Deer stone monuments and related bronze age sites

The Deer Stone is the most notable Late Bronze Age stone structure in the entire Eurasian steppe. It is adorned with various sets of embellishments and depictions of warrior heroes. The Deer Stone Monuments were built for sacrificial purposes. During the 45th extended session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which was held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Deer Stone Monuments and Related Bronze Age Sites in Mongolia were added to the World Heritage List. This includes the deer stone complexes located at Uushigiin Ovor, Jargalatyn Am, and Tsatsyn Denj. More than 1,650 deer stone monuments have been registered from Eurasia, with Mongolia accounting for 80% of the total. These deer stone monuments can be found in Mongolian provinces such as Altai, Khangai Mountains, Arkhangai, Khuvsgul, Khovd, Bayan-Ulgii, and Bayankhongor. Deer stones can be classified into three groups based on their shape, depiction of reality, and geographic distribution. The Mongol-Transbaikalian type is characterized by elaborately carved deer pictures. The Sayan-Altai type, on the other hand, is distinguished by its animal iconography. Lastly, the Eurasian type does not contain any animal images. The deer stone monuments discovered in Mongolia clearly symbolize humans, as they prominently feature a man's face alongside numerous accessories and animals such as deer, horses, hogs, and birds. Deer stone statues are made from stones such as granite, sandstone, and marble, with an average height of more than 1-4 m, a thickness of 20-40 cm, a width of 30-1000 cm, and a weight of roughly 0.5-4 tons. It is constructed by painting, carving, and a combination of sculpture techniques.