logo
Preservation work begins on 1,800-year-old tombs in northern Mongolia

Preservation work begins on 1,800-year-old tombs in northern Mongolia

The Star5 days ago
ULAANBAATAR: A 1,800-year-old tomb from the Xianbei period in the first to third centuries AD has been discovered in Yeruu soum, Selenge province. From July 18–21, a team from the National Centre for Cultural Heritage, including M. Oyuntulga, D. Azzaya and Ch. Javkhlan, conducted initial cleaning, restoration and packaging of the excavated artifacts.
The investigation holds high archaeological significance in protecting a historic monument that had suffered deterioration and is expected to yield valuable new data on Xianbei script, culture, art, mortuary rituals and artefacts. Certain recovered grave artefacts further prove the historical dominance of the Xianbei ethnic group in Central Asia. Beyond preserving a single heritage site, the work lays a foundation for future scientific research and potential cultural tourism development.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth is overseeing the transportation and long-term preservation efforts. Research is being led by a team from the Institute of Nomad Archaeology of the National University of Mongolia, headed by Associate Professor T. Iderkhangai.
A detailed restoration plan is currently being developed, and the necessary budget is being assessed. - Mongolian National News Agency/Go Go Mongolia/ANN
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

What causes tsunamis and why they can be so deadly
What causes tsunamis and why they can be so deadly

New Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • New Straits Times

What causes tsunamis and why they can be so deadly

TOKYO: Tsunami alerts were issued across much of the Pacific on Wednesday after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia's far east. Here are key facts about tsunamis and the damage they can cause: A tsunami is a shock of water that spreads through the sea, usually triggered by a strong earthquake beneath the ocean floor. The sudden, violent movement of the Earth's crust can thrust up or drive down a section of the seabed – with the rift displacing vast quantities of water that move as waves. Tsunamis radiate in all directions from their source and can cover enormous distances, sometimes at the speed of a jet plane. They are a rare phenomenon but can create dangerously powerful currents and cause deadly flooding in coastal areas. Large quakes are the main driver of tsunamis, but the phenomenon can also be sparked by other cataclysmic geographic events, such as volcanic eruptions and landslides. In 1883, a volcano shattered the Pacific island of Krakatoa, causing a blast that could be heard 4,500 kilometres (2,800 miles) away, followed by a tsunami that killed around 30,000 people. Large storms or a meteorite falling into the ocean can also be powerful enough to cause a tsunami, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The word "tsunami" comes from the Japanese words for "harbour" and "wave." Tsunamis are sometimes referred to as "tidal waves" but experts say this is inaccurate because they are not related to tides. At their point of generation, tsunamis have a relatively small wave height, with peaks far apart. As the waves approach the shore they are compressed by the shelving of the sea floor, reducing the distance between the peaks and vastly increasing the height. When they hit the coast, tsunami waves can strike repeatedly over several hours, or even days. To those on the shore, the first sign of something amiss can be the retreat of the sea, which is followed by the arrival of large waves. "The sea was driven back, and its waters flowed away to such an extent that the deep seabed was laid bare and many kinds of sea creatures could be seen," wrote Roman author Ammianus Marcellinus of a tsunami that struck Alexandria in 365 AD. "Huge masses of water flowed back when least expected, and now overwhelmed and killed many thousands of people... some great ships were hurled by the fury of the waves onto the rooftops." Several factors determine the height and destructiveness of a tsunami. They include the size of the quake, the volume of displaced water, the topography of the sea floor and whether there are natural obstacles that dampen the shock. The Pacific Ocean is particularly prone to earthquakes and therefore to tsunamis, but over the millennia tsunamis have occurred in many parts of the world. The tsunami of December 2004 in the Indian Ocean was caused by a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It released energy equivalent to 23,000 of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Around 220,000 people in 11 nations were killed, many of them thousands of kilometres from the epicentre.--AFP

Preservation work begins on 1,800-year-old tombs in northern Mongolia
Preservation work begins on 1,800-year-old tombs in northern Mongolia

The Star

time5 days ago

  • The Star

Preservation work begins on 1,800-year-old tombs in northern Mongolia

ULAANBAATAR: A 1,800-year-old tomb from the Xianbei period in the first to third centuries AD has been discovered in Yeruu soum, Selenge province. From July 18–21, a team from the National Centre for Cultural Heritage, including M. Oyuntulga, D. Azzaya and Ch. Javkhlan, conducted initial cleaning, restoration and packaging of the excavated artifacts. The investigation holds high archaeological significance in protecting a historic monument that had suffered deterioration and is expected to yield valuable new data on Xianbei script, culture, art, mortuary rituals and artefacts. Certain recovered grave artefacts further prove the historical dominance of the Xianbei ethnic group in Central Asia. Beyond preserving a single heritage site, the work lays a foundation for future scientific research and potential cultural tourism development. The Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism, and Youth is overseeing the transportation and long-term preservation efforts. Research is being led by a team from the Institute of Nomad Archaeology of the National University of Mongolia, headed by Associate Professor T. Iderkhangai. A detailed restoration plan is currently being developed, and the necessary budget is being assessed. - Mongolian National News Agency/Go Go Mongolia/ANN

China's Guizhou eyes strategic ties with Sabah
China's Guizhou eyes strategic ties with Sabah

Daily Express

time24-07-2025

  • Daily Express

China's Guizhou eyes strategic ties with Sabah

Published on: Thursday, July 24, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 24, 2025 Text Size: Liew (first right) in discussion with Liu Baochang and Datuk Frankie Liew. Kota Kinabalu: A delegation from the Guizhou Provincial Foreign Affairs Office visited Sabah on Tuesday with the aim of establishing a friendly provincial-state relationship with Sabah, marking a potential new chapter in bilateral cooperation between China's Guizhou Province and the Malaysian state. The proposal, which centres on strengthening ties in economy, culture, trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, was well-received by State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Christina Liew, and State Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship, Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe. The visit, facilitated by the Sabah China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC), saw the Guizhou delegation pay courtesy calls to both ministers to present the province's vision for collaboration. Leading the delegation, Deputy Director-General Liu Baochang outlined Guizhou's strengths, including its status as a hub for new energy, computing power infrastructure, scientific innovation, and liquor production, as well as being home to tech giants like Apple and Huawei, and the globally renowned 500-metre Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope, 'Sky Eye'. He said Guizhou is now actively expanding its reach to Central, South, and Southeast Asia, and sees Sabah as a strategic partner in the region. Liu also extended an invitation for Sabah leaders to visit Guizhou and witness firsthand the province's industrial and technological advancements. 'We hope to deepen and broaden cooperation in economic, cultural, and tourism fields, and establish a formal friendly relationship between our two governments,' Liu said. Christina welcomed the initiative, describing it as an opportunity to connect with one of China's dynamic provinces. 'This visit opens doors for greater understanding and collaboration, especially in areas like eco-tourism and the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme,' she said. She introduced Sabah's strengths in sustainable tourism, its rich biodiversity, and ongoing efforts to preserve indigenous cultures. She also revealed plans for a 65-acre Cultural Centre in Kinolok, where all 35 indigenous ethnic groups in Sabah will showcase their heritage, further enriching the state's tourism appeal. Meanwhile, Phoong highlighted Sabah's push toward industrialisation and infrastructure development, citing upcoming projects like the Pan Borneo Highway, airport expansions in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau, and the upgrading of Sepangar Port. 'Sabah is undergoing transformation through innovation and infrastructure. We see Guizhou as a valuable partner in this journey,' said Phoong, who also invited the delegation to participate in the 2nd Sabah-China Expo this November. He added that the state is working towards increasing its power supply by 700 megawatts by 2030, including launching Malaysia's first wind power plant. Datuk Frankie Liew, President of the SCCC, praised the high-level composition of the Guizhou delegation, which includes senior officials from the foreign affairs office, commerce department, and municipal governments. 'Sabah and Guizhou share similarities in natural resources and cultural heritage. With strong will from both sides, I believe we can foster pragmatic cooperation,' he said. He noted strong potential in areas such as ecological protection, creative industries, environmental technology, and green development, expressing confidence that the partnership would spur mutual growth. Also present during the visit were SCCC Deputy President Brett Chua, Vice President Ir. Ts. KJ Tan, JP, Datuk Jonathan Koh, JP, and officials from Invest Sabah including CEO Dr. Firdausi Suffian. The visit is seen as a stepping stone toward building a long-term cooperative relationship between Guizhou and Sabah, paving the way for increased economic opportunities and cultural exchange between the two regions. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store