The tomb of Genghis Khan has not been found, and its location remains one of the greatest archaeological mysteries in history. The legendary conqueror, who created the largest contiguous land empire in the world, was, according to historical accounts, buried in a secret location in Mongolia in 1227. Unlike the elaborate tombs of other great rulers, his burial was meant to be anonymous, a stark reflection of his nomadic traditions.

The secrecy of the burial is the subject of one of history’s most chilling and compelling legends. It is said that Genghis Khan was buried in an unmarked grave, and a thousand horses were then run over the site to erase any trace of the burial. To ensure absolute secrecy, anyone who witnessed the burial was reportedly killed by soldiers, who were then in turn killed by a second group of soldiers, and so on, until the location of the tomb was known only to a few.

Today, the search for the tomb continues, but it is fraught with challenges. Modern archaeological teams have used advanced technology, including satellite imagery and ground-penetrating radar, to scour the vast, rugged landscape of Mongolia’s Khentii Mountains, the rumored burial site. However, the search is made difficult by the region’s massive size and by the Mongolian government’s policy of respecting the spiritual and cultural significance of the area, which limits large-scale excavation.