国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

This small site is of interest as being the first one discovered on the southern rim
of the large Tarim Basin.

LIST OF ANTIQUITIES FROM CHIQIN-SAI

K. 13333 : 1-2. Two small potsherds with traces
of incised pattern, a wavy double
line between two straight lines, and probably a
garland incised with a dentated instrument. Light-
red ware.

K. 13333 : 3-5. Three small potsherds of red and
reddish-brown ware recalling the
Singer ware.

K. 13333 : 6-7. Two fragm. of small flint cores.
K. 13333 : 8. Thirty-nine small flint flakes.
K. 13333 : 9. Eight small fine flint flakes with
retouched edges.
K. 13333 : 10-16. Seven small scrapers of grey flint.
K. 13333 : 17. Various flint refuse and coarser
flakes.

E. CONCLUSION.

Menghin characterizes the Lop-nor stone age finds made by Stein as probably
belonging to the Gobi culture and an "epi- und opsimiolitische Fazies der Reittier-
züchterkreise"; he does not believe that this culture knew cattle breeding (Menghin
1931, p. 315). All this seems somewhat daring, as not even the slightest trace of any
"Reittier" bone has been found together with these implements. And the implements
themselves are few and of rather common types.

The differences between the Lop-nor artifacts and those from other Sinkiang sites
are not large enough to denote anything but local variations inside the same cul-
ture. And the same is true regarding the whole Sinkiang material when compared
with that from Mongolia. They all belong to the same Gobi culture. This collective
name seems very appropriate as long as we can assign no more precise chronologi-
cal limits or any classification in well defined groups.

Very much the same natural conditions prevail in Sinkiang and in Mongolia, and
the same desert covers large parts of both countries. This Gobi culture was most
likely carried by nomads who moved with their herds in this extensive area of step-
pes and deserts. But it is still too early to make a pronouncement as to the kind of
domesticated animals they relied on.

*

The painted wares in China first appear in aeneolithic time. Any extensive remains
from true neolithic time have not been discovered in China as yet. In Mongolia and
Manchuria sites with neatly worked flints and unpainted hand-made pottery are
quite common. Unfortunately most of the Mongolian finds occur on the eroded Gobi
surface, and we have very few stratigraphical fix-points. The chronology and the
relation to the painted pottery cultures are therefore uncertain. Nevertheless, there
are some general indications which make one inclined to regard the Mongolian flint

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