His hair was brown and his age at death was approximately 30 years old 14. He was an exceptionally tall individual measuring ~ 1.9 m in height (the tallest of all the mummies found). This individual was called “ Yingpan Man”, and based on associated artifacts was believed to date to the Han to Jin Dynasties (202 BC–420 AD) or a period when the Silk Road flourished in this area 14. In 1995, a tomb containing the remains of an exquisitely preserved male desiccated corpse (mummy) was discovered in the eastern terrace of the Yingpan cemetery located in the Lop Nor region of Xinjiang, China 14. The final layout was created using Adobe Illustrator CC 2019 V.23.1.1). The pictures were modified using Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 V.1.2. (The original pictures were previously published 14 and provided by Wenying Li. (n) Silk gown decorated with golden foil on the chest. (l) Foot silk coverings decorated with golden foil. (j) Front view of the white hemp mask with golden diadem. (i) Details of the embroidered decorative patterns on the woolen trousers. (h) Woolen trousers with decorative patterns of double quatrefoil florals surrounded by lozenges made up of solid circles and flowers. (g) Woolen caftan with decorative patterns of nude putties, animals and pomegranate trees. (e) A heavily worn brocade that was decorated with Chinese characters of “Shou” and “You”.
(d) Side view of Yingpan Man’s white hemp mask. (c) View of Yingpan Man covered with a silk burial shroud. (b) Yellow painted wood coffin with decorative patterns of flowers, vines, etc. (a) Image of a tufted carpet with decorative patterns of a male lion. In turn, this work also demonstrates the profound impact and cultural fusion that the Silk Road had upon the peoples of Xinjiang and Eurasia.Īrtifacts of Yingpan Man. We review these artifacts in detail and combine this information with the isotopic and bioarchaeological evidence to investigate the social status and identity of one of the most-well preserved and enigmatic mummies recovered from Xinjiang: Yingpan Man. The extreme arid environment of the Tarim Basin led to the natural desiccation (mummification) of Yingpan Man and to the exceptional preservation of the organic materials and grave goods recovered from his tomb (Figs. Specifically, measurements of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur stable isotope ratios on multiple tissues (hair, muscle, bone) and associated animal and plant remains, starch grain analysis of dental calculus and radiocarbon dating are presented here to systematically document and visualize never before seen aspects of Yingpan Man’s life. Here, this research seeks to better understand the influence of the Silk Road in Xinjiang through a detailed investigation of the life history of one of the most famous mummies of China: Yingpan Man 14, 15, 16. However, these types of studies permit a better understanding of the nature and influence that this vital network had on populations associated with it 10. At present, little research has investigated the past lifeways of individuals that lived along the Silk Road. Previous archaeological studies concerning the Silk Road were mainly focused on artifacts or the materiality of the Silk Road 8, 9.
In terms of diet, cooking technique and cultigens from different parts of Eurasia were available to the ancient inhabitants of Xinjiang, including wheat ( Triticum aestivum), barley ( Hordeum vulgare) and dairy products from the West as well as foxtail ( Setaria italica) and broomcorn ( Panicum miliaceum) millet from the East 11, 12, 13. However, in addition to this economic trade, a remarkably diverse array of ideas, religions, traditions and even diseases were also introduced into ancient Xinjiang 3, 10.
For example, Silk Road caravans transported large amounts of exotic goods and luxuries into the lives of the Xinjiang inhabitants: silk, precious metals, jades, minerals, perfumes, etc. Abundant archaeological and anthropological research has revealed that the local populations of Xinjiang subsequently experienced dramatic changes in terms of culture and politics and adopted diverse lifeways and economic strategies that were heavily influenced by both aspects of the East and West 4, 7, 8. Located at a key intersection of this ancient East–West interaction is the modern-day Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China (Fig. This vast network of trade routes linked China with the west and facilitated an unprecedented increase in bidirectional communication, technology transfer and human movement across Eurasia 3. The Silk Road was established during the Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD) 1, 2.
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