The Mummies of Urumchi, China

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the discovery of the Urumchi mummies in the Uyghur Autonomous Region, in the Xianjiang province of China raised a furor in the West because not only were there mummies in China but also they were created more than 500 years before either Ramses II or Tutankhamen ruled Egypt. These mummies appeared to be Caucasian rather than Asian in appearance probably Celtics who wandered eastward 2,000-4,000 years ago. The author relates that the case of the Urumchi mummies and the other mummies of the Xianjiang region of China has created a controversy in recent years because the ethnic Uyghur Chinese separatists claim that they are descended from these Caucasians and therefore Xianjiang should not be considered a part of China but rather of Europe instead.

From the Paper:

"The mummies, displayed in the Urumchi Museum, have proven to be some of the most magnificent specimens of any of the Silk Road mummies. They range from a man that was buried with ten different hats amongst his burial goods, to a group known as Three Women and a Child. They are attired in brightly colored textiles, exhibit hairstyles, and fabric patterns that are traditional for the Celtic Tribes of the Bronze Age. From what Wayland Barber has been able to hypothesize from their clothing, and the other goods that were buried with them, they led a nomadic lifestyle that was common at the time, in, many parts of Europe, and Asia."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Genetic testing reveals awkward truth about famous mummies. Khaleej Times Online. (April 19, 2005), retrieved, November 9, 2007, from, http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?section=todaysfeatures&xfile=data/todaysfeatures/2005/april/todaysfeatures_april37.xml
• Mummies: Voices of the Dead. National Geographic Explorer, 1998, 60 min.
• Pringle, Heather. Curse of the redheaded mummy: how could an ancient mummy found in China have red hair and Caucasian features? The answer has sparked a battle over smuggled DNA, Western imperialism. Saturday Night, 116:18, (May 12, 2001), 32-41
• "'Tartan Army' found in China." The Mirror (London, England) (Jan 26, 1999): 8.
• Uyghur-American Association. A meeting of civilizations: The mystery of China's Celtic Mummies. Independent News and Media Ltd., (August 28, 2006), retrieved, November 8, 2007, from http://uyghuramerican.org/articles/471/1/A-meeting-of-civilisations-The-mystery-of-Chinas-celtic-mummies/A-meeting-of-civilisations-The-mystery-of-Chinas-celtic-mummies.html

More papers on The Mummies of Urumchi, China:

• Book Review # 66714 : "The Mummies of Urumchi"
• Analytical Essay # 49319 : "The Mummies of Urumchi"
• Book Review # 62236 : "The Mummies of Urmuchai"

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