A Middle Palaeolithic Site at Aguit Khad Cave in Mongolia

Katsuhiro Sano1,2,3*, Mayu Yoshida1,2, Guunii Lkhundev4, Eonjung Kim2, and Dashzeveg Bazargur4

The Aguit Kahd Cave is located at an elevation of approximately 1,500 meters above sea level in the Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, Mongolia, about 50 kilometers east of Ulaanbaatar. The cave faces the Tuul River, which eventually merges with the Selenga River in Russia. The cave opens into a fissure in a granite boulder, measuring roughly 10 meters in width and extending 30 meters in depth. The cave floor slopes steeply to the south, with sediment accumulation occurring only in the southern section. A test pit excavation in 2018 unearthed Middle Palaeolithic lithic artifacts made on silicified mudstone found in the Tuul River. Given the significance of its geographical location and archaeological materials, we initiated a new excavation campaign at Aguit Khad Cave in 2025. This excavation yielded a rich Middle Palaeolithic assemblage showing the Levallois concept, along with bone fragments and charcoal, most of them were meticulously recorded in three-dimensional coordinates using a total station. Although the techno-morphological analysis of the recovered lithic artifacts is still underway, they include Mousterian-like artifacts and atypical bifacial tools. This paper presents preliminary results of the ongoing project and explores the implications and potential of the presence of Levallois-based stone tools in Central Mongolia.