The Cemetery Complexes of the Xiongnu Nobility

Why this place matters

UNESCO’s assessment of its heritage significance, adapted in formatting from the source dataset.

Brief synthesis

This serial property comprises eight funerary complexes of the Xiongnu nobility. The Xiongnu, ancient predecessors of a confederation of Eurasian nomadic peoples, established a powerful empire between the 3rd century BCE and the 2nd century CE that occupied a vast territory centred on what is now the modern state of Mongolia. They interacted with the Han Chinese and controlled nodes along the main parts of the Steppe Route of the Silk Roads. Among the numerous archaeological traces throughout the area occupied by the empire are their cemeteries, which provide insights into their burial culture.

Of substantial size and depth, the main burials are accompanied by satellite graves (with small ring-shaped mounds) as well as sacrificial structures (lines of stone pairs). A wide range of artefacts found in the tombs, including horse tack and chariots as well as weapons, tools and food for the afterlife, provides a window into the Xiongnu way of life and social structure. The tombs of their nobility highlight the engineering and organisational skills of this mainly nomadic culture.

Criterion (iii):

The Cemetery Complexes of the Xiongnu Nobility testify in an exceptional way to the extinct Xiongnu funerary culture. They provide insights into the burial customs, rituals, established traditions and tomb construction of the nomadic Xiongnu nobles. Even though there exists already more than a century of research on these tombs, much about the Xiongnu funerary culture, with its burial customs and rituals, is still unknown or not well understood. These tombs with their deep burial chambers, satellite graves and sacrificial structures, as well as with their rich offerings, make the serial property an exceptional testimony to the extinct Xiongnu funerary culture.

The serial property is an exceptional expression of, and the richest source of insight into, the functioning of this culture of the Central Asian Steppe.

Integrity

Each one of the eight component parts contributes to the series in a substantial way. Together, they represent the regional characteristics of Xiongnu tombs across the administrative and territorial divisions of the Xiongnu empire. They also cover the chronological span of the Xiongnu empire, and include examples of different expressions of the Xiongnu funerary culture, thus constituting a representational sample of Xiongnu cemetery complexes. The conditions of integrity of the individual tombs are adequate, though it has been affected by acts of looting that caused some destruction.

Of the thirty-nine excavated tombs, thirty-eight were disturbed. However, even the disturbed tombs provide important insights into the Xiongnu funerary culture and offer valuable artefacts that throw light on the social dimension of Xiongnu society and their beliefs. It is of note that the state of underground vestiges that have never been excavated is to a large extent unconfirmed. Apart from the looting, other factors potentially affecting the property are adequately controlled.

The boundaries of each component part are sufficiently large in order to contain all the known attributes and convey the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. The study of the relationship of the funerary complexes with their wider setting will enhance the integrity of the property.

Authenticity

The component parts preserve the original forms and layouts of the different funerary structures, as well as their original locations. The remoteness of most of the component parts as well as the slow soil formation processes in Mongolia have helped to minimise changes to their settings. The archaeological contexts have suffered the usual changes due to decomposition of organic materials and movements of the soil. Old methods of post-excavation backfilling might have also led to some disturbances.

Protection and management requirements

The serial property is legally protected at both national and provincial levels. All of the component parts are under the jurisdiction of the State Party. Except for the Cemetery Complex of the Xiongnu Nobility at Chikhertiin Zoo (component part 1), all the sites are included in the List of Immovable Historical and Cultural Heritage Properties under State, Provincial and Local Protection (2020). Local authorities are legally responsible for the protection of the sites.

Relevant national laws protecting cultural heritage include the Law on Protection of Cultural Heritage of Mongolia (2015), the Law on Special Protected Areas of Mongolia (1994), and the Law on Buffer Zones of Protected Areas (1997). A World Heritage Protection Administration, modelled after the Noyon Uul Special Protection Administration that was established for the Noyon Uul Protected Area in 2024, will be created. This management structure will implement the management plan for The Cemetery Complexes of the Xiongnu Nobility in cooperation with the Special Protection Administration of the Noyon Uul Protected Area, and the Mongolian National Committee for World Heritage will provide the World Heritage Protection Administration with professional guidance and recommendations.