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MIRAN RUIN
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Aurel Stein visited the ruin at Miran and
Miran fort briefly in December 1913 on his way to Lou-lan and then for
extensive excavation in January 1914. |
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Stein's map of Chinese Turkestan -
Miran is in the center at the south side of the desert and right against the
Altin-tag mountains- were the Tarim river delta fades into the desert
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On this detail of Stein's map Miran
appears at the delta of the Tarim River - between the Takla Makan and Kum- tagh
deserts and north of the Altin-tag mountains. The red lines of Stein's routes
cross there.
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I photographed this map sheet at an angle in
order to include the entire area from south of Miran to north of the west side
of Lop Nor. Miran appears south and slightly west of Abdal. Miran fort ruin is
a short distance east of the village.
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The area west of Abdal and Miran to Lop
hamlet - Stein was able to recruit workers from this tiny village for ecavation
work in the middle of winter - Dec - Feb - at Lou lan. The men here were mostly
fishermen. It is near Lop that the Charklik and Tarim rivers geneally meet as
they disappear into the salt sea. The Tarim river originates in the T'ien- shan
mounains and flows eastward along the northern edge of the Takla Makan. It
disappears into the desert in the dry Lop salt sea.
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Site plan for the Miran village and Tibetan
fort on the caravan route to Tun-huang - I is the fort
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Plate 30 - Plan of Tibetan fort next to Miran
- note the two angled bastions
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Plate 31 - Plan of ruined temple at Miran
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Tempera painting at shrine at Miran - Stein
was very taken with the western likeness.This is among the artifacts Stein
carefully cut and preserved for the long trip to London, where it caused a
sensation.
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One of the frescos Stein found at
Miran - he was particularly intrigued by the European features.
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A fresco tempera at Miran depicting a
heavenly being - note the western features
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Painting in tempera from wall of shrine at
Miran - Stein noes the European features of these faces. This is a Buddhist
shrine
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One of the frescos Stein found at
Miran.
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110 - South face of ruined fort, with
central bastion, Miran site
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134 - South-east corner of interior
of Miran fort, in course of excavation
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108 - Western group of ruined stupa
and temples, Miran Site, A, stupa mound - B, Buddhist shrine Mv - C, Buddhist
shrine M iii
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145 - Interior of rotunda and stupa
in ruined Buddhist shrine Mv, Miran site, after excavation - note some of the
fresco on the inner wall of the rotunda
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Ruined mound containing remains of
Buddhist shrine Mv, Miran site, before excavation, seen from
south-east
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146 - Portion of fresco frieze and dado on south-east wall of
rotunda in Buddhist shrine Mv, Miran site - depicts prince Vessantgara and wife
with children leaving palace - in dado below are seen girl playing a mandoline,
a garland carrying figure and part of bearded male bust
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147 - Portion of fresco frieze and dado on south wall of
rotunda in Buddhist shrine Mv, Miran site - depicts prince Bessantara making an
offering of the magical white elephant - dado shows Indian prince between two
garland-carrying Putti.
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143 - Part of fresco piece from frieze of ruined Buddhist
shrine Miii at Miran site.- This represents Gautama Bodhisattva in teaching
pose, with princely worshipper painted on background of Pompeian red.
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142 - Ruin of domed Buddhist shrine enclosing stupa M iii,
Miran site seen from east. - note the plane table in the background
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141 - Stucco head of colossal Buddha figure, as discovered
between statue bases i nruined shrine Mii - Miran site
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140 - Remains of colossal figures of seated Buddhas in
noth-east assage of ruined shrine Mii, Miran site
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138 - Remains of scale armor and miscellaneous objects frount
in Tibetan fort, Miran
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135 - Camp below walls of ruined fort, Miran - on right of
Chiang-ssu-yeh's tent is a Mongol visitor
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139 - Ruined Stupa at M vii , Miran Site, seen from
south
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129 - Stupa and circular passage of ruined shrine Mv, Miran
Site, after excavation, seen from west
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128 - Ruined shrine Mv, Miran site, seen from south-east before
excavation
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137 - Trading caravan passing Miran site en route for
Tun-huang
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Painting in tempera from wall of shrine at Miran - Stein notes
the European features of these faces. This is a Buddhist shrine
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