Ancient Xinjiang city tells story of an exchange hub on the Silk Road

At a crossroads of the ancient world, where the goods and beliefs of the East and the West mingled for centuries, archaeologists continue to piece together a story of diversity.

Excavations at the Tangchaodun site in Qitai county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, last year have generated new finds, as archaeologists discovered the western gate of the ancient city, two roads and a religious complex believed to be related to Zoroastrianism, a monotheistic religion from ancient Persia, thereby painting a portrait of a society on the ancient Silk Road.

Located in an oasis corridor between the eastern section of the Tianshan Mountains and the Junggar Basin, the site was found to be an ancient city originally built in the early Tang Dynasty (618-907) and used until about the 14th century.

According to Ren Guan, the lead archaeologist at the site, archaeological efforts started in 2018, and have since confirmed that the ancient city functioned as an important military and administrative stronghold and a key transportation junction on the ancient Silk Road's northern route.

"Nourished by mountain precipitation and glacial meltwater, the area features gentle terrain and abundant water sources, making it a populated center and agricultural hub in the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains, as well as a vital passage for trade between the East and the West along the ancient Silk Road," says Wei Jian, an archaeology professor at Minzu University of China, who is also former head of the archaeological team at the site.

Last year, archaeologists excavated remains of a courtyard in the eastern part of the site, where they discovered pieces of painted clay sculptures, the heads of pottery figurines and murals full of religious characteristics.

The pottery assemblage found at the complex is different from that associated with China's Central Plains but bears a resemblance to finds from Central Asia. This has led researchers to believe that the site may be related to Zoroastrianism.

"In our excavations in the past few years, we have found a Buddhist temple and a church of Nestorianism (or Eastern Syriac Christianity, a branch of Christianity in Syria and referred to as Jingjiao in Chinese documentation). This time we have found a new Zoroastrian complex from the 7th to 9th centuries, unveiling a historical picture of the ancient city where multiple religions coexisted," says Ren.

They also discovered the western gate of the ancient city and two streets running north to south, adding to their understanding of the city's layout.

Ren says that through years of work, they have learned how the city evolved. The 7th-8th centuries witnessed the city's original construction, when the city walls, gates, road networks and main structures gradually took shape and had an organized layout.

From the 9th to 12th centuries, various types of larger complexes appeared in the city and public facilities like a Roman-style bath also began to appear, signifying the city was thriving.

While the Buddhist temple and the Nestorian church saw continued use after the 12th century, the city as a whole declined, with residential structures encroaching on its main thoroughfares and a significant increase in handicraft-related remains signaling a shift in urban function.

Ren also notes that about five kilometers to the south of Tangchaodun lies the site of another city built between the 12th and 13th centuries. Researchers believe it may have taken over some of the administrative and transportation functions that Tangchaodun once served on the ancient Silk Road.

"As of now, we have identified the eastern, southern and western gates and multiple streets of the city, gained a general understanding of the city's layout and found remains with distinctive features, like religious artifacts and a bath site. Our work here serves as a good example of our studies of medium and small-sized cities on the ancient Silk Road," says Ren.

Wei says that as a testament to multiethnic habitation, religious coexistence, and cultural integration, the site — which spans multiple historical eras — is of great value for studying socio-political changes on the Tianshan Mountains' lower northern slopes and cultural exchanges along the Silk Road.

The next step is to continue excavations to gain more understanding of the city's layout, as the location of its administrative center has yet to be unveiled.