Silk route 'symbol' in Mustang
GYAN NEUPANE
KATHMANDU, OCT. 15-Excavation report of Mustang's cave have
found a silk, which is a good symbol to proof Mustang is also a part of an
ancient Silk Road.
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Photograph by Cory Richards
River in Nepal’s remote Mustang region. More than 60 feet above are rows of unexplored man-made caves dug centuries ago. There may be thousands in the region. |
A group of American archaeologist,
studying in Upper Mustang's cave sometimes before, has found silk after test of
textiles from Samjong cave. After testing of textile they mentioned a report to
Department of Archaeology (DoA) Nepal. According to report, textile was found
in burial tomb cave.
"The discovery of the textiles
indicates a further and deeper connection to silk route culture which may have
been pervasive in Mustang long before the establishment of Lo Manthang as
capital city and the lineage of AmePal (13 & 14th century's dynasty when
Mustang was a Tibet's state)," wrote Peter Athens in email contact with
Nagarik, Nepali National daily based in Kathmandu, one member of excavation.
"Very likely there is always the
chance that the materials arrived in Mustang from transmigration throughout the
subcontinent and north, thought the context of burial tomb where the silk was
discovered indicates otherwise," Peter answered on the question, "Is
this related to what we called ancient Silk Route?"
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Photograph by Cory Richards
To reach a series of caves dug into a cliff 155 feet above the valley floor, Matt Segal scales a rock face so fragile it often breaks off to the touch. Linked by a ledge, the 800-year-old caves, empty now, may once have stored manuscripts.
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for more photographs of mustang cave click here.
"We believe that tombs are on the order of 15 to 17 hundred years old and are awaiting testing data, due to later this fall, for verification," Peter added.
An ancient trade route was mainly is in
China to Rome of Italy but many discovery says Nepal is also a part of Silk
Route as a sub way. "We are excavating Mustang 3o years before but this is
the first time silk found in cave," An archaeologist and ex associate
secretary of Nepal Government Bishnuraj Karki said. He added that this is a
best proves of Nepal is also touched with Silk route sub way.
UNESKO is trying to list all the way of
thousand year's old route. Nepal can also raise this proof to list Mustang to
World Heritage site of Silk Route says archaeologists.
American Archaeologist studying in
Mustang since 2008 with DoA. Karki says that human beings were used to trade
silk through Mustang and some of them were dead. It was already verified by
discover of human remains, culture and others things before he says.
'Coordinating Committee on the Serial World Heritage Nomination of the Silk Road' is managing to list heritage of Silk route and it's sub
way as well. DoA is planning to make a program Mustang to list in World
heritage site says spokesperson Ram Kuwar. "This discovers will be the
best help to make Mustang to heritage list, but this is not enough," he
said. After finding some other proves we will purpose to UNESKO to nominate in
World Heritage Site list.
There is uncountable man made caves in
Mustang. Ancient people spent their life in caves. Some of the home &
monarchy are still can see jointly with caves.
This story firstly appeared in Nagarik
daily on 16 October Tuesday 2012
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