Abstract: The article describes two pieces of decorated woolen tapestry discovered by the Russian-Mongolian expedition in a Xiongnu (early 1st century AD) burial at Noin-Ula mound 22, northeastern Mongolia, in 2012. One fragment shows a composition consisting of a line of flowers surrounded by a "rolling wave" woven along the left edge, and bands of similar waves skirting the opposite side. The design on the other fragment mostly consists of five bands with fl oral patterns separated by plain tawny stripes. Technologically, the fragments are close to woolen fabrics unearthed at Eastern Mediterranean cities such as Palmyra, Dura-Europos, and Masada. The designs resemble those on fabrics from early 1st millennium sites in Xinjiang-Shampula, Niya, and Loulan, as well as those on Syrian fabrics, especially those from Palmyra. However, the Noin-Ula fragments differ from their Palmyran and Xinjiang counterparts by a more expressive manner of rendering floral motifs. Based on the analysis of dyes, the original palette is reconstructed. Our analysis suggests that the cloth could have been manufactured at an Eastern Mediterranean tapestry workshop-one of those with a long-standing fame. The cloth was probably imported to Mongolian steppes together with other items along the southern branch of the Great Silk Road.

Cite: Polosmak N.V. , Karpova E.A.
Remains of tapestry from a Xiongnu (Early 1st Century AD) Burial in Mound 22 at Noin-Ula
ARCHAEOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY OF EURASIA. 2016. V.44. N4. P.76-82. DOI: 10.17746/1563-0110.2016.44.4.076-082 WOS Scopus РИНЦ

ArticleLinkType.TRANSLATED_TO_ORIGINAL: Полосьмак Н.В. , Карпова Е.В.
Фрагменты гобеленов из 22-го кургана могильника Ноин-Ула (начало I века н.э.)
Археология, этнография и антропология Евразии. 2016. Т.44. №4. С.76-82. РИНЦ

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Published online:

Jan 1, 2016

Identifiers:

Web of science	WOS:000390954100007
Scopus	2-s2.0-85037062645
Elibrary	35478854
OpenAlex	W2953480792

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