo: Wikipedia).
To gain a deeper understanding of Genghis Khan and the creation of the Mongol Empire, Ackroyd utilized a range of historical documents to piece together the sequence of events related to the emperor’s life and death. The two most important texts he relied on are the Secret History of the Mongols (author unknown), which chronicles the history of the Mongol dynasty shortly after Genghis Khan’s death.
Another document is the account by historian Rashid al-Din from the first decade after 1300. Originally from Persia, Rashid al-Din was commissioned to write the history of the Mongols. “He made great efforts to understand what happened, where Genghis Khan was buried, in order to explain some mysteries surrounding the burial process,” Ackroyd stated.
The cause of Genghis Khan’s death is associated with various anecdotes. Some suggest he suffered from a high fever. The Secret History of the Mongols states that he fell off his horse the previous winter, leading to an infection of the wound. Another anecdote claims he was injured and died while trying to abduct a wife of an enemy.
Ackroyd emphasizes that the true cause of Genghis Khan’s death was kept secret to protect his status as the leader of the Mongol Empire. His death at the hands of an enemy was not recorded in history. Genghis Khan surely did not want to reveal his weakness during a military campaign. However, he passed away in August. During this time in Mongolia, temperatures began to drop significantly, with hot days quickly turning to freezing conditions.
According to Ackroyd, returning home for eternal rest was immensely significant for Genghis Khan. The 17th-century Mongolian chronicle states that he was brought back to his homeland after his death, specifically to an area along a bend in the Kherlen River, where his tent was pitched.
Rashid al-Din recorded that Genghis Khan’s coffin was taken to this location for mourning rituals. Subsequently, princes and leaders convened to discuss the future of the kingdom before returning home.
Genghis Khan was buried with numerous grave goods, horses, and servants. One account states that 40 noblewomen adorned in fine attire and gold jewelry were killed and buried with him to escort his soul to the afterlife.
Three locations are most likely candidates for Genghis Khan’s burial site: Öglögchiin Kherem or Almsgivers’ Wall in Khentii Province, Mongolia. Several ancient graves have been discovered here over the years, leading to speculation that one of them belongs to Genghis Khan, but none have royal traces.
Another site is Avarga, near Delgerkhaan. Although this area served as a camping ground, it held no real personal significance for Genghis Khan. Avarga is far from where he was born and is also 200 km away from where he ascended to the throne.
The final site is the sacred mountain Burkhan Khaldun, which Ackroyd believes has the highest potential to house Genghis Khan’s tomb. The area surrounding Burkhan Khaldun, covering 240 km2, is known as Ikh Khorig, meaning “Forbidden Zone.” This is a sacred land where trespassers face death. Ancient texts indicate that the mountain once served as a refuge for Genghis Khan in his youth when he fought the Merkid tribe. He fled to the mountain to escape enemies, survived, and vowed to pray before the mountain from then on.
Genghis Khan was buried with numerous grave goods, horses, and servants.
Ackroyd remarked that the likelihood of Genghis Khan’s tomb being located on the mountain is high, as some texts indicate that Mongolian leaders placed great importance on high burial sites. As the founder of the Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan may have wished to be buried in the highest place within his territory.
Compared to other mountains in Mongolia, the location of Burkhan Khaldun also aligns with historical accounts of burial sites. It is situated at the confluence of three rivers and is only six days’ journey from Genghis Khan’s birthplace.
Additionally, at the summit of Burkhan Khaldun, there is a large stone mound that does not appear to be of natural origin. Ackroyd notes that the stones seem to have been placed there by human hands. This would require abundant resources that only Genghis Khan’s lineage could provide.
The Mongolian government has also concluded that Burkhan Khaldun is the most plausible site for Genghis Khan’s tomb. In 2015, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. However, the chances of excavating the area to find Genghis Khan’s tomb remain very low.
“All evidence points to Genghis Khan being buried on the summit of Burkhan Khaldun. But excavations at Burkhan Khaldun will certainly not happen in the near future. Many Mongolians view the excavation of Genghis Khan’s tomb as an act of sacrilege. Ancient taboos related to the dead and burial sites still exist today, maintaining the secret of the tomb for nearly 800 years. The Mongolians believe their ancestors reside in sacred places, and the thought of disturbing a tomb is something they have never considered.”, Ackroyd shared.
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Speculations on the location of Genghis Khan’s tomb First, Genghis Khan died in Qingshui County at the foot of the Liupan Mountains in Ningxia. According to Mongolian customs, if not buried within three days after death, the soul of the deceased cannot find peace. Thus, many scholars believe it is possible that Genghis Khan was buried here. The second speculation pertains to the Altai Mountains in northern Xinjiang, which Marco Polo also mentioned in his travel notes, stating that during the escort of the king’s coffin to the Altai Mountains, everyone he encountered along the way was considered a sacrifice. Indeed, archaeologists have previously found an artificial mound near the Altai Mountains, but after investigation, they found no traces of graves. The third possibility is that Genghis Khan’s tomb lies in the Khentii Mountains, which is also the most plausible option. In Mongolian history, Genghis Khan’s family regarded the Khentii Mountains as sacred, and his father was also buried there. Subsequently, Genghis Khan was besieged by enemies, and to avoid their attack, he too fled to the Kent Mountains to escape. Since becoming the Great Khan, he would ascend the mountain to pay his respects during significant events. |
