국립중앙박물관 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA

The National Museum of Korea

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
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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.
History

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)

History

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)