If you asked a Mongolian, “Are you a descendant of Burte Chono and Gua Maral?” They would probably agree with a nod and a vague smile. Of course, they know they are agreeing with a mythological belief, but, these ideas have been inherited from their ancestors. To most Mongolians, a wolf is not just another animal, but a spirit of nature and men. The deer is an aesthetic expression of beauty and has strong ties to early shamanism beliefs.

These longstanding beliefs can be seen on deer stones that date back to the Bronze Age and still standing today in Mongolia. On many Mongolian and Southern Baikal (an
area that includes east Russia) style deer stones, the deer is portrayed as a heavenly messenger flying up to the sky.

This style of carving stands out with its intricate detail and vivid fantasy. There are about 700 deer stones in the world. About 600 of those are in Mongolia and are easily
accessible to tourists.