The traditional wooden baby cradle holds special significance in the upbringing of children among Mongolian nomadic herders. Crafted and used for over 3000 years, these cradles represent an enduring heritage passed down through generations and tailored to the unique environment and lifestyle of Central Asian nomads. Despite their historical importance, traditional cradle-making methods and their cultural significance are at risk of being lost. To preserve this heritage, our project aims to document these methods with the assistance of local herders who have kept this knowledge, capturing not only the craft of cradle-making but also its impact on children’s health and the associated cultural practices. Given the lack of existing documentation or digital resources on this topic, our initiative seeks to fill this gap by creating the first comprehensive resource on Mongolian traditional cradles. By doing so, we hope to raise awareness about these unique cradles, their usage, and their cultural importance, especially among the younger generation, thus safeguarding this endangered knowledge of Mongolian heritage for future generations.

Principal Investigator:
Gerelmaa Erdenechuluun

Collaborators:
Tsetsenbileg Undrakh

Location of Research:
Buyant Sum, Bayan-Olgii Province, Mongolia

Host Institution:
Tsakhim Suvarga NGO, Mongolia

Top Banner Image: Mongolian traditional wooden cradle with nomadic infant sleeping inside. Photo credit: Tsakhim Suvarga NGO.