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Astana

Header: Astana
Also known as: Astana; Astana (China)
Scope note: The cemetery of Astana is located 40 kilometres southeast of the city of Turfan. From the Western Jin- (265-316) to the Tang-Dynasty (618-907) it was used by the inhabitants of the city of Gaochang and in an area covering about 10 square kilometres over 1000 tombs are irregularly distributed. Aurel Stein carried out excavations here in 1908, but since then Chinese archaeologists have excavated or re-examined the graves. Many of these had been looted or destroyed much earlier but still yielded a considerable number of artifacts. Because of the dry climatic conditions, organic materials were very well preserved and finds include objects made out of paper, clay statues, painted pottery, wooden objects and a high number of textiles such as silk, wool, cotton, brocade and linen, often embroidered and/or painted. An important group of finds are historical documents giving information on many different aspects of daily life, such as legal matters, medical prescriptions, public affairs etc. Also, most of the deceased were interred with funerary tablets mentioning their names and biographical details. The earliest-written of these chronological records can be dated to 273 AD, the latest to 778 AD, hereby providing a means of dating the cemetery to the time from the 3rd to the 8th century AD. Most of the graves have a passageway leading underground to the actual burial chamber that is sometimes preceded by an ante-chamber. The graves often contained two persons buried in supine position with arms and legs stretched out, head supported by a pillow or headrest. The faces of the dead were frequently covered with a piece of cloth, the eyes sometimes with an additional eye-cover (cf. object number 1928, 1022.134). Key to Aurel Stein's numbering system for the cemetery of Astana: Ast. i - Ast. ix = tomb groups I to IX Ast. x. i. 01. - 011. = tomb x. I. and the objects excavated there Ast. 01. - Ast. 010. = objects acquired from Astana cemetery For further information on Stein's site-mark numbering system see Stein 1921a, p. xv, fn 16
Broader terms: x20516; Turfan

67 related objects

banner; painting; 幡; 繪畫

Museum number: 1928,1022,0.203 |
Cultures/periods: Six DynastiesTang dynasty |
Production date: 6thC-7thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

base

Museum number: 1928,1022.100.c |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

base

Museum number: 1928,1022.100.a |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

base

Museum number: 1928,1022.99.a |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

base

Museum number: 1928,1022.99.b |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

base

Museum number: 1928,1022.99.c |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

base

Museum number: 1928,1022.99.d |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

base

Museum number: 1928,1022.100.b |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

bowl

Museum number: 1928,1022.106.a |
Production date: 651-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

bowl; 碗

Museum number: 1928,1022.96 |
Production date: 6thC-7thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

bowl

Museum number: 1928,1022.107 |
Production date: 651-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

bowl

Museum number: 1928,1022.113 |
Production date: 7thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

bowl

Museum number: 1928,1022.112 |
Production date: 7thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

bowl

Museum number: 1928,1022.111 |
Production date: 7thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

bowl

Museum number: 1928,1022.114 |
Production date: 551-650 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

coin

Museum number: IA,XII.a.4 |
Authority: BIOG136581 Ruler:Wenxuandi |
Cultures/periods: Northern DynastiesNorthern Qi dynasty |
Production date: 553 |
Production place: Minted in:China |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

coin

Museum number: IA,XII.c.2 |
Cultures/periods: Northern Wei dynastySui dynasty |
Production date: 6thC |
Production place: Minted in:China |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

coin; imitation

Museum number: IA,XII.f.3 |
Production date: 7thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

coin; imitation

Museum number: IA,XII.c.1 |
Production date: 6thC |
Production place: Minted in:Xinjiang (autonomous region) |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

coin

Museum number: IA,XII.a.3 |
Cultures/periods: x14485 Sasanian |
Production date: 580-700 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

coin; imitation

Museum number: IA,XII.b.1 |
Production date: 5thC-6thC |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Astana (China)

coin; imitation

Museum number: IA,XII.f.2 |
Production date: 7thC |
Production place: Made in:Kara-khoja |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

coin

Museum number: IA,XII.d.1 |
Findspot: Found/Acquired:Astana (China)

coin; imitation

Museum number: IA,XII.f.1 |
Production date: 7thC |
Production place: Made in:Kara-khoja |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

coin

Museum number: IA,XII.a.1 |
Cultures/periods: x13731 Byzantine |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

coin

Museum number: IA,XII.c.3 |
Cultures/periods: Northern Wei dynastySui dynasty |
Production date: 6thC |
Production place: Minted in:China |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

comb

Museum number: 1928,1022.98 |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

cup; 杯子

Museum number: 1928,1022.110 |
Cultures/periods: Gaochang kingdom高昌王國 |
Production date: 6thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

cup; 杯子

Museum number: 1928,1022.93 |
Production date: 6thC-7thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

eye-cover; 眼罩

Museum number: 1928,1022.134 |
Cultures/periods: Gaochang kingdom高昌王國 |
Production date: 6thC-7thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

figure

Museum number: 1928,1022.115 |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

figure

Museum number: 1928,1022.119.a |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

figure; stirrup

Museum number: 1928,1022.118 |
Production date: 7thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

figure; 畫像

Museum number: 1928,1022.117 |
Cultures/periods: x14596 Tang dynasty |
Production date: 8thC(mid) |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

figure

Museum number: 1928,1022.119.b |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

figurine; 小雕像

Museum number: 1928,1022.116.a |
Production date: 7thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

figurine; 小雕像

Museum number: 1928,1022.94 |
Production date: 7thC(early) |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

figurine; 小雕像

Museum number: 1928,1022.95 |
Production date: 7thC(early) |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

figurine; 小雕像

Museum number: 1928,1022.116.b |
Production date: 7thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

figurine; 小雕像

Museum number: 1928,1022.102 |
Cultures/periods: Gaochang kingdom高昌王國 |
Production date: 499-640 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

figurine; 小雕像

Museum number: 1928,1022.120 |
Cultures/periods: Tang dynasty唐代 |
Production date: 8thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

food product

Museum number: 1928,1022.122 |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

food product

Museum number: 1928,1022.129 |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

food product

Museum number: 1928,1022.126 |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

food product; 食物產品

Museum number: 1928,1022.124 |
Cultures/periods: Tang dynasty唐代 |
Production date: 8thC(mid) |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

food product; vegetal remains

Museum number: 1928,1022.106.b |
Production date: 651-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

food product

Museum number: 1928,1022.127 |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

food product

Museum number: 1928,1022.133 |
Production date: 651-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

food product

Museum number: 1928,1022.131 |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

food product; 食物產品

Museum number: 1928,1022.123 |
Cultures/periods: Tang dynasty唐代 |
Production date: 8thC(mid) |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

food product; 食物產品

Museum number: 1928,1022.130 |
Cultures/periods: Tang dynasty唐代 |
Production date: 8thC(mid) |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

food product; 食物產品

Museum number: 1928,1022.125 |
Cultures/periods: Tang dynasty唐代 |
Production date: 8thC(mid) |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

food product; 食物產品

Museum number: 1928,1022.132 |
Cultures/periods: Tang dynasty唐代 |
Production date: 8thC(mid) |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

food product; 食物產品

Museum number: 1928,1022.128 |
Cultures/periods: Tang dynasty唐代 |
Production date: 8thC(mid) |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

game-piece

Museum number: 1928,1022.101 |
Production date: 701-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

goblet

Museum number: 1928,1022.109 |
Production date: 551-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

human skeletal remains; human mummy; textile

Museum number: 1928,1022.121 |
Production date: 632 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

jar; 罐

Museum number: 1928,1022.105 |
Production date: 6thC-7thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

jar

Museum number: 1928,1022.108 |
Production date: 551-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

stand

Museum number: 1928,1022.103 |
Production date: 551-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

tablet; 書板

Museum number: 1928,1022.201 |
Cultures/periods: Tang dynasty唐代 |
Production date: 681 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

tablet; 書板

Museum number: 1928,1022.199 |
Cultures/periods: Tang dynasty唐代 |
Production date: 667 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

tablet; 書板

Museum number: 1928,1022.202 |
Production date: 571 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

tablet; 書板

Museum number: 1928,1022.198 |
Cultures/periods: Tang dynasty唐代 |
Production date: 667 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

tablet; 書板

Museum number: 1928,1022.200 |
Production date: 7thC |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納

wheel

Museum number: 1928,1022.97 |
Production date: 551-750 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)

匣子; box

Museum number: 1928,1022.104 |
Cultures/periods: Gaochang kingdom高昌王國 |
Production date: 499-640 |
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot:Astana (China)Excavated/Findspot:阿斯塔納