Neolithic Bird Folk of the Mongolian Gobi Desert: Climate Change, Ecological Knowledge and Intangible Heritage in an Ancient Persistent Place

There were profound changes in climate and landscape throughout the Early to Late Holocene in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. The transmission of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) among ancient hunter–gatherer societies is key for resilient adaptations to such environmental shifts. Such ecological knowledge is often transmitted across generations through folklore and rituals. Evidence from the site of Burgasny Enger in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert suggests a persistent place used for gatherings centered around ritual consumption of birds. Occupied seasonally from approximately 10,000–5000 years ago during a warm, wet Holocene phase, the site offers evidence of waterbird hunting, elaborate oven construction, and repeated occupations. We propose that such gatherings were occasions for storytelling and the cultural transmission of TEK, including the widespread Earth Diver Myth. This narrative, centered on the emergence of land from water, underscores the symbolic and ecological significance of wetlands in traditional cosmologies. With the disappearance of wetlands and changing climates, new herding societies replaced earlier lifeways. We highlight the importance of integrating Indigenous ecological knowledge into modern sustainability efforts. TEK, as demonstrated by these ancient practices, offers vital insights for biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and long-term ecological resilience.