[blam]

GGG Ping.

In the book, The Tarim Mummies, Han Kangxin describes the people of Qawrighul as robust proto-Europeans. I don't know what he means by 'robust.' Anyone?
Does proto mean that they eventually became Europeans?

[Marius3188]

I was would contend that 'robust' would refer to the body type and structure of the Qawrighul, I dunnno if modern day 'Russians' would be considered European.

I see your going back some years talking about Europeans in China, don't forget the Romans. Though, they are way after your time frame.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Roman_relations
http://www.archaeology.org/9905/newsbriefs/china.html

[RegulatorCountry]

"Does proto mean that they eventually became Europeans?"

I took it to mean a precursor group of the people we know as European, but not these people specifically, who were somehow sidetracked into modern day China.

[Candor7]

I don't know what he means by 'robust.' Anyone? This information is all on video, Riddle of the Desert Mummies (1999): Jack Huang, John Malkovich Director: Stephan Eder. In addition ,the archeological forensic evidence on fabrics and clothing is fairly clear on their being Celts:

The Mummies of Urumchi (Hardcover) by Elizabeth Wayland Barber,Hardcover: 240 pages Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1st edition (January 1999) Language: English ISBN: 0393045218

When the physical evidence of the various desicated corpses, cranial measurements, tatoos, is combined with their clothing, the only conclusion is that they were Celts. The scientrific problem is that we have no such complete physical remains from ancient Celtic culture to compare in Europe.