The Lop Nur archaeological site has a history of over 100 years. The more than 10 million square kilometers of the Robor Lake wilderness is an area where natural and human environments have changed most drastically in human history. It was once a transportation hub, with green oases and fields stretching as far as the eye could see, and smoke rising from cooking fires everywhere. However, over several thousand years, it has transformed into a lifeless desert. The process and reasons behind this transformation are topics that people cannot help but pay attention to and conduct in-depth research on.
Since the 1980s, not only archaeologists, historians and geographers but also desert, biological, climatic and geological researchers have ventured into this uninhabited wilderness, braving dangers, disregarding hardships and overlooking the simplicity of working conditions. Many batches of them rushed to this desolate land, eating wind and sleeping in the open fields. The outstanding scientist Peng Jiamu was one of those who sacrificed his precious life in this wave of exploration.
This exploration and investigation have already come to a preliminary conclusion that the prosperity of this region, its changes and final destruction, are most fundamentally determined by human factors.
Lop Nur and the lower reaches of the Tarim River and Konqi River, which supply it, are the cradle where the ancient Loulan people multiplied and lived. Scholars from different academic circles, when paying attention to the study of Loulan, always think of the famous viewpoint put forward by Sven Hedin: Lop Nur is a lake that migrates in cycles of 1500 years.
This issue, after years of investigation and research by Chinese scholars, has already come to a scientific conclusion: Lop Nur is the lowest point in the Tarim Basin, 10 meters lower than Kara-Koshun Lake, and it is impossible for water to flow there. Drilling analysis, lake sediment, and pollen data indicate that there has been continuous water accumulation here for 3,000 years, and the lake's sedimentation function has never been interrupted. The surrounding lake embankments are hard as iron and not afraid of wind erosion. Although the water level has fluctuated due to changes in inflow, it has never overflowed the outermost embankment. In the 1930s, people could row into Lop Nur, and in the 1950s, they could still see the lake's waters rippling. However, after the construction of the "Daxihaizi" reservoir in the direction of incoming water, a US satellite photo from 1972 revealed that Lop Nur had completed its final journey and had become a dry lake bed. Therefore, the water of Lop Nur, which is most closely related to the life of the land, only changed its course under human control and command.
Through archaeological work, we can roughly trace the historical footprints of human beings that once existed on the Robo Valley land.
Since the Quaternary period, the Robor Lake area has been a dry inland region. However, at many sites, archaeologists have collected stone knives, stone spears, arrowheads, small stone leaves, and stone cores from the Neolithic era over 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. This suggests that today's barren desert was once a place where hunting and gathering were possible. Through radiocarbon dating and analysis of unearthed artifacts, it has been determined that the ancient residents of Guogou village, who lived around 4,000 years ago, cultivated wheat, raised cattle and sheep, and used everyday items made from poplar wood, animal horns, and woven grasses. In larger male tombs, there were seven circular rows of wooden stakes surrounding the grave pit, with additional wooden stakes radiating outward in a radial pattern. According to estimates, over 600 trees were needed for a single tomb. At that time, people were unaware that their large-scale destruction of forests was actually destroying the foundation of their own survival.
The dry environment of the ancient tomb in Gumugou preserved some human bodies, turning them into mummies. Autopsies were performed on these mummies, which showed that their lungs contained a significant amount of carbon dust and siliceous substances, indicating that they frequently breathed in windblown sand while cooking with grass fuel. The well-preserved female mummy had light-colored hair, developed eyebrow ridges, and a straight nose bone, clearly showing characteristics of the Caucasoid race. This conclusion is consistent with the results of physical anthropological measurements taken by human osteologists on the skeletal remains found in the tomb. By the time of the Han Dynasty's Loulan Kingdom period, the racial composition of the Loulan residents had undergone new developments, with both Caucasoids and Mongoloids coexisting. It seems that ancient inhabitants of the Eurasian continent all once used this land as a stopping point during their explorations and pioneering efforts, hoping to create a beautiful home here!
Felling trees and destroying the environment, this evil consequence has gradually attracted people's attention since the Loulan and Shanshan Kingdoms 2,000 years ago. A wooden slip from the Loulan Desert stipulates "Absolutely no felling of small trees", "Strictly forbidden to fell live trees, those who fell trees will be fined one horse". After 2,000 years of practice and experience, people began to realize the serious impact of indiscriminate felling on the kingdom's survival environment.
The Han Dynasty Loulan was an important town on the Silk Road. In response to the requirements of the Silk Road, the people of the ancient Loulan Kingdom had to take on the responsibility of carrying water and grain for officials and envoys traveling back and forth, and guiding them along the route.
The population increase and the prosperity of border trade have undoubtedly added a considerable burden to the agricultural production in the Loulan Desert fields. The Jin Dynasty bamboo slips unearthed here contain texts such as "it is advisable to gradually economize on the use of grain for mutual assistance", revealing the tension in food supply.
The Loulan and subsequent Western Regions Long History House were abandoned in the 4th century AD. The reason for this is not ruled out due to the difficulties caused by changes in river water in arid areas. However, the overall social situation at that time was also a fact that must be noted. After the 4th century AD, the ancient road from Dunhuang to Western Regions developed greatly, and apart from going through Yizhou (now Hami), there were new routes with more convenient transportation, such as the big海道, which went through Shule River and flipped over Kuruk Mountain into Gaochang. The Wuji School Lieutenant's Office, which was in charge of the Western Regions' garrison agriculture, was stationed in Gaochang at this time. This route could avoid the traffic difficulties caused by the 'White Dragon Heap' yardang landform. Changes in transportation routes would immediately make Loulan lose its position on the Silk Road and lose the necessary organized forces to maintain irrigation agriculture. In this way, the disappearance of the artificial oasis was only a matter of time. The trend of human interests is also a force that leads to environmental changes here.
Loulan archaeological, there are still many problems to be explored. Dozens of ancient sites have been found on the Robo Prairie, but only a few have done some work, and there are many blanks to fill.
The 100-year history of Lop Nur archaeological research has given us confidence and hope for the future development of Lop Nur studies in the 21st century. The further development, construction, and accompanying archaeological, historical, geographical, and environmental investigations in the Robo Valley will inevitably yield new and richer results. This is a requirement of the times, and in this new historical process, people can expect Lop Nur archaeology to open up a whole new page.
Actually, Lop Nur is a very good place. In the eyes of Chinese people, Lop Nur represents not only a distant history buried under the yellow sand but also a glorious period of foreign trade and a romantic and mysterious pursuit of the Western Regions by the Chinese people.
I just returned from an archaeological lecture titled "Passionate Ejina" about Mongolian archaeological research. The lecturer did a great job. Next week, there will be another lecture on Lop Nur in Xinjiang.
The specific time and place of the lecture are not yet decided. Once confirmed, I will post all the information on "_弦外之音_" so that everyone can know.
Regarding the course on archaeology, I mentioned earlier to many Tsinghua University students that there is a teacher named Peng Lin who teaches archaeology in a very lively and interesting way. He usually gives optional courses at night. He was a worker during the Cultural Revolution and does his research in a down-to-earth manner, which makes it very meaningful.
According to what I know, he recently talked about the 2008 Beijing Humanistic Olympics, and everyone can pay attention to that.
Lop Nur, Lop Nur, follow me! The sound of the ancient zither is echoing; the flying dance has already disappeared behind us; the endless yellow sand stretches before our eyes; the swans on the Bositeng Lake are still flying. Tonight, we will camp by the Kongque River. As we move forward, the rolling sand covers up the tracks of our carts; ahead of us lies Lop Nur, which I have been thinking about day and night.
The glory of 2,500 years ago is hidden beneath the yellow sand; the ancient city of Lop Nur, with its majestic and solemn beauty, cannot be concealed by the vast desert. The stone pagodas stand tall in the sea of sand, and the ancient Buddhist scriptures are preserved in the stone boxes. The sound of Master Xuanzang's white horse still echoes in our ears.
At night, the stars shine brightly above the desert, and the moon casts a silver glow on the ancient city of Lop Nur. I seem to have lost all sense of time; did I come here 1,000 years ago? Will I return again after 1,000 years?
I only wish to sit here forever, with no regrets in this life! The wind and smoke of the Great Wall have disappeared and reappeared; the sound of the camel bells has stopped and started again. Before I came, my soul was tied to this place; now that I am here, my heart is branded with new memories.
The mystery of the disappearance of the ancient city of Lop Nur is still a topic of debate among scholars. The ancient Kongque River was the only source of fresh water for the ancient city of Lop Nur. Although there was a vast lake to the east of the city, it was a saltwater lake and could not be used for drinking.
According to historical records, since the 4th century, the climate in the Tarim Basin has become drier, the glaciers have retreated, and the rivers have shrunk. As a result, the lakes and rivers dried up, and vegetation disappeared. For the ancient people of Lop Nur who lived by fishing and herding, the lack of water meant the loss of their livelihood.
The Han Chinese bamboo slips found in the ruins of Lop Nur show that the food supply for the soldiers was gradually decreasing, with phrases like "it is advisable to gradually reduce consumption and make it last." The main reason for the food shortage was environmental degradation, ecological imbalance, and a lack of water sources.
There are still many records in the unearthed documents about the inability to irrigate due to water tension, and the strict control of water allocation and water sources. As a result, the lack of this key factor led to the abandonment of ancient Loulan. The view that "water is broken and the city is empty" was once accepted by people.
For many years, some scientists have believed that Lop Nur is a wandering lake. From the day of its formation, its location and shape have changed with the change in water volume. The ancient city of Loulan was built on the water, did the migration of Lop Nur cause the forced relocation of the ancient people of Loulan?
In recent years, a scientific expedition team composed of Chinese experts and scholars has entered Lop Nur several times. After drilling and sampling the lake bed, experts determined through carbon-14 dating that Lop Nur experienced multiple large dry-wet fluctuations over the past 10,000 years but never left the Lop Nur depression. The lake only underwent expansion and contraction within its own territory. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, due to increased river water supply from melting glaciers in the high mountains, the amount of water flowing into Lop Nur also increased. However, during the Yuan dynasty, as the climate in northwest China became drier, the Tarim River's water volume decreased, and Lop Nur's area shrank to its smallest size. By around 1964, Lop Nur had completely dried up. Some people have raised questions about whether the Loulan people living on both banks of the lake would abandon their ancient city to find another lake with water when Lop Nur dried up. This seems to be consistent with the theory that "when the water is cut off, the city is empty." However, according to historical records, there was still water in the area after the Loulan ancient city was abandoned. If water were the only key factor, then over the past thousand years, Lop Nur's water volume changed multiple times, but Loulan did not regain its former glory. It seems that the theory of "water cut off, city empty" is difficult to justify. Since the 1980s, researchers from various fields, including archaeology, history, geography, desert studies, biology, climate science, and geology, have ventured into this uninhabited wilderness, braving danger and hardship, without considering the simplicity of their working conditions. Many batches of them have rushed to this desolate land, camping in the wild. The outstanding scientist Peng Jiamu was one of those who sacrificed his precious life during this exploration craze.
This exploration and investigation have already come to a preliminary conclusion that the prosperity of this region, its changes and final destruction, are most fundamentally determined by human factors.
Lop Nur and the lower reaches of the Tarim River and the Peacock River, are the cradle where the ancient Loulan people multiplied and lived. Scholars from different academic circles, when paying attention to the study of Loulan, always think of the famous viewpoint put forward by Sven Hedin: Lop Nur is a lake that migrates with a cycle of 1500 years.
This issue, after years of investigation and research by Chinese scholars, has already come to a scientific conclusion: Lop Nur is the lowest point in the Tarim Basin, 10 meters lower than Kara-Koshun Lake, and it is impossible for water to flow there. Drilling analysis, lake sediment, and pollen data indicate that there has been continuous water accumulation here for 3,000 years, and the lake's sedimentation function has never been interrupted. The surrounding lake embankments are hard as iron and not afraid of wind erosion. Although the water level has fluctuated due to changes in inflow, it has never overflowed the outermost lake embankment. In the 1930s, people could row into Lop Nur, and in the 1950s, they could still see the lake's ripples. However, after the construction of the "Daxihaizi" reservoir in the direction of incoming water, a US satellite photo in 1972 revealed that Lop Nur had completed its final journey and had become a dry lake bed. Therefore, the water of Lop Nur, which is most closely related to the life of the land, has only changed its course under human control and command.
Through archaeological work, we can roughly trace the historical footprints of human beings that once existed on the Robo Valley land.
Since the Quaternary period, the Robor Lake area has been a dry inland region. However, at many sites, archaeologists have collected stone knives, stone spears, arrowheads, small stone leaves, and stone cores from the Neolithic era over 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. This suggests that today's barren desert was once a place where hunting and gathering were possible. Through radiocarbon dating and analysis of unearthed artifacts, it has been determined that the ancient residents of Guogou Village, who lived around 4,000 years ago, cultivated wheat, raised cattle and sheep, and used everyday items made from poplar wood, animal horns, and woven grasses. The larger tombs for men had seven circular rows of wooden stakes surrounding the grave pit, with additional wooden stakes radiating outward in a radial pattern. In total, over 600 trees were used to construct one tomb. At that time, people did not realize that such large-scale destruction of forests would ultimately destroy their own means of survival.
The dry environment of the ancient tomb in Gumugou preserved some human bodies, turning them into mummies. Autopsies were performed on these mummies, which showed that their lungs contained a significant amount of carbon dust and siliceous substances, indicating that they frequently breathed in windblown sand while cooking with grass fuel, affecting the health of ancient residents in the Lop Nur region. A well-preserved female mummy had light-colored hair, developed eyebrow ridges, and a straight nose bone, clearly showing characteristics of the Caucasoid race. This conclusion is consistent with the results of physical anthropological measurements of human bones excavated from the tomb by anthropologists. By the time of the Han Dynasty's Loulan Kingdom, the ethnic composition of the Loulan people had undergone new developments, with Mongoloids coexisting alongside Caucasoids. It seems that ancient residents on the Eurasian continent all once explored and settled in this land, which was not lush and green, as a stopping point, hoping to build a beautiful home here!
Felling trees and destroying the environment, this evil consequence has gradually attracted people's attention since the Loulan and Shanshan Kingdoms 2,000 years ago. A wooden slip from the Lop Nur Desert stipulates "Absolutely no felling of small trees", "Strictly forbidden to fell live trees, those who do so will be fined one horse". After 2,000 years of practice and experience, people began to realize the serious impact of indiscriminate felling on the kingdom's survival environment.
The Han Dynasty Loulan was a major town on the Silk Road. In response to the requirements of the Silk Road, the people of the ancient Loulan Kingdom had to take on the responsibility of carrying water and grain for officials and envoys traveling back and forth, and guiding them along the route.
The population increase and the prosperity of border trade have undoubtedly added a considerable burden to the agricultural production in the Loulan Desert fields. The Jin Jian unearthed here has texts such as "it is advisable to gradually save and make ends meet", revealing the tension in grain supply.
The Loulan and the subsequent Western Regions Long History House were abandoned in the 4th century AD. The reason for this is not ruled out due to the difficulties caused by changes in river water in arid areas. However, the overall social situation at that time was also a fact that must be taken into account. After the 4th century AD, the ancient road from Dunhuang to Western Regions had undergone significant development, and apart from passing through Yizhou (now Hami), there were new routes with more convenient transportation, which went along the Suo River, crossed the Kuruk Tagh Mountains, and entered Gaochang. The Wujun School Lieutenant's Office, which was responsible for the Western Regions' garrison agriculture, was stationed in Gaochang at this time. This route could avoid the traffic difficulties caused by the "White Dragon Heap" yardang landform. Changes in transportation routes would immediately cause Loulan to lose its position on the Silk Road and lose the necessary organized forces to maintain irrigation agriculture. In this way, the disappearance of the artificial oasis was only a matter of time. The trend of human interests is also a force that leads to environmental changes here.
Loulan archaeological, there are still many problems to be explored. Dozens of ancient sites have been found on the Robo Prairie, but only a few have done some work, and there are many blanks to fill.
The 100-year history of Lop Nur archaeological research has given us confidence and hope for the continued development of Lop Nur studies in the 21st century. The further development, construction, and accompanying archaeological, historical, geographical, environmental and other disciplinary investigations in the Robor Lake area will inevitably yield new and richer results. This is a requirement of the times, and in this new historical process, people can look forward to the unfolding of a brand new page in Lop Nur archaeology. To find out what happens next, please log on to Sina Original Subscription for more chapters. Support the author, support the original version. Sina Original: vip.book.sina
