Khirigsuur

Khirigsuur, also Kheregsüür or Khirgisuur, is a type of Bronze Age burial, encountered in Mongolia. It is composed of a central stone mound with a stone burial chamber generally beneath it, a stone enclosure, and external mounds and circles on the periphery.^[1] Etymologically, the word "Khirgissur" is linked to the word "Kirgizstan".^[1]

In Mongolia, Khirgisuur burials are frequently associated with Deer Stones, to the point that the "Deer Stone culture" is often called "Deer Stone-Khirgisuur Complex” (DSK)".^[2]

Archaeologically, Khirgisuur burial sites belong to an earlier archaeological period compared to that of the Deer Stones, but they were appropriated by Deer Stone builders.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b Ma, Jian; Wang, Yinchen (1 January 2023). "Asia, Steppe, East: Bronze and Iron Age". Reference Module in Social Sciences. Elsevier. The Khirgisüür, etymologically linked to Kirgizstan, is a burial monument consisting of a central stone mound, stone enclosure, and external satellite mounds and circles. A stone burial chamber was usually found under the central stone mound.
^ Jacobson-Tepfer 2023, pp. 158–159, "However, some of the most impressive deer stone groupings, such as those at Ushkiin-Uver and Tsatsyn Ereg, are also found in the vicinity of khirgisuur. For that reason, it has become a rule of thumb among many archaeologists that deer stones belong together with khirgisuur in a single culture, one referred to as the “Deer Stone-Khirgisuur Complex” (DSK). (...) The cultural phenomenon denoted as the “Deer Stone-Khirgisuur Complex” has, for better or worse, become widely accepted, but primarily by reference to materials within the central Mongolian aimags. Within the Altai region, despite one major, surviving coincidence of deer stones and khirgisuur (Tsagaan Asga), burial mounds of the early Scythian Pazyryk culture are the only monument type with which deer stones are regularly associated. This fact suggests that it might be fair to test the validity of the DSK concept by what we can find in the Mongolian Altai and specifically in Bayan Ölgiy aimag.".
^ Jacobson-Tepfer 2023, p. 191, "It is clear from the horse head sacrifices associated with khirgisuur that those who built those monuments kept horses for food, milk, traction, and load bearing; but there is no clear sign that these people were primarily horse riders. On the other hand, those who raised the deer stones were fully horse dependent: this is made obvious by the implements and weapons pecked into the deer stones and most particularly by the recurved bow and gorytus.Whether in Bayan Ölgiy or in the central aimags, the appearance of deer stones together with khirgisuur indicate that horsemen who raised the deer stones arrogated to their own purposes the older monuments, using them to assert their own cultural values.".

Sources

Jacobson-Tepfer, Esther (2023). "Deer Stones (pp.155–191)". Monumental Archaeology in the Mongolian Altai. Brill. doi:10.1163/9789004541306_008. ISBN 978-90-04-54130-6.

[MJ-1] Ma, Jian; Wang, Yinchen (1 January 2023). "Asia, Steppe, East: Bronze and Iron Age". Reference Module in Social Sciences. Elsevier. The Khirgisüür, etymologically linked to Kirgizstan, is a burial monument consisting of a central stone mound, stone enclosure, and external satellite mounds and circles. A stone burial chamber was usually found under the central stone mound.

[FOOTNOTEJacobson-Tepfer2023158–159"However,_some_of_the_most_impressive_deer_stone_groupings,_such_as_those_at_Ushkiin-Uver_and_Tsatsyn_Ereg,_are_also_found_in_the_vicinity_of_khirgisuur._For_that_reason,_it_has_become_a_rule_of_thumb_among_many_archaeologists_that_deer_stones_belong_together_with_khirgisuur_in_a_single_culture,_one_referred_to_as_the_“Deer_Stone-Khirgisuur_Complex”_(DSK)._(...)_The_cultural_phenomenon_denoted_as_the_“Deer_Stone-Khirgisuur_Complex”_has,_for_better_or_worse,_become_widely_accepted,_but_primarily_by_reference_to_materials_within_the_central_Mongolian_aimags._Within_the_Altai_region,_despite_one_major,_surviving_coincidence_of_deer_stones_and_khirgisuur_(Tsagaan_Asga),_burial_mounds_of_the_early_Scythian_Pazyryk_culture_are_the_only_monument_type_with_which_deer_stones_are_regularly_associated._This_fact_suggests_that_it_might_be_fair_to_test_the_validity_of_the_DSK_concept_by_what_we_can_find_in_the_Mongolian_Altai_and_specifically_in_Bayan_Ölgiy_aimag."-2] Jacobson-Tepfer 2023, pp. 158–159, "However, some of the most impressive deer stone groupings, such as those at Ushkiin-Uver and Tsatsyn Ereg, are also found in the vicinity of khirgisuur. For that reason, it has become a rule of thumb among many archaeologists that deer stones belong together with khirgisuur in a single culture, one referred to as the “Deer Stone-Khirgisuur Complex” (DSK). (...) The cultural phenomenon denoted as the “Deer Stone-Khirgisuur Complex” has, for better or worse, become widely accepted, but primarily by reference to materials within the central Mongolian aimags. Within the Altai region, despite one major, surviving coincidence of deer stones and khirgisuur (Tsagaan Asga), burial mounds of the early Scythian Pazyryk culture are the only monument type with which deer stones are regularly associated. This fact suggests that it might be fair to test the validity of the DSK concept by what we can find in the Mongolian Altai and specifically in Bayan Ölgiy aimag.".

[FOOTNOTEJacobson-Tepfer2023191"It_is_clear_from_the_horse_head_sacrifices_associated_with_khirgisuur_that_those_who_built_those_monuments_kept_horses_for_food,_milk,_traction,_and_load_bearing;_but_there_is_no_clear_sign_that_these_people_were_primarily_horse_riders._On_the_other_hand,_those_who_raised_the_deer_stones_were_fully_horse_dependent:_this_is_made_obvious_by_the_implements_and_weapons_pecked_into_the_deer_stones_and_most_particularly_by_the_recurved_bow_and_gorytus.Whether_in_Bayan_Ölgiy_or_in_the_central_aimags,_the_appearance_of_deer_stones_together_with_khirgisuur_indicate_that_horsemen_who_raised_the_deer_stones_arrogated_to_their_own_purposes_the_older_monuments,_using_them_to_assert_their_own_cultural_values."-3] Jacobson-Tepfer 2023, p. 191, "It is clear from the horse head sacrifices associated with khirgisuur that those who built those monuments kept horses for food, milk, traction, and load bearing; but there is no clear sign that these people were primarily horse riders. On the other hand, those who raised the deer stones were fully horse dependent: this is made obvious by the implements and weapons pecked into the deer stones and most particularly by the recurved bow and gorytus.Whether in Bayan Ölgiy or in the central aimags, the appearance of deer stones together with khirgisuur indicate that horsemen who raised the deer stones arrogated to their own purposes the older monuments, using them to assert their own cultural values.".

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