Cadota 尼雅 | |
 Textile from Niya, showing influences from the East and the West. | |
  Niya Shown within Xinjiang | |
| Location | Xinjiang,China |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°01′17″N82°44′15″E / 38.021400°N 82.737600°E /38.021400; 82.737600 |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Abandoned | 4th to 5th century[1] |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | In ruins |
TheNiya ruins (simplified Chinese:尼雅遗址;traditional Chinese:尼雅遺址;pinyin:Níyǎ Yízhǐ), is anarchaeological site located about 115 km (71 mi) north of modernNiya Town on the southern edge of theTarim Basin in modern-dayXinjiang, China. The ancient site was known in its native language asCaḍ́ota[citation needed], and in Chinese during the Han dynasty as Jingjue (Chinese:精絕;pinyin:Jīngjué, Old Chinesetseng-dzot, similar toCaḍ́ota[citation needed]). Numerous ancient archaeological artifacts have been uncovered at the site.
Niya was once a major commercial center on anoasis on the southern branch of theSilk Road in the southernTaklamakan Desert. During ancient timescamel caravans would cut through, carrying goods fromChina toCentral Asia.[2][3]
InHanshu, an independent oasis state called Jingjue, generally thought to be Niya, is mentioned:
The seat of the king's government is the town of Jingjue, and it is distant by 8,820li [probably 3,667 km/2,279 miles] fromCh'ang-an. There are 480 households, 3,350 individuals with 500 persons able to bear arm. [There are the following officials] the commandant of Jingjue, the leaders of the left and the right and an interpreter-in-chief.
— Hanshu, chapter 96a, translation from Hulsewé 1979.[4]
Niya became part ofLoulan Kingdom by the third century. Towards the end of the fourth century it was under Chinesesuzerainty. Later it was conquered byTibet.[5]
In 1900,Aurel Stein set out on an expedition to western China and the Taklamakan Desert. In Niya he excavated several groups of dwellings, and found 100 wooden tablets written in 105 CE. These tablets bore clay seals, official orders and letters written inKharoshthi, an early Indic script, dating them to theKushan Empire, or to Gandharan migrants influenced by Kushan and Indian bureaucratic traditions.[6][7] Stein also found a series of clay seals with impressions ofAthena Alkidemos, together with others representingEros,Heracles, or a different version ofAthena.[8] Other finds include coins and documents dating from theHan dynasty, Roman coins, an ancient mouse trap, a walking stick, part of a guitar, a bow in working order, a carved stool, an elaborately designed rug and other textile fragments, as well as many other household objects such as wooden furniture with elaborate carving, pottery, Chinese basketry and lacquer ware.[6][7][9] Aurel Stein visited Niya four times between 1901 and 1931.
Official approval for joint Sino-Japanesearchaeological excavations at the site was given in 1994. Researchers have now found remains of human habitation including approximately 100 dwellings, burial areas, sheds for animals, orchards, gardens, and agricultural fields. They have also found in the dwellings well-preserved tools such as ironaxes andsickles, woodenclubs, potteryurns and jars of preserved crops. The human remains found there have led to speculation on the origins of these peoples.[10]
In 2007, when the Xinjiang Institute of Archaeology's research group on Niya was editing the third volume of the Report on the Sino-Japanese Joint Expedition in Niya,2 they carefully examined a "parchment text" found in Nya. After the string was untied, it was found that the paper had been used to wrap up a powder of vegetable origin, perhaps spices or medicine. When the powder was removed, a text written in black ink in a clear script was visible. Noting that the writing appeared to be the same as that of the Sogdian "Ancient Letters" found nearDunhuang, which were written in the early fourth century,3 and otherSogdian fragments of similar date found at Loulan, the local archaeologists were able to determine that this new fragment was also written in early Sogdian script.[11]
Some archeological findings from the ruins of Niya are housed in theTokyo National Museum.[2] Others are part of theStein collection in theBritish Museum, theBritish Library, and theNational Museum inNew Delhi.
Ancient texts included the mention and names of various regional rulers.[12]
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