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Article: On the question of silk in pre-Han Eurasia. (China's Han Dynasty)
- Article from:
- Antiquity
- Article date:
- December 1, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 Antiquity Publications, Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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When was silk first brought across the steppe from far China towards the European world? There is silk from the Middle Bronze Age of Uzbekistan, in Scythian burials of Siberia and among the Hallstatt grave-goods of western Europe. Teasing out the story of silk depends on identifying the textile, and distinguishing its several varieties apart.
Introduction
According to historical tradition, official initiation of silk trade from China into western Asia took place during the First Han Dynasty in the late 2nd century BC. However, numerous occurrences of silk preceding this date by several centuries have been found well beyond the borders of Han China ...