{short description of image}  
 

MIRAN RUIN

 
  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.  
   
{short description of image}

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

 
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}    
{short description of image}    
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}

Site plan for the Miran village and Tibetan fort on the caravan route to Tun-huang - I is the fort

 
{short description of image}

Plate 30 - Plan of Tibetan fort next to Miran - note the two angled bastions

 
{short description of image}

Plate 31 - Plan of ruined temple at Miran

 
{short description of image}    
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}

One of the frescos Stein found at Miran - he was particularly intrigued by the European features.

 
{short description of image}

A fresco tempera at Miran depicting a heavenly being - note the western features

 
{short description of image}

Painting in tempera from wall of shrine at Miran - Stein noes the European features of these faces. This is a Buddhist shrine

 
{short description of image}

One of the frescos Stein found at Miran.

 
{short description of image}

110 - South face of ruined fort, with central bastion, Miran site

 
{short description of image}

134 - South-east corner of interior of Miran fort, in course of excavation

 
{short description of image}

108 - Western group of ruined stupa and temples, Miran Site, A, stupa mound - B, Buddhist shrine Mv - C, Buddhist shrine M iii

 
{short description of image}

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

 
{short description of image}

Ruined mound containing remains of Buddhist shrine Mv, Miran site, before excavation, seen from south-east

 
{short description of image}

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

 
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}

142 - Ruin of domed Buddhist shrine enclosing stupa M iii, Miran site seen from east. - note the plane table in the background

 
{short description of image}

141 - Stucco head of colossal Buddha figure, as discovered between statue bases i nruined shrine Mii - Miran site

 
{short description of image}

140 - Remains of colossal figures of seated Buddhas in noth-east assage of ruined shrine Mii, Miran site

 
{short description of image}

138 - Remains of scale armor and miscellaneous objects frount in Tibetan fort, Miran

 
{short description of image}

135 - Camp below walls of ruined fort, Miran - on right of Chiang-ssu-yeh's tent is a Mongol visitor

 
{short description of image}

139 - Ruined Stupa at M vii , Miran Site, seen from south

 
{short description of image}

129 - Stupa and circular passage of ruined shrine Mv, Miran Site, after excavation, seen from west

 
{short description of image}

128 - Ruined shrine Mv, Miran site, seen from south-east before excavation

 
     
     
{short description of image}

137 - Trading caravan passing Miran site en route for Tun-huang

 
{short description of image}

Painting in tempera from wall of shrine at Miran - Stein notes the European features of these faces. This is a Buddhist shrine

 

Return to Xenophon.