implements numerous overseas excavation projects to compare ethnic cultures in East Asia to Korean culture.
These projects are part of the Museum’s efforts to objectively elucidate Chinese influence on East Asia, and strengthen Korean cultural identity by studying and comparing the formation of ethnic cultures in different regions. To this end, the Museum signed various joint expedition agreements with Mongolia and Vietnam for excavation and exchange projects. Joint expedition agreements with Mongolia began in 1997. Under these agreements, the Museum has conducted various field surveys in Mongolia, and held special exhibitions and symposiums. As of now, projects under the 5th joint expedition agreement are underway. Joint expedition agreements with Vietnam began in 2006. Under these agreements, the Museum has conducted various field surveys in Vietnam and held special exhibitions. As of now, projects under the 2nd joint expedition agreement are underway.


The Mon-Sol Project is a joint academic project implemented by the Archaeology and History Department of the National Museum of Korea, along with the National Museum of Mongolia and the Institutes of History and Archaeology at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences.
- The purpose of the Mon-Sol Project is to track the formation of various ancient cultures in different Asian regions by investigating historical sites, and shed light on Korea‘s cultural identity by comparing Korea to other cultures. After signing the first joint expedition agreement in 1997, the project conducted expeditions to five historical sites, special exhibitions based on the outcomes of the investigations, and numerous symposiums. The current project, implemented under the fourth joint expedition agreement, involves excavation of Xiongnu historical sites.
- Under this project, sixteen field surveys and excavations have been conducted at five historical sites, including the Xiongnu tombs in Duurlig Nars, Mongolia. The findings from the Mon-Sol Project have profound academic significance. The Xiongnu tombs in Duurlig Nars, have been recognized as representative Mongolian tombs.
- Findings have been disclosed to the public in the form of several exhibitions, including the special exhibition, "Korean-Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia", and the themed exhibition, "Duurlig Nars". The project has also produced ten reports and source books, starting from the expedition report: Uglugchingol Site, Mongolia.
- The current Mon-Sol Project involves expeditions at the Goa Tov site in Tuv Aimag, which is 120 km from Ulan Bator. The Goa Tov site came into the spotlight when building foundations from the Xiongnu period were discovered for the first time in the area. This discovery is significant because it provided data to compare Xiongnu historical sites to the historical sites of ancient China. Investigation at the Goa Tov site will continue until the end of this year.
- The Mon-Sol project awaits the signing of the fifth joint expedition agreement. The fifth agreement is expected look back at the achievements made through the project over the last 20 years, and find a direction for the project’s future.
Agreement 1st
Year | Purpose | Region | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
1997 - 1998 | Field survey | Selenga River and Kherlen River basins, Uglugchingol | |
1999 | Excavation | Khirigssur, Hostin Bolag | Published Report on Korean-Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia I: Uglugchingol Site, Mongolia |
2000 | Excavation | Ancient tombs at Morin Tolgoi | |
1997 - 1998 | Excavation | Ancient tombs at Hodgin Tolgoi | Published Research Report on Korean-Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia II: Xiongnu Tombs at Morin Tolgoi, Mongolia. |
Agreement 2nd
Year | Purpose | Region | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Field survey | Xiongnu tombs in East Mongolia | Held the special exhibition, Korean-Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia, and published a catalog. |
2003 | Academic investigation | Buddhist art in Mongolia | Published Research Report on Korean-Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia III: Xiongnu Tombs at Hosgin Tolgoi, Mongolia. |
2004 - 2005 | Held symposiums (Field survey not conducted because of the relocation of the National Museum to Yongsan) |
Published Research Report on Korean-Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia IV: Findings from Investigations on Mongolia, 2002-2004 |
|
Held a Mon-Sol joint symposium (2004-2005) (Outcomes of joint investigations and the future of the project) |
Agreement 3rd
Year | Purpose | Region | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
2006 - 2010 | Excavation | Xiongnu tombs at Duurlig Nars |
Published Xiongnu Tombs in Mongolia (2008) Held a Mon-Sol international symposium (2008) Held the special exhibition, Duurlig Nars, and published a catalog Published Research Report on Korean–Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia V: Xiongnu Tombs in Duurlig Nars Ⅰ(2011) |
Agreement 4th
Year | Purpose | Region | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
2011 - 2015 | Field survey excavation | Xiongnu Sites at Goa Tov |
Launched the themed exhibition, Korea–Mongolia Expedition (2013) Published Research Report on Korean-Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia V: Xiongnu Tombs in Duurlig Nars Ⅱ (2014) |
Agreement 1st
Year | 1997 - 1998 |
---|---|
Purpose | Field survey |
Region | Selenga River and Kherlen River basins, Uglugchingol |
Year | 1999 |
Purpose | Excavation |
Region | Khirigssur, Hostin Bolag |
Outcome | Published Report on Korean-Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia I: Uglugchingol Site, Mongolia |
Year | 2000 |
Purpose | Excavation |
Region | Ancient tombs at Morin Tolgoi |
Year | 2001 |
Purpose | Excavation |
Region | Ancient tombs at Hodgin Tolgoi |
Outcome | Published Research Report on Korean-Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia II: Xiongnu Tombs at Morin Tolgoi, Mongolia. |
Agreement 2nd
Year | 2002 |
---|---|
Purpose | Field survey |
Region | Xiongnu tombs in East Mongolia |
Outcome | Held the special exhibition, Korean-Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia, and published a catalog. |
Year | 2003 |
Purpose | Academic investigation |
Region | Khirigssur, Hostin Bolag |
Outcome | Published Report on Korean-Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia I: Uglugchingol Site, Mongolia |
Year | 2004 - 2005 |
Purpose | Held symposiums (Field survey not conducted because of the relocation of the National Museum to Yongsan) |
Region | Held symposiums (Field survey not conducted because of the relocation of the National Museum to Yongsan) |
Outcome |
Published Research Report on Korean-Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia IV: Findings from Investigations on Mongolia, 2002-2004 Held a Mon-Sol joint symposium (2004-2005) (Outcomes of joint investigations and the future of the project) |
Agreement 3rd
Year | 2006 - 2010 |
---|---|
Purpose | Excavation |
Region | Xiongnu tombs at Duurlig Nars |
Outcome |
Published Xiongnu Tombs in Mongolia (2008) Held a Mon-Sol international symposium (2008) Held the special exhibition, Duurlig Nars, and published a catalog Published Research Report on Korean–Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia V: Xiongnu Tombs in Duurlig Nars Ⅰ(2011) |
Agreement 4th
Year | 2011 - 2015 |
---|---|
Purpose | Field survey excavation |
Region | Xiongnu Sites at Goa Tov |
Outcome |
Launched the themed exhibition, Korea–Mongolia Expedition (2013) Published Research Report on Korean-Mongolian Joint Expedition in Mongolia V: Xiongnu Tombs in Duurlig Nars Ⅱ (2014) |
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History & Archaeology Institute at the Mongolia Academy of Science
http://www.history.mas.ac.mn -
The National Museum of Mongoliahttp
www.nationalmuseum.mn -
The Mon-Sol and Korea-Vietnam collaboration agency
http://baotanglichsu.vn