Posted on 01/04/2005 4:10:06 PM PST by blam
New Desert Coffins Unearthed in Xinjiang
Archeologists found the first wooden coffins with mud cover at Lop Nur Desert in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to the regional archeology institute.
Excavation of Xiaohe tomb complex began in October in 2003, leading to the discovery of 108 tombs so far. The most recent excavation yielded 33 tombs, including 25 for adults and eight for children.
Those buried in coffins with mud cover may be of relatively high social status. But the conclusion can only be made after the coffins are opened, according to scientists with the institute.
Archeologists have unearthed two coffins covered with mud at the deepest burial layers. The coffins were surrounded with wooden stakes. The head of cow was hung from the top of each stake.
Before the discovery, all wooden coffins were made from the wood of a poplar tree, endemic to the desert areas in northwest China. Usually the coffins had no bottoms and were covered with cowhides.
Xiaohe tomb complex was first discovered in 1934.
(Xinhua News Agency January 3, 2005)
And they fought viciously to have that discovery suppressed.
Viva la red-heads!....:))
"graves previously found in this area contain Caucasians."
What happens when immigration laws are relaxed...
That would be Aurel Stein. He thought all the Caucasian mummies laying around were recent travellers of the Silk Road, it was Victor Mair that dated them to around 2,000BC.
It sounds like they were on the Atkins diet as well.
Wearing tartan woven from sheep found only in the British Isles, no less.
[them dang ol' Celts were -everywhere-!....bwahahahaaaaa!]
Didn't know about that. It is a big desolate area...in prehistoric times, there was a huge lake there too.
Yep. Ideal location for a nuc test site -- so the ChiComs used it...
Communist China's first nuclear test (Corona photo).
Despite the obscuring clouds, note the characteristic "ring road" around the first test site. Also note the second "ring road" and tower site to the right -- where a follow-on test shot was being prepared...
The U.S. probably knew more about those test results than the Chicoms did! '-)
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That would explain my bad direction sense, must be hereditary!!
Hubby calls me "Rand McNally" and he's not being kind when he does so....;))
Paradoxically, you can't make me get lost in a rural setting.
I navigate by familiar trees, cows, rocks and the position of the sun/stars.
Civilized things such as road names and route numbers utterly befuddle me....:-P
[that and I must have a lodestone in my noggin...even if I don't know where I am, I always know which way home lies]
same thing here!! my girlfriend bought me a city map and a US road atlas for christmas but i went to my families farm and only missed the turn onto the dirt road because of the snow, only having driven there once 8 years ago i consider it pretty good!
LOL!
Gimme a topographic survey map any time!...:))
More years ago than I care to admit, I read a funny bit in National Lampoon where they making fun of "country folk" driving directions.
It went something like "You turn off the hard road, go 'bout 2 mile. Make a right when you see the dead cow in the driveway and a naked lady chained to a tree".
We just went through this the other night.
Hubby keeps looking for the name of the street where the metal working factory is.
I just make a right turn between the green neon furniture sign and fake stone lighthouse.....LOL!
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Did the occupant of the tomb look like Helen Thomas?
Nope.
More like Vercingetorix.
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