Xiertala Cemetery

Xiertala Cemetery

Xiertala Cemetery is located on a plateau about 5 kilometers east of Xiertala Town, Hailar District, Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia. It lies approximately 15 kilometers southwest of downtown Hailar and about 2 kilometers south of the Hailar River. To the northwest of the site rises an elevated ridge, while the eastern and southeastern sides feature flat and open terrain, currently used as pastureland. The southern side consists of lower grassy land. From September to October 1998, the Inner Mongolia Team of the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in collaboration with the Hulunbuir Ethnic Museum and the Hailar District Cultural Relics Office, conducted a formal excavation of the cemetery. The excavation covered an area of 337.5 square meters and uncovered 10 ancient tombs of varying sizes. All the tombs were rectangular vertical pit graves with earthen walls. Most wooden coffins had lids but no bottoms, and most burials were single (mostly male), though there were also double burials. The deceased were all buried in a side-flexed position, with heads facing southeast and faces turned north; some had their faces and upper bodies lying prone within the burial pits. A total of more than 200 artifacts were unearthed, including items made of gold, silver, copper, iron, pottery, and birch bark. The burial goods were mostly concentrated around the heads and chests of the deceased, though some were placed directly on the bodies. A few items were crafted from two or more different materials. Based on their function, the burial objects can be categorized into daily-use items, tools, horse tack, and ornaments.

Based on ¹⁴C dating data and cultural analysis, the cemetery dates back to the 9th–10th centuries AD. The excavation of the Xiertala Cemetery provides invaluable material for studying the cultural remains of northern ethnic minorities during the late Tang and Five Dynasties periods, as well as their cultural connections with related regions beyond China’s borders.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites