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Dedication
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The Images of the Wheeled Vehicle in the Mongolian Altai: Instability and Ambiguity
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by Esther Jacobson-Tepfer |
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Petroglyphs found in abundance in the Altai Mountains of Western Mongolia (and elsewhere in north Central Asia) often depict wheeled vehicles, whose interpretations have been controversial. This richly illustrated article proposes a new way to understand the possible meaning of this imagery.
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Vehicles of the Steppe Elite: Chariots and Carts in Xiongnu Tombs | 29 |
by Bryan K. Miller |
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Tombs of the Xiongnu nomads from 2000 years ago often contain wooden remains which this article identifies as possible parts of carts that may have been used to transport the deceased. If this was part of Inner Asian nomad traditions, then the presence in elite Xiongnu tombs of dismantled chariots made in China is in keeping with nomad traditions and not merely an indication of prestige borrowings.
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Yuezhi on Bactrian Embroidery from Textiles Found at Noyon uul, Mongolia
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by Sergey A. Yatsenko |
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Textiles excavated from Xiongnu tombs at Noyon uul in north central Mongolia include embroideries depicting individuals in ritual scenes. The article analyzes details of their attire and physical appearance to argue that these textiles likely depict Yuezhei/Bactrians and came to Mongolia as a result of diplomatic exchange.
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Production Sites in Karakorum and Its Environment: A New Archaeological Project in the Orkhon Valley, Mongolia
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by Ernst Pohl, Lkhagvadorj Mönkhbayar, Birte Ahrens et al. |
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Results of the latest Mongolian-German archaeological survey project, aimed at locating production sites adjoining and in the wider region around the Mongol Empire capital of Karakorum. Geomagnetic survey helped identify possible locations, where excavations have turned up kilns and the first evidence of where metal smelting was done.
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Preliminary Report on the Ceramics of Chinese Origin Found East of the Old Mongolian Capital Karakorum | 66 |
by Anne Heussner |
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The recent surveys described in the preceding article turned up a good many ceramic sherds, whose preliminary classification is laid out in this article. |
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Bactrian Historical Inscriptions of the Kushan Period | 76 |
by Nicholas Sims-Williams |
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The article provides basic historical context, references to previous publications of the texts, and translations of the most important Bactrian historical inscriptions from Kushan Empire times (early centuries CE). One of them is the long Rabatak inscription, a facsimile of which is included.
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The Bibi Khanum Mosque in Samarqand: Its Mongol and Timurid Architecture | 81 |
by Elena Paskaleva |
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The huge Bibi Khanum Mosque in Samarqand was Tamerlane's most ambitious architectural project. This article explores the possible sources of inspiration for it, looking not only at the architecture but also at the inscriptions, which provide important evidence regarding the image which Tamerlane wished to project. The key models for the building are to be found in the Ilkhanid monuments of Iran. |
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Featured Museum. Arts of the Islamic World in the Louvre: Experiencing the New Galleries | 104 |
by Daniel C. Waugh |
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The magnificent new galleries displaying the important collection of Islamic Art in the Louvre in Paris opened in September 2012. This review provides a first glimpse of them and introduces as well the catalogue published to mark the occasion.
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Töwkhön, the Retreat of Öndör Gegeen Zanabazar as a Pilgrimage Site | 107 |
by Zsuzsa Majer |
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One of the most important Buddhist pilgrimate sites in Mongolia is the small monastery originally built by the key figure in the development of Mongolian Buddhism in the 17th century, Öndör Gegeen Zanabazar. This article, based on site visits, introduces the monastery's history and provides a guide to its shrines.
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Cultural Thieves or Political Liabilities? How Chinese Officials Viewed Foreign Archaeologists in Xinjiang, 1893-1914 | 117 |
by Justin M. Jacobs |
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While the relations between Chinese and the foreign archaeologists who began to explore (and cart away) the relics of the Silk Roads is often portrayed as antagonistic, as this article suggests, to a considerable degree the obligation the local officals felt to ensure the visitors' safety and provide them with appropriate support was often the source of the greatest concern to those burdened with the task. There was a strong desire to avoid confrontations which might then create embarrassing international incidents.
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Agriculture on the Mongolian Steppe | 123 |
by Doeke Eisma |
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Despite difficult natural conditions for growing crops, historically agriculture was practiced in Mongolia and was important for the stability and prosperity of nomadic polities. This article explores the changes in the long durée which can be connected with evidence about climate change.
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Water Wealth and Energy in the Indian Himalayas | 136 |
by Kelly D. Alley |
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The Ganga river basin in northern India is of huge economic and cultural importance but is incresingly under threat from the pressures of modern development. Major projects are underway to dam tributary rivers, in the face of growing resistance from local populations which see this to be a threat to their way of life. |
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Review Essays
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Eurasian Steppe Bronzes (Re)discovered | 146 |
by Catrin Kost | Download |
A review of recent books by John Boardman and by Ulf Jäger and Sascha Kansteiner. |
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(the following essays all by Daniel C. Waugh:)
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XiongNews: Fourscore Years since the First Excavations at Noyon uul, | 151 |
Nataliia Polos'mak's excavation of Noyon uul Tomb No. 20 and the catalogue celebrating 2220 years since the founding of the Xiongnu state.
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Archaeology and Landscape in the Altai Mountains of Mongolia: Celebrating Two Decades of Achievement
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The Atlas and website publishing results of the important survey project in the Mongolian Altai initiated by Esther Jacobson-Tepfer.
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Farewell to the Marauding Nomad | 158 |
Two recent exhibitions which advance our understanding of the complexities of early pastoral societies in Inner Asia.
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"...destroyed, [The Silk Road] is no more." | 164 |
Valerie Hansen's long-anticipated and stimulating new book on the Silk Roads. | Download |
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Epilogue to the Silk Roads? | 167 |
Stephen Dale's survey of Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal history, and Giancarlo Casale's argument for the significance of the "Ottoman Age of Exploration."
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Revisiting Borderlands of Empires in Western Asia: Reviews and a Photo Essay | 171 |
Recent books on Dura Europos, Zeugma and Qusayr 'Amra, and a selection of on-site photographs. | Download |
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Book Reviews
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Chinese Scholars on Inner Asia, ed. by Luo Xin and Roger Covey. | 187 |
rev. by Valerie Hansen |
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Samuel N. C. Lieu et al. Medieval Christian and Manichaean Remains from Quanzzhou (Zayton) | 188 |
rev. by Joel Walker |
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(the following reviews all by Daniel C. Waugh:)
| Download all these reviews. |
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Tjalling H. F. Halbertsma. Early Christian Remains of Inner Mongolia , |
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The Search for Immortality: Tomb Treasures from Han China, ed. James C. S. Lin, |
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Shipwrecked. Tang Treasures and Monsoon Winds. Ed. Regina Krahl et al., |
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Jonathan Karam Skaff. Sui-Tang China and Its Turko-Mongol Neighbors, |
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Rashmita Jadav. Understanding the Morphology of Leh Town | 196 |
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, Vol. 10 (2012),