Albert Yu-Min Lin, a young scientist from the University of California in San Diego, has high-set ambitions and plans to search for the tomb of Genghis Khan in the vastness of the Mongolian desert, as others have done before. Still, his type of search will not move a single grain of sand from its place, as it relies on non-invasive, latest technological devices that will eventually provide an underground image of the area, eventually hinting to the location of the tomb.

 

For those of you who don't know much about him, Genghis Khan was the most prominent figure in Mongolian history, and also one of the greatest military leaders and strategists of the world. During the 13th century, he built an empire spanning two continents, Asia and Europe, of which only a small people of nomads remained to this day, also thanks to him. There is no official record of his death and burial. It is only believed that he died in 1227 because of the wounds caused by his falling off his horse but, as the story goes, every person who was in the vicinity of his funeral place was killed on the spot.

 

As another story has it, his close followers diverted a river over his tomb, which may make the search futile, as not much would be left of it in that case. However, this is not the only obstacle in Lin's bold plan. He also has to receive approval from the Mongolian government, which usually doesn't grant access to foreigners in the area, as well as secure a proper funding (of about $700,000) for the operations. The scientist intends to use the photos donated by the GeoEye Corporation, as well as magnetometry and ground-penetrating radar images.

 

“What we know about the modern world today was shaped by what we know of the European conquerors. The history of Asia and its impact on the world is rarely discussed, at least from a western point of view,” Lin says. If he does manage to find the tomb, he will not try to excavate it, leaving the decision up to the Mongolian authorities. “We're trying to locate the tomb, not dig it up,” states young Lin.