Behind and Beyond the Archaeology of the Silk Road: Laboratory Analyses in Eurasia, Some Results, Discussions, and Interpretations for Protohistory and Antiquity
Résumé
The paper presents some new results illustrating some developments related to
the concept ofthe Silk Road and subsequent methodological reflections. New
laboratory results ofscientific analyses ofplants, minerals, and human remains
in combination with more conventional methods of research contribute to
a better understanding of the multidirectionality of exchanges in Pre- and
Protohistory. Unsuspected long-distance transfers of items, especially of metals
(tin) and biological materials (plants, pathogens, etc.) are discovered. Adding
ancient DNA and petroglyphs to the vexed question of the Indo-European
migrations across Eurasia complexifies the familiar linguistic, historical, and
archaeological research landscape. Recent excavations show the impact of
the adoption of artistic elements adapted from the Achaemenid arts, far in
the steppe world, and up to China. Multidirectional (including North-South
lanes) and multidisciplinary approaches leave space and hope for more rigorous
scientific modelizations for the archaeology ofEurasia and the Silk Road.
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