Tarvagatai Valley Plant Collection

Kyr Goyette, Aspen Greaves, and Emily Eklund

Archaeological research has taken place in the Tarvagatai River Valley in north-central Mongolia since 2009, producing multiple collections of archaeobotanical samples. These previous data have emphasized the presence of domesticated grains such as wheat (Triticum spp.) and Cerealia (cereal grasses family). Ethnobotanical work in Mongolia broadly has identified the wide-spread use of plants for medicinal purposes but these wild plants have yet to be identified in archaeological contexts. This project aims to create a reference collection of local wild plants in the Tarvagatai Valley, thus allowing for future identification of both macro and micro botanical archaeological remains.

In June 2024, collections were taken in three environmentally distinct locations. A total of 40 plants were collected, but duplicates across the collection resulted in 37 entries. While collecting, we prioritized flowering plants, as these are more easily identifiable. The sources used for species identification also illustrate the role of citizen science in plant identification, particularly in a region like Northern Mongolia that is understudied from a botanical perspective.

Below is the list of plant species with scientific, Mongolian, and English names. Click “view details” to see images, more information, and citations for each plant entry, including phytolith reference where available.

This work was funded by the Frederick Honors College, the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, and the Center for Comparative Archeology at the University of Pittsburgh, the Lewis and Clark Foundation, and the Wenner-Gren Foundation. We sincerely thank them for their support. This work was also supported with the advice and expertise offered by Dr. Arlene Rosen. The logo for the Center of Comparative Archaeology was reproduced with their permission.