Coral Necklace

Found within the same horde as the carnelian necklaces in 2018, this is the clearest example of red coral thus far at Ilibalyk. The color of the pieces found in burials has largely faded, but this necklace maintains its vibrant color. Its source location cannot not be determined without in depth analysis and possible destructive testing, but it may be theorized.

Two primary theories exist for the origin of this coral: the Indian Ocean ¹ and the Mediterranean Ocean ²

The Indian Ocean theory appears to be somewhat unusual. Although sources are known for red coral in the region, there is well documented trade of the material from the Mediterranean. It may be that the Indian Ocean feels like a more plausible source for a site located so far to the East. However, this may arise from a misunderstanding of the relationship between Europe and the West with the Mongol Empire and the East. To better understand this, it is worth considering the another collection of items found alongside the coral.

Pearl hordes are not an unusual find in the Central Asian region of the Mongol Empire. The Mongols were eager to maintain trade and ensure the continued movement of prestige goods, particularly those of exotic origin. Pearls were desirable because of their association with the ocean, something largely foreign to most dwelling within landlocked Central Asia. It is unsurprising, then, that there would be a corresponding high demand for coral, a slightly cheaper and therefore more accessible material. Pearls were prized in part for their purity of color and natural luminescence ². As was seen with the other materials found in the horde, the people of Ilibalyk may have adorned themselves regularly in bright colors. Red coral would have been an excellent contributor to this practice.

Because of the abundance of sources attesting to the coral trade from the Mediterranean, and lacking clear evidence for the Indian Ocean theory, it seems the most obvious answer may indeed be the correct one. In conjunction with more global understanding of the Mongol Empire and its commitment to trade, the idea of Mediterranean coral reaching the steppes of Central Asia seems more likely than it might initially appear.

Bibliography

• Allsen, Thomas. 2019. The Steppe and the Sea: Pearls in the Mongol Empire. Encounters with Asia. University of Pennsylvania Press.
• Eurasia Exploration Society, Switzerland, International Institute for Central Asian Studies, Archaeological Expertise LLP, Kazakhstan, and Tandy Institute for Archaeology. 2019. “Field Report on the Archaeological Excavations at Usharal-Ilibalyk, Kazakhstan in 2019.” Society for the Exploration of Eurasia. https://www.exploration-eurasia.com/inhalt_english/frameset_projekt_aC.html.