A massive grave site dating from the Hunnu period have been found in Zuun Salaa in Songinokhairkhan district.

An archaeological team from the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST) and the National University of Mongolia (NUM) have been excavating the site to save and protect the archaeological remains since September 6th.

It appears that the archaeological findings have been kept hidden under street 23 in Zuun Salaa where the mass graves were found for centuries.

Archaeological students have been cleaning up the stones of the graves and preparing for the excavation. Archaeologists have discovered 29 graves belonged to Hunnu who lived 2200 years ago. Most of the graves were buried under the yards of local residents. Some graves were partially or completely covered by buildings, toilets and  dumb sites. Archaeologists are struggling to excavate the most vulnerable 15 remains that could be be lost before the end of the month. The excavation is being conducted in the busy street first.

Archaeologists uncovered findings from two graves and prepared one for excavation in the past 11 days. The Hunnu graves were accidentally discovered by Professor N.Boldbaatar from the School of Social Technology of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology last winter. The Professor suspected that the ordered stones might be Hunnu grave markers. Hunnu were known to erect stones when they conducted a burial. Even though the ancients graves were partially covered by soil, the Professor recognized the potential historical importance. The professor conducted the first excavation with the help of students during the winter. His guess was proved correct after the discovery of the first grave.

When the results of the first excavation emerged, it was revealed that the first three graves were robbed near the time of the burial. The skull and pelvic bones can reveal a lot about events even after many years. Two of the three graves were identified as adult males. One the two males had a broken nose. The second male had a complete jaw but seemed to have had toothache. The remains of the Hunnu bodies were positioned on one side of the grave which can be explained by the likelihood that thieves might have pushed the body aside in order to remove precious items.

Archaeologists believe that these graves belonged to ordinary Hunnu citizens. A bronze mirror, ornament, animal tooth, wares and a wooden bowl and even wheat kept in bag  revealed much about the lives and culture of the Hunnu who were buried in Zuun Salaa. According to archaeologists ordinary Hunnu graves are not big and are usually only 2 or 3 meters in depth.

Archaeologists have so far discovered 29 graves but they believe there are more to be found at the site.