Chinese archaeologists revealed in June that they had discovered an attractive Tang Dynasty mural that appears to depict a blond, “Western” man.
The Tang dynasty ruled much of central and eastern China from 618 to 907 and built a strange tomb in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province. according to Reported by Live Science , the tomb was discovered in 2018, but the latest findings focus on a series of wall paintings that show aspects of daily life never before seen.
One of the murals shows a man threshing grain and making noodles, while another depicts a blond, bearded “Westerner” presumably from Central Asia, Victor Xiong, a history professor at Western Michigan University who was not directly involved in the discovery, told Live Science.
Stunning murals in Tang Dynasty tomb unearthed in China may depict blond 'Western' man https://t.co/D8adaeDIhm
— Live Science (@LiveScience) July 15, 2024
“His facial features and style of clothing identify him as a 'Westerner', possibly Sogdian from Central Asia,” Xiong told Live Science. Sogdian At the time, trade was taking place along the Silk Road, and most of the people lived in what is now Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Along with depictions of everyday life and “Western” scenes, the tomb's roof is decorated with what appears to be a dragon or phoenix. (Related article: China shows off loads of advanced robots, and we're all in trouble)
The tomb is believed to be that of a 63-year-old man who died with his wife around 736, Chinese media outlet Xinhua reported. reportThe structure consists of a single room, doors, and corridors, according to LiveScience. Some of the murals depict the same people multiple times, leading archaeologists to speculate that they may have been the tomb's owners, reports the South China Morning Post. report.
