Mummies of Nomadic Pastoralists Adrian McClain

Mummies Mummies do not come back to life They can be created by humans or are the product of natural causes Extreme conditions: heat, cold, low humidity, etc.

When and Where the Mummies Were Found 1978 (with some earlier reports) Northwestern China: near Taklimakan Desert Province of Xinjiang Dry, hot (over 100 degrees at times) environment Hair, skin, and other tissues remained intact

Basic Mummy Info Dated from about BP Common people, no evidence they were elites Buried with clothing and other grave goods; ritualistic burial (tattoos, etc.)

But the Most Interesting Thing… Mummies were tall and thin, and had light-colored hair, thick beards (on men), round eyes, and relatively large noses These features are usually associated with Europeans; what’s up with that?!?

Over a Decade Later, the Investigation Continues After “Ice Man” discovered in Alps in 1991, DNA research publicized Victor Mair (U.S.A.), Wang Binghua (China), and Paolo Francalacci (Italy) team up to study again, using new methods DNA collected; problems with analysis (one individual) but limited results show relation to European peoples Physical anthropology findings: earlier individuals physically similar to groups to northwest; later resembled western and southwestern neighbors

Why Might it Matter??? Caucasian presence this far East might change thoughts about isolation of early Chinese states If contact occurred, many accepted facts would be questioned: invention of first metal objects, wheel, horse-riding, chariots, etc. Indo-European language “missing piece?”

Other Evidence of Origins Clothing Wagons, wheels, and horses Historical accounts Tocharian language Pottery

Clothing Mummies wore brightly colored wool clothing, leather boots, and sometimes tall, pointed hats Wool is woven in same twill pattern as usually associated with Europe

Wagons, Wheels, and Horses Wagon wheels found near mummies resemble ancient Ukrainian ones Bit, reins, whip, saddle, etc. found near graves Could have come from Eastern Europe with this technology, which later spread to Shang Dynasty

Historical Accounts Old books describe tall, bearded men with light eyes and hair as historical or legendary figures Modern-day people in the region also have these features…why so different from neighbors?

Tocharian Language Texts discovered in area dating between sixth and eighth centuries written in a language we named Tocharian This language belongs to Indo- European family, separate from Chinese

Pottery Studied and found by experts in field to resemble style that extended geographically from modern-day Russia to Hungary Bronze objects similar origins Sun design

Conclusions No clear-cut evidence that these people came from West, but widely accepted with few criticisms Studies continue, though poorly funded, and with some limits from Chinese government