ACMS Mongolia Field School 2024 – Horses and History: How Mongolian Horses Reshaped the Ancient World

Location: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Season: July 20, 2024 to July 27, 2024

Session Dates: July 20-27 2024

Application Deadline: January 12, 2024

Deadline Type: Rolling

Website: https://www.mongoliacenter.org/mfs24/horses-and-history/

Program Type:
Field School

RPA Certified:
No

Affiliation:
American Center for Mongolian Studies

Project Director:
William Taylor

Project Description:

Explore ancient ritual landscapes intertwined with Mongolia’s earliest horse cultures, wander through the remnants of the legendary capital of the ancient Mongol Empire—Karakorum—and discover the ingenious postal relay system that connected ancient Eurasia, long before the advent of modern transportation.

Through immersive site visits and engaging discussions with field experts, participants will delve into cutting-edge archaeological research, unveiling pivotal innovations such as horse chariots, riding techniques, and equine equipment. Gain a deeper understanding of how Mongolia’s rich horse cultures not only shaped the ancient world but also continue to influence our contemporary society.

This unparalleled course offers an intensive week delving into the depths of Mongolia’s horse culture, set amidst the captivating landscapes of Ulaanbaatar and Kharkhorin. Join us from July 20-27, 2024, for an extraordinary expedition through time and history.

This course can be taken together with a second ACMS Field School course such as the course on Hustai National Park: Managing Biodiversity in the Home of Mongolia’s Native Horses (July 29-Aug 11) or Steppe Ethnographies: Mobile Pastoralism, Cosmology and Development in Rural Mongolia (July 29-Aug 9). See http://www.mongoliacenter.org/mfs24 for info on additional field school opportunities with ACMS.

Period(s) of Occupation: Mongolian Bronze Age and Mongol Empire (Medieval)

Notes:
Note this 8-day field school is a topical course on the archaeology of horses and human history in Mongolia. It is NOT a field methods field school and there will be no excavating or systematic survey.

Project Size: 1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: 10 days (participants must arrive by 19 July and stay until 21 July)

Minimum Age: 18

Experience Required: No experience required

Room and Board Arrangements:
Tuition covers all accommodations, travel and 3 meals a day during the instruction period (July 20-27) as well one night in a hotel in Ulaanbaatar on 19 July and on 27 July (the night before and the final night of the field school). ACMS staff will gladly assist participants in making arrangements to extend their stay in Mongolia but all additional costs will be the responsibility of the participant.

Academic Credit:
ACMS does not directly offer credit. However, the field school is designed to be equivalent to a 3-credit course in the American university system. Participants are encouraged to consult with their home institution to receive "independent study" credit for the course - we have done this in the past and typically we are asked to submit a syllabus and administer an exam of some sort for students to receive credit.