The desert of Tarim Basin (塔里木盆地) is roughly 1000X400 km oval-shaped and surrounded on 3 sides by high mountains. It is the world's second-largest shifting-sand desert that is completely barren (see next post), but in the late spring the melting snows of the mountains feed streams to create oases and support agriculture. From c. 2000 BC, these oases supported Bronze Age (青銅時代) agricultural communities. Due to the extreme aridity and sandy and the highly saline soil, all organic remains and textiles have been extremely well preserved. The earliest Tarim mummies (called desiccated bodies in China) date from c. 1800 BC and seem to be Caucasoid (高加索種) types, however, genetic study found that the maternal lineages were a mixture of east and west. (2021-10-27) 《自然》發表了這些青銅時代早期人類屬於古北歐亞人(Ancient North Eurasian, Ghost population), 並不是外來高加索人種。
During the 1st millennium BC, Saka (塞種) speaking immigrants arrived and settled along the southern rim of the Tarim. By 2nd century BC settlements had developed into city-states and are not sure related to earlier Bronze Age population. It became the cultural trade regions of the east and the west. From the 8th century, the Turkic speaking Uyghurs settled in the region and intermixed with the local people (突厥化). From the 10th century, the region was invaded and conquered by Muslims (伊斯蘭化). The ethnonym "Uyghur" (維吾爾族名) became extinct after the islamization of Xinjiang. It was revived in the 20th century and later was applied to the sedentary muslims living in oases around the Tarim.
Loulan (樓蘭 Krorän) was an ancient kingdom based around an oasis city in 2nd century BC on the eastern edge of Tarim Basin (塔里木盆地). It was renamed Shanshan (鄯善) after its king was assassinated by an envoy of the Han dynasty (漢朝) in 77 BC and was intermittently under Chinese control from the early Han onward until its abandonment centuries later. The kingdom included at various times settlements such as Miran, Charklik, Qiemo and Niya (米蘭、卡克里克/若羌縣、且末/Cherchen、尼雅/精絕國). The city of Loulan (樓蘭古城) was abandoned in 330 likely due to lack of water and is 28 km west of the now-desiccated Lop Nur (羅布泊) and completely surrounded by desert. Circa 630, at the beginning of the Tang (唐朝), Shanfutuo (鄯伏陁) led the remaining Shanshan people to Hami (哈密). Click to see Google Map The ruined city of Loulan (樓蘭故城遺址) was discovered by Sven Hedin (斯文·赫定) with his helper Ordek Omaq in 1900 and started the excavation in 1901. Aurel Stein (奧萊爾·斯坦因) made further excavations in 1906 and 1914 around the old lake of Lop Nur and identified many sites in the area.
Below Fig.(1): In the early centuries, Buddhist oasis city-states such as Khotan, Shule, Kucha, Loulan and Gaochang (于闐、疏勒、龜茲、樓蘭、高昌) were present around the Tarim Basin.「西域三十六國」為西漢時對西域內屬諸國及遊牧部落的總稱, 最早出於《漢書》，皆在匈奴以西，烏孫以南之地。 Fig.(2): Fragment of carpet discovered by Aurel Stein in 1906, Loulan, Xinjiang, 3rd–4th century. 新疆樓蘭地毯碎片, 年代為3-4世紀。 Fig.(3): Tapestry of a male face with a caduceus, which suggests the Greek deity Hermes, was discovered at the Loulan ruin, dated 200-400 AD. 在新疆羅布泊樓蘭遺址中發現了一張掛毯, 繪有商神杖(雙蛇杖)的男性面孔，認為是希臘荷米斯頭像, 年代公元200-400年。
Below Fig.(1): Textile fragment from Loulan, Xinjiang, unknown date. 新疆樓蘭的絲綢碎片，上面可清楚見到「昌」字圖樣。 Fig.(2): Yingpan Man with mask (complete outfits), unearthed at Yingpan site in 1995, 150km southeast of Yuli County, 150 km west of Loulan, Xinjiang, 3rd century. 營盤男子的裝束, 戴著麻面具, 1995年出土於新疆尉犁縣東南150公里的營盤古城,樓蘭古城以西150公里, 年代公元3世紀。 Fig.(3+): Yingpan Man's wool garment shows motifs of paired bulls, goats, and humans, which suggests the putti from earlier Hellenistic and Roman times, interspersed with fruit-bearing pomegranate trees. 營盤男子的紅地對人獸樹紋罽袍, 繪有公牛、山羊和人(認為是早期希臘和羅馬時代的裸童)的圖案，中間穿插著果實累累的石榴樹。左下襟接縫一塊狹長三角形卷藤花樹紋罽，兩袖下半截接縫彩條紋罽。
Miran (米蘭) was an ancient oasis town located on the southeastern rim of Taklamakan Desert (塔克拉瑪干沙漠) where the Lop Nur desert (羅布泊) meets the Altun Shan mountains (阿爾金山脈). It was one of the smaller towns in Kroraina (kingdom of Loulan 樓蘭王國) and later became the capital of Shanshan (鄯善), and was brought under the control of the Han Dynasty in the third century. Today, Miran ruins (米蘭遺址) is near Ruoqiang Town (若羌鎮 220km southwest of Loulan 樓蘭西南220公里) where a monastery (佛教寺院) and several stupas (窣堵坡) were discovered by Aurel Stein in 1906. Below artifacts demonstrate the extensive trade connections with places as far away as the Mediterranean Sea (地中海) and the influence of Buddhism (佛教) on artistic work as early as 1st century BC.
Below Fig.(1): Fresco of winged angel from a wall painting of a Miran stupa, dated 200-400 AD. 米蘭遺址壁畫中, 發現了3世紀帶有古羅馬風格的有翼天使圖像, 揉合了古羅馬及印度的藝術特色。Fig.(2): Fragment of a wall painting from a Miran stupa depicting the Buddha (left) followed by six disciples, dated 200-400 AD. 米蘭遺址窣堵坡上的壁畫佛陀（左）與六弟子，公元 200-400 年。 Fig.(3): Miran stupa wall painting depicting two women. 米蘭遺址壁畫兩個女人。Fig. (4): Inscription of the painter "Titus" (Tita, perhaps a Roman traveling art worker) on Miran frescoe (top of the hind leg of the elephant). 畫家“Titus”（Tita, 也許是羅馬旅遊藝術工作者）在米蘭壁畫（大像後腿頂部）上的銘文。Fig. (5): Garland bearers on a frescoe at Miran. 米蘭壁畫上的花環承載者。
The Kingdom of Khotan (于闐古國 56-1006, legend: 3rd century BC) was an ancient Saka Buddhist kingdom located on the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert (塔克拉瑪干沙漠) in Tarim Basin (塔里木盆地) and was sited around the modern-day Hotan (和田). It was conquered and islamized by the Muslim Kara-Khanid Khanate (喀喇汗國) in 1006. Built on an oasis, Khotan's mulberry groves (桑樹林) allowed the production and export of silk and carpets (絲綢和地毯), in addition to its famous nephrite jades (Hotan jades) and pottery (軟玉、和田玉、陶器)。玄奘《大唐西域記》中記載：“瞿薩旦那國周四千餘里，沙磧太半，壤土隘狹。宜谷稼，多眾果。出氍毹細氈，工紡績絁，又產白玉、黳玉。”其中的“瞿薩旦那國”指的就是古于闐國，即今新疆和田附近。 Click to see Google Map
Below Fig.(1): Wall painting of Hariti image of Buddhist shrine discovered by Aurel Stein at Dandan Oilik 100 km east of Hotan. 新疆和田地區策勒縣丹丹烏里克出土的佛寺壁畫, 繪有訶利帝(鬼子母)形象。Fig.(2): In 2017 新疆之旅, we traveled to Hotan and visited a Altas Silk factory. The tour guide in the picture and the princess' maid in the next picture look alike which may show the consanguinity between them. Fig.(3): Painting on wooden panel discovered by Aurel Stein in Dandan Oilik believed to depict the legend of a Chinese princess who hid silkworm eggs in her headdress to smuggle them out of China to the Kingdom of Khotan. This was written in the book of Buddhist monk Xuanzang. Khotan was the first place outside of inland China to begin cultivating silk. 東國公主傳蠶種木板畫圖， 於新疆和田丹丹烏里克出土，繪製於一木板上，描繪了于闐「東國（即指中國）公主傳蠶種」的傳說故事圖：公主將產絲綢的蟲的蛋藏在她的頭飾里，從中國偷運到于闐王國, 講述的是唐玄奘《大唐西域記》「蠶種傳入瞿薩旦那國」的故事。于闐是中國內地以外第一個開始經營蠶業的地方。
Below Fig.(1): A fragment of a tapestry shows a centaur blowing a horn and a warrior carrying a spear. It was discovered at Sampul (Shampula 100 BC-300 AD) in 1983 20 km east of Hotan and embroidered in Hellenistic style linking it to the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (256–100 BC, mostly in present-day Afghanistan) which was formed after the conquest of Alexander the Great. 山普拉掛毯出土於新疆和田地區洛浦縣普魯鎭, 繪有希臘神話中的半人馬和希臘式帶狀頭冠，所以它的來源很可能同希臘-巴克特里亞王國(張騫遇見的大夏, 主要位於阿富汗)有關。Fig.(2): Knotted wool carpets discovered at Sampul in 2007 believed to depict the putti figures with Brahmi/Khotanese inscriptions, or a pair of Khotanese genderless deities. 洛浦氍毹(古毛毯)出土於山普魯鄕, 繪有裸童天使像和婆羅米/于闐銘文, 或者是一對于闐的無性別神靈。Fig.(3): Two pieces of knotted wool carpets discovered at Sampul in 2007 believed to depict the story of Gilgamesh or Krishna. 洛浦1+2號氍毹出土於山普魯鄕, 織入的是一個美索不達米亞神話敍事, 或者是描繪的是印度敎神祇克里須那的故事。
Niya ruins (尼雅遺址) is an archaeological site, discovered by Aurel Stein in 1901, of an ancient oasis city-state 300 km east of Hotan and was known as Jingjue (精絕古國) during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). It became part of Shanshan Kingdom by the 3rd century. Towards the end of the 4th century it was under Chinese suzerainty (宗主權). Later it was conquered by Tibet (西藏). Niya was once a major commercial center on an oasis on the southern branch of the Silk Road in the southern Taklamakan Desert. In 1990s, joint Sino-Japanese archaeological team had made many excavations at the site and some unearthed textile artifacts are described below.
Below Fig.(1): Pouch made from wool tapestry, felt, silk with strap, dated 3rd century, was unearthed in 1995. The strap clearly made it portable on the move. 尼雅遺址出土的漢晉綴絹暈襉緙花毛織袋, 肩帶明顯便於攜帶。 Fig.(2): Woven silk brocade pillow, dated 25-220 AD, embroidered “may a marriage between nobles prosper for a thousand autumns and ten thousand years and benefit sons and grandsons” was unearthed in 1995. 尼雅遺址出土的銘錦枕，上有文字“王侯合婚千秋萬歲宜子孫”。 Fig.(3): Brocade armband, dated 25-220 AD, embroidered with the words "Five stars rise in the east benefit China", was unearthed in October 1995. It was found near the elbow/waist area of a corpse in a rich tomb. In the ancient times "China" means "Middle Country" and the five stars, in modern times, are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The next alignment will be on 2040.9.9 noon Beijing time. 在新疆和田地區民豐縣尼雅遺址, 一座東漢末至魏晉時期(25-316 AD)的無名男女雙人合葬墓中, 1995年10月, 中日學術考察隊出土了一件漢錦護膊，上有文字"五星出東方利中國", 墓中還出土了剩餘的布料，上面有"討南羌"的字樣。尼雅遺址位於《漢書》所記載的西域三十六國之一的精絕國。漢元年（前202年）時，此五星同時出現於東方井宿中，被認為是漢朝興起的祥瑞跡象。《漢書·趙充國傳》記載：漢宣帝神爵元年，派兵平定羌人的叛亂。行前，漢宣帝賜書：「今五星出東方，中國大利，蠻夷大敗」。後果然大勝。此件織錦很可能就是這一次討南羌軍事行動的實物見證。
A museum was built using Loulan culture as the theme at the county of Ruoqiang, Xinjiang to display the artifacts unearthed from ancient city of Loulan, Miran ruin and Xiaohe cemetery. 在新疆若羌縣建了一座以樓蘭文化為主題的博物館, 集中展示樓蘭古城、米蘭遺址、小河墓地等文物。Below Fig.(1): Ruoqiang Loulan Museum with embossed figure of restored Beauty of Loulan. 若羌縣樓蘭博物館, 前門有復原樓蘭美女浮雕。 Fig.(1,2,3): Beauty of Loulan unearthed at Tiebanhe, north of Lop Nur, in 2004, dated 1900-1800 BC. 樓蘭美女出土於新疆羅布泊北部的鐵板河墓地, 上身用粗毛線編織的毛布裹身，下身裹一件處理過的羊皮，頭戴插有二根羽毛的氈帽（美女3800+歲）。
A tomb complex not too far from the ancient Loulan was found by Ordek Omaq around 1910. Later, in 1934, with Ordek's help, Swedish Folke Bergman (福克·伯格曼) located the site which he named Xiaohe (means Little River 小河墓地), an civilization at least 1500 years earier than Loulan's. It was rediscovered in 2000 by Chinese team 102 km west of Loulan and the full-scale excavation project was launched in 2002 by the Xinjiang Archaeology Institute (新疆考古所). The famous Princess of Xiaohe (小河公主) dated 1800 BC and unearthed in 2003 has similar appearance to the "Smiling Princess" described by Bergman but is not the same person. The mummies looked so lifelike and the colors of the textiles they wore were vibrant.
Princess of Xiaohe does not display permanently in any museum, Wiki uses wrong picture (2021). 小河公主不在任何博物館常設展覽, 維基圖片是錯的(2021)。Below Fig.(1): A conical felt hat unearthed in Xiaohe Cemetery M13 Tomb and dated 1800 BC, in its original off-white hue, is stitched with a red cord going around the hat 6 times and further adorned with feathers and two weasel pelts. 圓頂氈帽灰白色調上, 縫綴六圈紅色合股毛繩, 左右各綴一隻長約20厘米的伶鼬。 Fig.(2): Also unearthed a pair of rope tighten cowhide boots (may be reconstructed) are sewn from three pieces of leather and the shoe mouth is tied tightly with brown wool rope. 出土的還有一雙繩束緊牛皮靴 由三塊皮子縫製, 鞋口還用棕色毛繩穿孔束緊。 Fig.(3): Princess of Xiaohe (Beauty of Xiaohe) unearthed in Xiaohe Cemetery M11 Tomb, 102 km west of Loulan, Nop Nur, Xinjiang in 2003, dated 1800 BC. She has flaxen hair and long eyelashes and was wrapped in a white wool cloak with tassels and wore a felt hat, string skirt, and fur-lined leather boots. She was buried with wooden pins and three small pouches of ephedra and twigs and branches of ephedra were placed beside the body. 小河公主, 出土於新疆羅布泊樓蘭古城以西102公里的小河墓地M11墓, 年代公元前 1800年 (公主3800歲)。她有亞麻色的頭髮和長長的睫毛, 頭戴氈帽，身披毛織斗篷，戴著金耳環、毛線繩項鍊, 下身繫帶裙，腳穿襯里皮靴。伴有一個草編簍裝著顆粒清晰的小麥和黍, 麻黃的樹枝放在旁邊。 Fig.(4): The Xiaohe Cemetery is a 74X35X7m sandhill with many vertical Populus euphratica poles on top. 小河墓地是74X35X7米高沙山，表面叢立胡楊木柱百餘根。 Fig.(5): Princess of Xiaohe exhibited at the museum of Peking Univerity (北京大學賽克勒考古與藝術博物館) in 2019. Fig.(6): 她不在任何博物館常設展覽。The video, courtesy of Bowers Museum, shows the Beauty of Xiaohe in the "Secrets of the Silk Road" exhibit touring America in 2010.
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