Facets of the ‘Silkroadification’ of Archaeological Discoveries from the Han-Era Hexi Corridor

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ID: 322054
2026
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Abstract
Abstract The Silk Road paradigm has long shaped the imagination of past Eurasian connectivity, both inside and outside academia. Likewise, it has received criticism for the various modern agendas hidden behind its application to historical and archaeological material. The Hexi Corridor in modern Gansu Province has always played a central role in the imagination of the ancient Silk Road. Its alleged ‘opening’ for long-distance trading connections is commonly associated with the Han Empire’s conquest of this region. The Silk Road paradigm has thus left a particularly strong mark on interpretations of archaeological findings from this region. This is especially true for the time when Xi Jinping proclaimed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013 and several Hexi Corridor sites became UNESCO Silk Road World Heritage Sites in 2014. The Silk Road paradigm has influenced the handling of Han-era archaeological discoveries from this region in what may be termed a ‘Silkroadification’ of these finds. Taking finds of silken textiles from the region as an example, this chapter demonstrates how political agendas are reflected in recent historical interpretations, and how their interpretation as ‘Silk Road’ evidence limits a more nuanced understanding of the history of the Hexi Corridor. Strong tendencies towards ‘Silkroadification’ can further be perceived in the public presentation of archaeological artefacts and sites in Gansu, where economic aspirations are clearly intertwined with political agendas that may also shape scholarly publications. This trend is likely to be further reinforced by Xi Jinping’s instrumentalisation of archaeology to promote ‘cultural self-confidence’.
Reference Key
openalex_W7170061268 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Kathrin Leese-Messing
Journal Oxford University Press eBooks
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197800324.013.0039
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197800324.013.0039
Keywords Keywords not found

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