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0359 Sand-Buried Ruins of Khotan : vol.1
Sand-Buried Ruins of Khotan : vol.1 / Page 359 (Color Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000234
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CHAPTER XX

DISCOVERY OF DATED DOCUMENTS

Christmas Day was spent in clearing a group of ruined structures
situated about half a mile to the north-east of my camp, in which I
could without difficulty recognise the remains of a square temple
cella and of an adjoining dwelling-place, probably a monastic
habitation. These ruins had suffered badly from erosion, which, in
the unprotected soil immediately to the north and east of them, had
produced broad depressions to a depth of about 20 feet below
the original ground level. The ruins, owing to this lowering of the
surrounding ground, seemed now to occupy a raised tongue of land
quite clear of dunes, and nowhere retained more than two or three
feet of covering sand. Above this there rose the splintered short
stumps of posts that once formed the framework of wattle and
plaster walls, their rows clearly marking the original division of the
rooms. The exposed condition of these ruins had, of course,
attracted the visits of "treasure-seeking" parties, including some
Turdi had personally conducted in former years, and the debris of
plaster, timber, ancient pottery, &c., scattered about on the surface
plainly told of their burrowings.

Notwithstanding the damage thus caused, there remained some
very curious relics to reward my careful clearing. In the western
part of the quadrangular passage that enclosed the cella we found
two painted panels of wood, showing on both sides representations
of sacred personages and undoubtedly the votive offerings of some
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