Immortal soul prisoned in a house of clay

September 20, 2007 9:28 AM

The Por-Bazhyn Fortress (meaning “clay house” in Tuvan) is believed to have been built in the 8th century CE at the behest of the Uighur kagan Mo-yen-çur. Its remains occupy a 3.5 ha location on a spectacular island location in Lake Tere-Khol in the south west part of the Republic of Tuva. This summer a project to excavate and ultimately preserve the site began [Embedded video] (attracting some notable visitors). Via
posted by Abiezer (9 comments total)

...that's gotta be some funky archeology going on, if as the article notes:

"All the candidates underwent a psychological test carried out by employees of the Centre of Emergency Psychological Assistance under the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations."

Emergency situations? Cue sotto voce voiceover....
posted by aramaic at 10:05 AM on September 20, 2007

I suspect they were checking that they wouldn't suffer lasting emotional consequences from a drink-fuelled saucy tumble under the Tuvan stars with a fellow volunteer, if my memories of volunteering on digs are anything to go by, aramaic.
Apparently, the Minister for Compromising Situations is a Tuvan himself and one of the prime movers behind the project. He's quoted at the "via' link as saying:

"We shall build there a Russian Shaolin and invite everybody to come there. And our youth will come I am sure. They will learn philosophy, Tibetan medicine, horseracing, and oriental martial arts in there."

Err, right, Minister. Whatever you say.
posted by Abiezer at 10:11 AM on September 20, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'm going to be shallow about this for just a moment.

HOLY SHIRTLESS PUTIN.

How come they don't make politicians like that over here?

Er. Yes. Archaeological digs. Jolly good.
posted by cmyk at 10:16 AM on September 20, 2007

I suspect they were checking that they wouldn't suffer lasting emotional consequences from a drink-fuelled saucy tumble under the Tuvan stars with a fellow volunteer, if my memories of volunteering on digs are anything to go by, aramaic.

Oh God, you are absolutely correct, as far as Russian archaeology goes, anyway. Don't forget the trauma associated with repeated listenings to acoustic folk renditions of late-'90s Russian alt-rock hits.
posted by nasreddin at 12:25 PM on September 20, 2007

This "testing." It involves vodka?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:36 PM on September 20, 2007

Very interesting (and great pictures)—thanks for the post!
posted by languagehat at 2:40 PM on September 20, 2007

I just noticed I went a bit "location, location, location" in the text of the post. Sigh. I am, however, having a hearty chuckle at nasreddin's image of earnest guitar folk round the campfire, so it's not all bad on review.
posted by Abiezer at 3:04 PM on September 20, 2007

I'm right there with ya, cmyk. Right there with ya.
posted by katillathehun at 9:51 PM on September 20, 2007

Damn, that musta been one helluva nice crib, back in the day, rising up outta the waters like that. Nice post, Abiezer.

And, what the hell, here's some Tuvan throat singers, previously on MeFi.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:21 AM on September 21, 2007