The Tarim Mummies (Paperback)

by J. P. Mallory (Author), Victor H. Mair (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
"A fascinating and readable account...a valuable compendium of recent research on a little-known region." —Archaeology. "Essential reading for archaeologists and scholars." —Choice

The best-preserved mummies in the world are found not in Egypt or Peru but in the museums of Xinjiang, the westernmost province of modern China. For thousands of years the occupants of the barren wastes and oases that would later become the Silk Road buried their dead in the desiccating sands of the Taklimakan, the second greatest desert on earth. This arid environment, preserving body and clothing, allows an unparalleled glimpse into the lives and appearance of a prehistoric people: these are the faces of ancient Indo-Europeans who settled in the Tarim Basin on the western rim of China some four millennia ago, 2000 years before West and East recognized each other's existence.

The book examines the clues left by physical remains; economy, technology, and textiles; and traces of local languages. It is the definitive account of one of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries of recent times. 190 illustrations, 13 in color.

About the Author
J. P. Mallory is Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology at Queen's University, Belfast. Victor H. Mair is Professor of Chinese Language and Literature at the University of Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (September 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500283729
• ISBN-13: 978-0500283721
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #206,049 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Archeology tells us of the world before history., June 2, 2009

By	JAG 2.0 (IN United States) - See all my reviews

This book, by its nature, is both enjoyable and frustrating. The archological evidence that is found bears testament to human history before written history but it cannot speak to us in the same way the written word can.

The authors present what can be known along with their own frustrations of what cannot be known. The authors are very frank in their treatment of the subject of caucasoid/europoid peoples in central asia. They honestly admit there are things they don't and cannot know.

The archeological artifacts are shown and interpreted very conservatively by the authors and others whose research they cite. The subject of who these people were, where they came from, what languages they spoke and how they interacted with asian cultures to the east is treated with scholarly objectivity. The authors stear clear of making pronouncements based upon the evidence that isn't sufficient to support them.

I enjoyed reading about the burial customs, dress, and appearance of the europoid peoples of central asia. Obvious similarities to other european peoples clearly shows coomon origin and cultural outlook. The "witches", complete with tall, conical, wide-brimmed hats shows the power of cultural memory. They look like the "Wicked Witch of the West" from "The Wizard of Oz"!

I would like to point out that if a reader is not truly interested in the subject, they are likely to be bored to tears by the authors' writing style. This is not light reading.

I felt chapter 11 was both unnecessary an annoying. The authors take great pains to show China is a great country with a great legacy of achievement. They do so in such a way that seems an attempt to denigrate european peoples - deliberately. It is quite possible that these europoid peoples brought technologies such as the wheel and bronze to China. This seems a reasonable *possibility* and should be stated frankly without politically-correct quibbling. It seems there is a taboo in presenting the blonde-haired, blue-eyed caucasian as doing something *first* or *best*. Nazi Germany was defeated 60+ years ago. Get over it.

The authors are at their best when evaluating the artifacts and tying them to migrations, languages and cultures. There is much good data in this book and I would recommend it to those interested in the subject.