Diet and death in times of war: isotopic and osteological analysis of mummified human remains from southern Mongolia

► Medieval southern Mongolia experienced severe political instability, violence, and famine. ► Isotopic analyses were completed in mummified individuals from Hets Mountain Cave, Mongolia. ► All individuals exhibit marked perimortem trauma but no other skeletal stress markers. ► Results suggest C3-based pastoralism, contra expectations of famine-relief grains from China. ► This study points to the need for expanding bioarchaeological analysis in this region.