In recent years, as the trend of cultural heritage exploration has taken hold across China, visiting new museums in Xinjiang has become a must for travelers. The region’s rich historical culture and archaeological achievements are drawing increasing attention from people around the globe.
From February to May of this year, the exhibition “Carrying the Past — A Century of Archaeology in Xinjiang” was held at the Capital Museum. This exhibition chronicles the development of archaeological work in Xinjiang over the past hundred years, highlighting significant discoveries that showcase the arduous exploration and remarkable accomplishments in preserving the region’s cultural heritage.
Since 1995, eleven archaeological discoveries in Xinjiang have been featured in the annual “Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries in China.” These projects represent a wide range of historical eras, from the dawn of ancient civilizations to the echoes of the Han, Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties. They span various sites including caves, settlements, city ruins, grottoes, and tombs, encapsulating the essence and diversity of Xinjiang’s archaeological finds. Among the “Top 100 Archaeological Discoveries of the Century” released in 2021, three from Xinjiang were recognized: the Tombs of the Xiaohe River in Ruoqiang, the Niya Ruins in Minfeng, and the Ancient Astana Tombs in Turpan.
How can we make cultural relics “speak” and tell the story of the formation of the Chinese nation? The archaeological achievements from Xinjiang present a vivid narrative of China’s illustrious civilization, evidencing the effective governance of the Central Powers over the western regions throughout history. They record the undeniable truth that Xinjiang has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times, reflecting the historical bonds and shared destiny of the various ethnic groups within the Chinese family.
Archaeological footprints are found throughout Xinjiang, which lies on a crucial segment of the ancient Silk Road, historically a vibrant meeting point for East-West cultural exchanges, rich in various cultural remnants.
In recent years, with the support of the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the strong attention of the regional Party committee and government, archaeological projects such as “Archaeology China” and “Infrastructure Archaeology” have flourished in Xinjiang. Archaeologists have uncovered historical truths across numerous sites, ranging from the Old Stone Age to the Song and Yuan dynasties. These diverse studies and findings have provided vital insights into the effective governance of the western regions by successive central authorities, aiding research on the historical interactions and integrations of the Chinese nation.
One notable site is the Tongtian Cave in Jiumalai, Northern Xinjiang, which represents a pivotal advancement in Stone Age archaeology. This groundbreaking work has helped to change the prior stagnation in Xinjiang’s Old Stone Age archaeology and has made it to the final evaluations of the “Top 100 Archaeological Discoveries of the Century.” Additionally, researchers have focused on the cultural regions and early societal developments surrounding the Husta Site along the Bortala River and the Jiren Tai Gokou Site in Nierke, making significant strides in building the prehistoric archaeological cultural framework for both Eastern and Western Tianshan regions and deepening our understanding of the ancient social conditions in Xinjiang.
In Southern Xinjiang, the archaeological work at the Stonetown Ruins in the Pamirs has challenged previous perceptions that it consisted solely of an outer and inner city. It appears that the Northern Outer City may have served as the palace for the Jiapanduo Kingdom during the Han and Tang Dynasties. At the excavation site of the Ancient City of Kashgar Han, preliminary findings reveal the ancient city’s layout, suggesting it was in operation during the Tang and Song periods, possibly in connection with the fifteen jurisdictions under the Tang Shule Governorate.
Beyond proactive archaeological discoveries, Xinjiang’s archaeologists have also collaborated with basic construction projects in places like Tacheng and Altay, resulting in a series of archaeological excavation activities that have enriched the region’s archaeological narrative.
Each significant archaeological discovery continually reshapes the global understanding of “Xinjiang, China.”
In 2017, the Tongtian Cave site in Jiumalai was recognized as one of the “Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries in China.” According to the project’s leader, Yu Jianjun from the Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, “This prehistoric cave excavation extends Xinjiang’s historical timeline back to 40,000 or 50,000 years ago. Additionally, we found wheat and millet dating back over 5,000 years, with origins from Western Asia and North China, respectively. This suggests that there may have been a ‘Prairie Corridor’ facilitating cross-cultural exchanges between East and West more than 5,000 years ago.”
In 2018, the Jiren Tai Gokou Site was recognized as one of that year’s “Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries.” Project leader Ruan Qiurong noted, “Our excavations confirmed that around 3,000 years ago, during the Late Bronze Age, the world’s earliest use of coal occurred in the Tianshan valleys. This finding pushes back our understanding of humanity’s use of coal by over a thousand years and represents a globally significant archaeological discovery.”
The same year, a large burial site was uncovered in the region, which stands as the largest, highest-quality, and most well-preserved stone tomb from the Bronze to early Iron Age found in Xinjiang or across the Eurasian steppes, garnering significant academic attention.
In 2019, the Shichengzi Site in Qitai made it onto the “Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries” list. According to project leader Tian Xiaohong, “The large number of typical Han Dynasty artifacts unearthed at the site serves as a benchmark for archaeologists in terms of regional cultural stratification in Xinjiang.” The meticulous fieldwork at the Shichengzi site earned it the second prize in the 2016–2017 Field Archaeology Awards, the highest honor in the field of Chinese archaeology.
The Ke Yake Ku Du Ke Beacon Tower site in Yuli was included in the “2020 New Discoveries in Chinese Archaeology” by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. This beacon remains a well-preserved, fully functional military facility from the Tang Dynasty’s Anxi Four Towns, yielding 1,368 valuable relics that astonished the archaeological community. It also provides evidence of the Tang Dynasty’s effective management and governance in the Western Regions, filling a historical gap about the Tang Dynasty’s military defense system.
Among the six archaeological achievements revealed in the “2023 New Discoveries in Chinese Archaeology” was the Tang-Song period Nestorian monastery site in Turpan, along with the Han-Tang period Monastery site in Kashgar. The overall layout of these monastery sites aligns with the typical “three-hall style” of churches in Western and Central Asia, showcasing a blend of local traditional styles and architectural techniques originating from Central China. Numerous relics in Chinese, Syriac, Uighur, and Sogdian scripts, fragments of murals, complete Northern Song lacquer bowls, and coins like the “Xining Yuanbao” and intact jade cross sculptures were all excavated.
Professor Liu Wensuo from Sun Yat-sen University’s School of Sociology and Anthropology, who leads the excavation at the Xipang site, emphasizes, “These discoveries are significant for studying the history of Christianity’s development, archaeological findings related to Nestorianism, ancient Western region languages and texts, and especially for understanding the exchange and mutual appreciation between Eastern and Western civilizations.”
In recent years, archaeological work focusing on the Han and Tang periods has taken center stage, supported by projects related to the Western Protectorate and the Northern Heaven Protectorate, leading to remarkable breakthroughs.
In 2018, a joint archaeological team from Peking University and the Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, approved by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, kicked off one of the major “Archaeology China” projects — the Western Protectorate Archaeology Project. Initial excavations were conducted at the ancient city sites of Zhuorkut and Kuiyuke in Luntai County.
The Zhuorkut Ancient City site is believed to be one of the highest-grade central cities along the north border of the Tarim Basin during the Han and Jin dynasties. Professor Chen Ling from Peking University highlighted, “The excavation of Zhuorkut Ancient City marks a significant step towards identifying the ruins of the Western Han’s protectorate. It has crucial implications for studying how the central dynasty governed Xinjiang and the archaeology of ancient Silk Road cities.”
The archaeological investigation of the Shichengzi Ancient City site in Qitai has revealed the long-lost city of Shule that disappeared over a millennium ago.
Hami serves as Xinjiang’s “eastern gateway” and was an important stop along the Silk Road. In 2020, archaeological discoveries at the Lafuqieke burial site in Hami surprised many. The findings provide a fresh perspective for understanding archaeology, history, culture, and trade along the Silk Road during the Tang and Song periods.
Li Wenying, director of the Xinjiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, stated, “The archaeological discoveries in Xinjiang vividly illustrate that the region has been an inseparable part of China’s territory since ancient times. It is a place of diverse ethnicities, cultural exchanges, and coexistence of multiple religions. The findings play a vital role in strengthening the consciousness of the Chinese national community and in building a shared spiritual homeland for the Chinese nation.”
