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Many archaeological sites, especially in Inner Mongolia, have hardly been excavated because of limited local resources and decades of Chinese xenophobia. This has started to change, however, as China has taken part in cooperative digs with several European countries. Kessler, who has already made six surveying trips to the area, hopes Americans will get their chance to dig as well. "There is a fantastic potential there for finding well-preserved artifacts," he says. Considering what scientists have learned from the pieces they have found so far, the broadening of our understanding of Genghis Khan and the Mongols has barely begun.