Cultural Landscape

Rivers Downstream

Khirigsuur, simple and collared mounds, and massive standing stones are located along or above rivers as if to carry attention from the monument itself to the river and its flow. In this case, the fact that most rivers in mountainous Bayan Ölgiy flow more or less to the east might suggest that the primary determinant of placement is direction rather than the river. However, the several examples of south flowing (e.g. Bor-Burgasny Gol) or north flowing (e.g., Sagsay Gol) rivers, where view sheds extend out over the rivers, would indicate that the water was of greater importance than directionality.