Korean researchers found 2,000-year-old mummies in Mongolia

A group of Korean archaeologists have found the mummy of a man dressed in Chinese clothes in an estimated tomb dating to about 2,000 years in western Mongolia.

The National Institute of Cultural Heritage said the team found the mummy of a man about 165 to 170 cm tall at the tomb in the surviving Shiveet Khairhan in the Mongolian Altai Mountains.

The research team from the research center discovered two stone tombs from the 3rd to the 5th century of nomads in Mongolia and Russia, as well as three smaller ancient tombs built around 2,000 years ago.

Korean researchers found 2,000-year-old mummies in Mongolia Picture 1

The mummy was found in one of the three ancient tombs, wrapped in a Chinese-style robe, with the lower part of the clothes missing and in an upright position.

The ao dai is made in a left-to-right style, called "youren" in Chinese, meaning the right part of the gown is below the left. This fashion originated in ancient China in the early period, while the fashion model must be worn on the left side called "zouren", used by ancient North Chinese people.

The institute intends to conduct further research on whether the man is a businessman who has traveled along the ancient Silk Road or emigrated from China to the northern part of the country.

The group also plans to transfer the mummified clothes from Mongolia to Korea and start studying related genes as well as understanding the eating habits through other found artifacts.