Major Archaeological Discoveries Along the Chinese Silk Road

The book explores largely overlooked areas of Silk Road studies by searching for multidisciplinary evidence on the connotations of Silk Road culture and by rewriting social complexities along the Silk Road in different historical periods. It investigates the impacts of conflicts and communication between Silk Road civilizations, presents the latest archaeological discoveries and research findings in the field of Silk Road studies, and develops a new Silk Road archaeological system. By doing so, it defines a new direction for Silk Road archaeological studies.

Discovery of the Ancient City of Xianshuiquan (Brackish Water Spring) and a Preliminary Discussion on It.- A Preliminary Study on the Archaeological Cultural Remains from the Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age in Changji.- Use of Fire in Funerals in the Early Periods of Xinjiang.- The Ornamental Trousers from Sampula (Xinjiang, China): Their Origins and Biography.- Research on the Relationship Among the Stone Platform, Stone-Enclosed Buildings and Tombs of Dongheigou Site in Barkol County, Xinjiang.- Khirigsuur: Ritual and Mobility of Mongolia in Bronze Age.- Scientific Analysis of the Bronzes from Shimenzi Cemetery, Hutubi County, Xinjiang.- A Brief Analysis of Distribution and Features of the Turkic Stone Statues in Xinjiang.- Further Discussion on Several Important Issues Referring to the Chornological Studies of Rock Paintings in Xinjiang—Taking Altay Region as an Example.- The Black and White Stone Row of Jirzankal Cemeteris, Pamir Platue, Point Solar Direction of the Winter Solstice and Summer Solstice.- Study on the Decoration in the Shape of Deer Head Unearthed from Tuwaxincun Cemetery, Burjin County.- Probing the New Clue of Riding Horse Crowd in Early Period in China.- A Study of the Matrilineal Genetic Diversity of the Human Remains Unearthed from Xiaohe Cemetery. 

Dr. Xiao Li is a professor at the School of Chinese Classics, Renmin University of China, has participated in archaeological fieldwork, and pursued extensive research on the prehistoric and historical periods in Northwestern China and Central Asia. With his outstanding experience, both in fieldwork and in theoretical research, he has considerable expertise in the archaeology and history of Xinjiang, the origin and development of the central Asian civilizations, and the modes of interactions between Xinjiang and Central Asia.