Humanities & Social Sciences, Vol 9, No 10 (2016)

J. Maringer's views on the development of Stone age in Inner and Outer Mongolia

Daniil Olegovich Nikulin

Abstract


This article concerns the views of John Maringer on the development of Stone Age in Mongolia. It aims to analyse his works as an important stage of the history of the archaeological study of the Mongolian Stone Age in early 20th century; some feedback and criticism from different authors, both from Russia and from the West, are also concerned. J. Maringer holds the biggest role in the study of the archeological legacy of the Sino-Swedish Expedition led by Sven Hedin and the Central-Asian Expedition led by R. C. Andrews. However, he remains relatively unknown in Russian historiography, despite his important and somewhat unique role in the archaeological study of Central Asia and, more precisely, the Sino-Swedish Expedition, which by itself deserves more interest from Russian science. Connection between Southern Siberia and Mongolia, seen by J. Maringer, might be of some interest for Russian archaeology. Some of his other points are the absence of any evidence of the shift from Mesolithic to Late Neolithic times and the division of Neolithic in Inner Mongolia into several sub-categories, namely facies. It is important for the historiography of archaelogy as it is viewed in Russia to include these studies as they were very progressive for their time and gathered a lot of archaeological evidence.