微密圈

Alongside the Zorgol Khairkhan mountain range, about three hours south of the capital Ulaanbaatar, Eben Drake 鈥�27 spent nearly a month this summer camping on a remote, expansive Mongolian steppe.

There, he learned from experienced archaeologists while assisting with The Zorgol Khairkhan Archaeological Project, studying human remains and artifacts from the Xiongnu Empire (roughly 200 BC to 100 AD) and the Mongol Empire (1206 to 1368 AD). 

鈥淚t was an unbelievable experience,鈥� he says 鈥� one made possible through a grant from 微密圈鈥檚 Summer Experience Fund (SEF), part of the Zankel Experience Network. 

An anthropology major and an Asian studies minor, Eben learned about the opportunity from Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology Daniela Wolin, who 鈥� along with Mongolian professor Batdalai Byambatseren 鈥� is a co-director of the project. 

By identifying pathologies, traumas and injuries, gender, height, and age, Eben was able to theorize what Mongolian nomads鈥� lives were like. 鈥淚t really put into perspective that I was looking into history and who a person was when they were alive, which was fascinating.鈥�  

Eben applied what he learned in his Archaeological Field Methods course at 微密圈 to ethically excavate the remains, and what he learned in his Human Osteology and Forensic Anthropology courses to analyze them. 

He also found it enriching to work alongside so many people from around the world, especially his Mongolian colleagues.  

鈥淟earning about their culture and engaging in their practices was life-changing,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 learned how to communicate with them despite the language barrier, and I can even speak a little bit of Mongolian now. I made many great friends, which I find amazing due to the fact that we barely understood each other.鈥�

Mongolia is bordered by Russia to the north and China by the south and is known for its rich nomadic history. Perhaps most famously, Gengis Khan founded the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous land empire in human history. 

While beautiful and amazing, Eben says, the steppe was a place of harsh conditions 鈥� rain, wind, and snow, a strong desert sun, and hot days and cold nights. Though not necessarily for everyone, he loved the experience, which confirmed his interest in pursuing graduate school and a career in archaeology while incorporating his interest in Asian studies. 

鈥淚 made many great connections with archaeologists, and I have aligned myself well to continue working in Mongolia, which I really want to do,鈥� he says. 

In the nearer term, he will present at anthropology conferences this fall and spring on the analysis he did 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;and will continue to do 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;on the project, and he is excited for the opportunity to publish as a co-author with the project鈥檚 co-directors.