Revealing lost secrets about Yingpan Man and the Silk Road

Tingting Wang,Benjamin T Fuller,Wenying Li,Yaowu Hu,Dong Wei,Hongen Jiang

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-04383-5

Abstract

Yingpan Man, is one of the most exquisitely preserved mummies found in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. Here links between Yingpan Man and the Silk Road are explored through a detailed isotopic and bioarchaeological investigation of his life history. Analytical techniques of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur stable isotope ratio analysis on hair, teeth, muscle and bones as well as associated animal and plant remains, radiocarbon dating and starch grain analysis of dental calculus are presented to visualize never before seen aspects of Yingpan Man’s life, including: environment, breastfeeding and weaning practices, adolescent and adult diet, disease and nutritional status as well as season of death. Furthermore, in combination with a detailed review of his associated grave goods, this research examines the social status and identity of Yingpan Man, and demonstrates the profound impact and cultural fusion that the Silk Road had upon the peoples of Xinjiang and Eurasia.

Highlights

The Silk Road was established during the Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD)[1,2]
We review these artifacts in detail and combine this information with the isotopic and bioarchaeological evidence to investigate the social status and identity of one of the most-well preserved and enigmatic mummies recovered from Xinjiang: Yingpan Man
This individual was called “Yingpan Man”, and based on associated artifacts was believed to date to the Han to Jin Dynasties (202 BC–420 AD) or a period when the Silk Road flourished in this a rea[14]

Summary

Introduction

The Silk Road was established during the Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD)[1,2]. This vast network of trade routes linked China with the west and facilitated an unprecedented increase in bidirectional communication, technology transfer and human movement across E urasia[3]. In 1995, a tomb containing the remains of an exquisitely preserved male desiccated corpse (mummy) was discovered in the eastern terrace of the Yingpan cemetery located in the Lop Nor region of Xinjiang, C hina[14] This individual was called “Yingpan Man”, and based on associated artifacts was believed to date to the Han to Jin Dynasties (202 BC–420 AD) or a period when the Silk Road flourished in this a rea[14]. A human-shaped wooden board was found on the back of Yingpan Man’s body, and this was fixed tightly on his back with the silk textiles This lavish but unmarked tomb filled with an array of exquisite artifacts but without any common or everyday living objects, which were popular in the other burials of the Yingpan cemetery, is unprecedented and sets this tomb apart from others found in China from this region and time p eriod[14–17]. There has been much controversy and speculation about the social identity of Yingpan Man: whether he was a wealthy merchant from the W est[7], or a military official from the government of Central C hina[15], or possibly a local noble or even a king of the nearby state of Shan14,16? These questions and debate make the life history of Yingpan Man a important research topic to be investigated and explored

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Conclusion