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{{Short description|Mummified woman found in China}} {{Short description|Mummified woman found in China}}{{Better sources needed|date=April 2024}}
].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=Matthew |title=The "Silk Roads" in Time and Space: Migrations, Motifs, and Materials |journal=Sino-Platonic Papers |date=2012 |pages=96–97 |url=https://sino-platonic.org/complete/spp228_silk_roads.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Beauty of Kroran (Book description) |url=https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7ao2O3nqxL4/Swmke0b4fqI/AAAAAAAAALY/uyEMY02zt20/s1600/LoulanBeauty.jpg}}</ref>]]
]
], in ].]]
of China. Due ot her excellent state of conservation, she is one of the most famous ].
The '''Beauty of Loulan''' (楼兰美女), also '''Beauty of Krorän''' or '''Loulan Beauty''', is the preserved dead body of a woman who lived around 1800 BC in the ] region of China. Due to her excellent state of conservation, she is one of the most famous ].


Exceptionally well-preserved by the elements, the body was discovered in 1980 by Chinese archaeologists alongside several other mummies. The body is not of Chinese appearance, leading to the popular belief that the woman was of ] origin. The ] barred study of the mummies, but samples were smuggled out of the country and tested to find evidence of European ancestry in 1993. These findings were corroborated by further studies by Chinese researchers in 2007 and 2009. The mummy has since been displayed in museums. Exceptionally well-preserved by the elements, the body was discovered in 1980 by Chinese archaeologists alongside several other mummies. The body is not of Chinese appearance, leading to the popular belief that the woman was of ] origin. The ] barred study of the mummies, but samples were smuggled out of the country and tested to find evidence of European ancestry in 1993. These findings were corroborated by further studies by Chinese researchers in 2007 and 2009. The mummy has since been displayed in museums.
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== Discovery == == Discovery ==
] ]
The mummy was found on April 1, 1980, near the ] in the ], by Chinese archaeologist ] (穆舜英) and members of the Archaeological Institute of the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences. She is one of the ], named after where they were found, the ].<ref name="lives">{{Cite news |last=Barbara Demick |date=November 21, 2010 |title=A beauty that was government's beast |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/19/AR2010111907467.html |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> The mummy was found on April 1, 1980, in the Tiebanhe cemetery (铁板河墓) near ], on the ] in the ], by Chinese archaeologist ] (穆舜英) and members of the Archaeological Institute of the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences. She is one of the ], named after where they were found, the ].<ref name="lives">{{Cite news |last=Barbara Demick |date=November 21, 2010 |title=A beauty that was government's beast |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/19/AR2010111907467.html |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>


For many years, the Chinese government forbade the testing of the mummy's ], due to fears that it would aid Uyghur nationalists.<ref name=":0" /> In 1993, ] and Italian geneticist Paolo Francalacci, were able to ] some tissue samples, and although the Chinese government confiscated the samples, Mair claims a Chinese scientist later 'slipped in to their hands' as they were leaving. They concluded that the Loulan Beauty's ancestry came from Europe. Later, in 2007 and 2009, scientists from China's Jilin University and Fudan University both tested samples and corroborated the findings, suggesting that her ancestors may have traveled to Xinjiang through ]. Following the conclusion that the body is not Uighur, the Chinese government allowed the Loulan Beauty to be displayed in museums.<ref name="lives" /> For many years, the Chinese government forbade the testing of the mummy's ], due to fears that it would aid Uyghur nationalists.<ref name=":0" /> In 1993, ] and Italian geneticist Paolo Francalacci, were able to ] some tissue samples, and although the Chinese government confiscated the samples, Mair claims a Chinese scientist later 'slipped in to their hands' as they were leaving. They concluded that the Loulan Beauty's ancestry came from Europe. Later, in 2007 and 2009, scientists from China's Jilin University and Fudan University both tested samples and corroborated the findings, suggesting that her ancestors may have traveled to Xinjiang through ]. Following the conclusion that the body is not Uighur, the Chinese government allowed the Loulan Beauty to be displayed in museums.<ref name="lives" />


In 1980, she was restored by a Japanese painter who was named ] (山本耀也). As of 2008, the mummy is displayed on the second floor of the ], "Mummy Hall"(古尸馆). The Chinese government has not allowed further access to the mummies by scientists outside China.<ref name=":0" /> In 1980, her likeness was reconstructed by a Japanese painter named ] (山本耀也), and displayed besides her in the museum. As of 2008, the mummy is displayed on the second floor of the ], "Mummy Hall"(古尸馆). The Chinese government has not allowed further access to the mummies by scientists outside China.<ref name=":0" />


== Description == == Description ==
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The woman is estimated to have been in her 40s at the time of her death.<ref name="lives" /> The body is 152–155&nbsp;cm in stature, and her ] was O{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}. The woman is estimated to have been in her 40s at the time of her death.<ref name="lives" /> The body is 152–155&nbsp;cm in stature, and her ] was O{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}.


On examination by researchers, her shoes and clothing had been worn out and fixed repeatedly.<ref name="lives" /> Her hair was infested with lice.<ref name="lives" /> She had inhaled a great amount of sand, dust, and charcoal and she may have died of lung problems.<ref name="lives" /> She lived around 1800 BCE.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Gilles Sabrie |date=November 18, 2008 |title=The Dead Tell a Tale China Doesn't Care to Listen To |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/world/asia/19mummy.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref> On examination by researchers, her shoes and clothing had been worn out and fixed repeatedly.<ref name="lives" /> Her hair was infested with lice.<ref name="lives" /> She had inhaled a great amount of sand, dust, and charcoal and she may have died of lung problems.<ref name="lives" /> She lived around 1800 BC.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Gilles Sabrie |date=November 18, 2008 |title=The Dead Tell a Tale China Doesn't Care to Listen To |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/world/asia/19mummy.html |work=The New York Times}}</ref>


== Significance == == Significance ==
Following her discovery, there was a popular belief in Xinjiang that the mummy, which was non-Chinese in appearance, was in fact Uyghur. A popular song was written about her. If this were true, it would be evidence of Uyghur presence in Xinjiang roughly 1,200 years prior to the current historical estimate, and would contest Chinese claims rooted in conquests by the ] ~200 BCE.<ref name=":0" />

Collectively, the Tarim mummies are evidence of settlement in East Asia by people with European ]s far earlier than previously believed. In his 2007 paper on the mummies, Jin Li, a scientist at ] also claimed to find evidence of South and East Asian genetic markers among the set, although Victor H. Mair disputes this finding. ] examined the cloth fabrics preserved with the mummies and argued that they show ties to the ] and even Scotland.<ref name=":0" /> Collectively, the Tarim mummies are evidence of settlement in East Asia by people with European ]s far earlier than previously believed. In his 2007 paper on the mummies, Jin Li, a scientist at ] also claimed to find evidence of South and East Asian genetic markers among the set, although Victor H. Mair disputes this finding. ] examined the cloth fabrics preserved with the mummies and argued that they show ties to the ] and even Scotland.<ref name=":0" />


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== External links == == External links ==


* xinhuanet, 2010-04-29. * {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221140214/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-04/29/c_13272928.htm|date=2017-02-21}}
* *
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921072745/http://tc.wangchao.net.cn/junshi/detail_12802.html|date=2019-09-21}} * {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921072745/http://tc.wangchao.net.cn/junshi/detail_12802.html|date=2019-09-21}}
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Latest revision as of 23:06, 10 November 2024

Mummified woman found in China
This article needs better sources. Please help improve this article by adding more reliable sources to verify the information. Unsourced or poorly sourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Beauty of Loulan" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
The "Beauty of Loulan" (also "Beauty of Krorän"). Museum exhibit and detail of the face, Xinjiang Museum.
The mummy was excavated at the eastern end of the Tarim Basin, in Loulan.

The Beauty of Loulan (楼兰美女), also Beauty of Krorän or Loulan Beauty, is the preserved dead body of a woman who lived around 1800 BC in the Xinjiang region of China. Due to her excellent state of conservation, she is one of the most famous Tarim mummies.

Exceptionally well-preserved by the elements, the body was discovered in 1980 by Chinese archaeologists alongside several other mummies. The body is not of Chinese appearance, leading to the popular belief that the woman was of Uyghur origin. The government of China barred study of the mummies, but samples were smuggled out of the country and tested to find evidence of European ancestry in 1993. These findings were corroborated by further studies by Chinese researchers in 2007 and 2009. The mummy has since been displayed in museums.

Discovery

Loulan Beauty from Tiebanhe Riverside (about 3800 years ago).

The mummy was found on April 1, 1980, in the Tiebanhe cemetery (铁板河墓) near Loulan, on the Silk Road in the Xinjiang, by Chinese archaeologist Mu Shunying (穆舜英) and members of the Archaeological Institute of the Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences. She is one of the Tarim mummies, named after where they were found, the Tarim Basin.

For many years, the Chinese government forbade the testing of the mummy's DNA, due to fears that it would aid Uyghur nationalists. In 1993, Victor H. Mair and Italian geneticist Paolo Francalacci, were able to test some tissue samples, and although the Chinese government confiscated the samples, Mair claims a Chinese scientist later 'slipped in to their hands' as they were leaving. They concluded that the Loulan Beauty's ancestry came from Europe. Later, in 2007 and 2009, scientists from China's Jilin University and Fudan University both tested samples and corroborated the findings, suggesting that her ancestors may have traveled to Xinjiang through Siberia. Following the conclusion that the body is not Uighur, the Chinese government allowed the Loulan Beauty to be displayed in museums.

In 1980, her likeness was reconstructed by a Japanese painter named Yamaguchi Terunari (山本耀也), and displayed besides her in the museum. As of 2008, the mummy is displayed on the second floor of the Xinjiang Museum, "Mummy Hall"(古尸馆). The Chinese government has not allowed further access to the mummies by scientists outside China.

Description

Portrait

The mummy is wrapped in a wool cloth, cowhide leather, and linen. She is wearing leather shoes. There were several items made out of clay and some grain found nearby.

Unlike Egyptian mummies, which were preserved on purpose, the Loulan Beauty and other Tarim mummies were preserved unintentionally. The Loulan Beauty was buried near a salt lake in the desert, where the arid and dry conditions preserved even the finer details of her face, such as her eyelashes.

The woman is estimated to have been in her 40s at the time of her death. The body is 152–155 cm in stature, and her blood type was O.

On examination by researchers, her shoes and clothing had been worn out and fixed repeatedly. Her hair was infested with lice. She had inhaled a great amount of sand, dust, and charcoal and she may have died of lung problems. She lived around 1800 BC.

Significance

Collectively, the Tarim mummies are evidence of settlement in East Asia by people with European genetic markers far earlier than previously believed. In his 2007 paper on the mummies, Jin Li, a scientist at Fudan University also claimed to find evidence of South and East Asian genetic markers among the set, although Victor H. Mair disputes this finding. Elizabeth Wayland Barber examined the cloth fabrics preserved with the mummies and argued that they show ties to the Caucasus and even Scotland.

See also

References

  1. Anderson, Matthew (2012). "The "Silk Roads" in Time and Space: Migrations, Motifs, and Materials" (PDF). Sino-Platonic Papers: 96–97.
  2. "Beauty of Kroran (Book description)".
  3. ^ Barbara Demick (November 21, 2010). "A beauty that was government's beast". The Washington Post.
  4. ^ Gilles Sabrie (November 18, 2008). "The Dead Tell a Tale China Doesn't Care to Listen To". The New York Times.

External links

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