Ancient Tombs at Astana
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Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs
The Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs are part of the Underground Museum of Turpan and the Living Archives of Gaochang. Astana means capital in Uigur; Karakhoja was a Uigur hero who protected his people from a vicious dragon. The tombs are located 42 km (26miles) southeast of Turpan city and 6 km (3.7miles) from the Ancient City of Gaochang. The tombs were the public cemetery of the ancient Gaochang residents, both aristocrats and commoners. Among the excavated 456 tombs, the Gaochang king's has not been found. The tomb complex is 5 km (3.1miles) from east to west, and 2 km (1.2miles) from north to south. Gravel boundaries separate the tombs by family. The paternal family burial order was strictly followed, similar to the system in the Hexi Corridor (today's Gansu Province), and even in central China. Generally, husband and wife were buried together. In some cases, one man was accompanied by two or three women. A slope of over 10 meters (32.8 feet) long leads down to the chamber. The chamber is 2 meters (6.6 feet) high with a flat ceiling or a dome. The dead are placed on an earthen or wooden bed in the back of the chamber. They had wood in both hands and wore cotton, linen or silk clothes. Around them are miniature pavilions, carts and horses, parades, musical instruments, chess sets, pens and ink, grapes, melons, dumplings and pancakes -- to be used by the dead in another world. Owing to the arid climate, the relics are very well preserved; dumplings are the same as today's, and the stuffing is as intact as it was when fresh. Murals with vivid pictures of humans, animals, flowers, mountains, and rivers decorate some chambers. A painting of ladies playing chess illustrates the happy life of aristocrats in the early Tang Dynasty (618-907). Among the more than ten thousand cultural relics excavated are over 2700 books, epitaphs, paintings, clay figurines, and pottery, wood, gold and stone wares, ancient coins, silk and cotton textiles. The time recorded in the books ranges from 273 to 772. The tombs are mainly those of the Han people while those of ethnic groups such as the Cheshi, Turki, and Hun are also represented. Tomb structure and placement indicate that while Han people were in the majority in the Gaochang, all nationalities enjoyed equality. It is noteworthy that mummies here compare favorably with Egyptian mummies in both quantity and the quality, providing precious specimens for anthropology, history, medicine, and ethnology. The mummy of the well-known Gaochang General is 1.90 meters (6.2 feet) tall with well-preserved beard hair and clothes.
Astana Ancient Tombs
Known as the "Underground Museum" and widely valued by Chinese and foreign archaeologists and historians, this group of ancient tombs is 40 kilometers southeast of Turpan city proper and 6 kilometers from the ancient city of Gaochang. It had been the public graveyard of ancient Gaochang people with an area of about 10 square kilometers. Astana means "capital" in Uygur and Karakhoja is the name of a legendary hero of the ancient Uygur Kingdom who removed the evils from the people by killing a vicious dragon. Since 1959, 456 tombs have been excavated and thousands of cultural relics have been unearthed. Besides hundreds of dried up bodies, there are murals depicting figures, birds and flowers on display in the three tombs. Altogether 2,000 documents were unearthed, with content covering political, economic, cultural and military developments of Gaochang City. Now three tombs have been opened to visitors. Besides dried-up corpses, there are murals depicting figures, birds and flowers on display in the three tombs.
Astana-karakhoja Ancient tombs
Astana Ancient Tombs are the tombs of the Chinese people who lived in the ancient city of Gaochang more than 1,000 years ago. The few graves are opened to show the Chinese presence at the time but also the Manichaean religion. The natural mummies are absolutely a main attraction in one of the cemetery as well. Chinese Cemetery Although the region is composed of different peoples, most of the remains found in the huge cemetery of 1,000 graves are mainly Chinese. Works found indoors as well as the organization of the tomb corresponds to the Chinese style is also found in the Hexi Corridor. The tombs are accessible by a small long passage from 4 to 10 meters. Inside, the room is quite small with a flat ceiling or dome cases. These are the Chinese people who had settled in the ancient city of Gaochang between Third and Eighth century were buried here. Ritual of Manichaeism The discoveries made at the opening of 350 tombs have allowed us to understand the rituals of the religion of the time, Manichaeism, now disappeared. Believing in life after death, the deceased were buried with objects allowing them to start a new life: gold coins on the eyes, fruits, art, everyday objects... Natural Mummies What are the interest places, there are two mummies presented in one of three caves open to the public. At the time, the dead were wrapped in silk before being generally placed in a coffin. Due to the climate of the region, the bodies were then naturally transformed into mummies. Other objects are presented in the other two tombs, as well as silks and interesting paintings. Best time to visit Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep.
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1 The Astana-Karakhoja Ancient Tombs are situated about 6 km from the ancient city of Gaochang, also 40 km southeast of Turfan.
2 Located about 25 miles southeast of Turpan, the Astana Tombs are usually a quick stop during a visit to the Gaochang ruins.
3 As interesting as these historical tombs may be, most of them hold the remains of everyday people like you and me who died and were buried in the local cemetery. Not so for Turpan’s Astana Tombs. This was the burial ground of Xinjiang’s ancient kings from the nearby Gaochang kingdom (also known as Karakhojah).