horse brands of the Mongolians: a system of signs in a nomadic culture 1

Abstract

The horse‐herds of the Mongols, which are basic to their economy and culture, are marked with brands indicating ownership. The system of marking is different in the collective and private sectors; this paper deals with the traditional system used for private herds. The importance of brands in giving information is greatest in the steppe and Gobi regions where both herds and people move almost continuously over featureless and unmarked plains. Brands indicated lineal and collateral positions of owners in patrilineal kin‐groups, offices held, aristocratic or serf standing, and religious or lay status.