The Mummies of Urumchi
by Elizabeth Wayland BarberThe Tarim Mummies:
Ancient China and the Mystery
of the Earliest Peoples from the West
by J. P. Mallory,
Victor H. Mair
Posted on 07/06/2004 11:02:03 AM PDT by blam
Ancient European remains discovered in Qinghai
www.chinaview.cn 2004-07-06 15:32:53
XINING, July 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Archeologists confirmed that the human skeletons discovered this May in northwest China's Qinghai Province belonged to three Europeans who lived in China over 1,900 years ago.
"The physical characteristics of the bones showed it is a typical European race," said Wang Minghui, an expert with the archeological institute under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
The skeletons were spotted at Zhongchuan Town of the province's eastern most Minhe Hui and Tu Autonomous County.
Since 2002, archeologists have unearthed nine tombs of Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) at a construction site of a brickfield in the town, but it was not until this May that they felt the skeletons in two tombs "very special", said Ren Xiaoyan, deputy director if the provincial archeological institute, who added they invited Wang, who specializes in human bone identification, to take part in the study on the findings.
Qinghai is on the southern section of the world-known land trade corridor -- the Silk Road, linking China with Central and Western Asia and to the eastern shores of the Mediterranean begins in the country's northwest and runs 7,000 kilometers.
Serving as an important bridge for the economic and cultural exchanges between the East and the West, the area, which the Silk Road covered in China, used to see throngs of Indian, Persian, Arabic, Greek and Roman people.
Ren said the tomb shape, the burial articles and the way they were put in the tomb are all typical in Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), which proved the three westerners had lived here for a long time and were accustomed to local traditions and customs.
"Although so far, we have been not sure of the country the three Europeans came from and there might be a large number of such 'westerners' living here at the ancient time," said Ren.
Such European skeletons have only been revealed in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a neighboring region which is to the northwest of Qinghai, so the discovery this time is of great importance for the study of the ancient society in Qinghai, said Wang. Enditem
Roman times...was Christianity taken to China 1900 years ago?
"Again…there are no white Indians in Panama."
Okay, thanks. I had never heard about the Kuna until you mentioned it.
Apparently as early as 86AD.
Christian Designs Found In Tombstone Of Eastern Han Dynasty
"When studying a batch of stone carvings of Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 A.D.) stored and exhibited in the Museum of Xuzhou Han Stone Carvings, Christian theology professor Wang Weifan was greatly surprised by some stone engravings demonstrating the Bible stories and designs of early Christian times."
A form of Christianity did reach China after sweeping through Syria, Iraq, Iran, India, and Afghanistan. It was popular until Islam.
Wasn't it contained in a report of the Lewis & Clark expedition that some members of the expedition communicated with the Mandans in Welsh? Also, I've read much speculation that the Mandans may be the remnants of the Prince Madoc (Welsh) group that came to the US in 1170AD...Lately I've read 540AD.
What's you take on this?
Evening bump.
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Must be other stuff with the remains. Western stuff. Spurs and bluejeans.
"That whole Xinjiang Uygur Autonomus Region is covered with Caucasian skeletons and mummies that date to 2,000BC. The Chinese skeletons and mummies do not start to show up in that region until about 100BC."
VERY interesting. I'll read the book you are recommending.
Cowboy hats in the graves?
Nestorians, if I recall correctly.
Here's a good companion book on the same subject. Dr Barber and Goode make a textile connection of these people to Halstadt, Austria. They were part of a group of specialized scientists recruited by Dr Victor Mair for this investigation.
Thanks.
This is really fascinating.
In Africa.
The earliest (known) contacts were via the cinnamon routes. It was a long LONG time ago. Its not inconcievable that someone, probably many actually, travelled back to China and just stayed.
Cowboy boots.
I love stuff like this. Thanks so much for posting it.
The Mummies of Urumchi
by Elizabeth Wayland BarberThe Tarim Mummies:
Ancient China and the Mystery
of the Earliest Peoples from the West
by J. P. Mallory,
Victor H. Mair
"Maybe they moved there to open a restaurant?"
Especially if they were Greek !
I think you're missing the point completely. These people lived there for thousands of years...they lived there for 2,000 (or more) years before any Chinese appeared in the region. There are whole villages, graveyards, dessicated fruit groves, etc. They weren't just passing through. Then there came a severe climate change and the streams and lakes dried up.
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