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0252 Archaeological Researches in Sinkiang : vol.1
Archaeological Researches in Sinkiang : vol.1 / Page 252 (Color Image)

Captions

[Figure] 50 Miran, Grave 1. Plan and section.
[Figure] 51 Miran, Grave 2. Plan and section.

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doi: 10.20676/00000195
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Fig. 5o. Miran, Grave i. Plan and section.

Fig. 51. Miran, Grave 2. Plan and section.

It was found to be situated amongst high tamarisk cones 2.5 km. NNE of the ruined fortress, and immediately to the west of a ruined watch-tower. According to my cyclometer measurement this tower should be situated between STEIN'S ruins XII and XIV, nearly Boo m. WSW of XII (Cf. Pl. 29 in Stein 1921). The graves showed no marks above the ground, and were located by striking the flat sides of the spades against the ground; where it sounded hollow we dug, Pl. XX b. Here follows a description of the four graves discovered.

Grave I.

0.7 m. below the surface we came across a "coffin" consisting only of half a hollowed-out poplar trunk, showing coarse marks of the carpenter's axe. It covered a well preserved skeleton resting on its back, Fig. 5o. Near the left ear there was a plain bronze ring, Pl. 38 : i. 0.4 m. below the ground, and above the middle of the coffin, we found a bunch of coarse, dark-brown hair, and a half wooden comb of a type common in the Han dynasty in China, Pl. 38 : 18.

Grave 2.

The skeleton in this grave was also well preserved, but was lying in a slanting position with the head o.8 m. higher than the feet. There was no coffin, only a horizontal log and an obliquely placed board Fig. 51. The only things found were some trifling fragments of red, green and yellow silk fabrics lying around the chin, on the upper part of the chest and on the upper parts of the arms. Everything indicates that this grave was plundered long ago.

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