Ancient State of Loulan
( 2005-09-13 )

 Loulan Beauty

The greatest discovery in Loulan is without doubt the Loulan female mummy discovered in 1980. Perfectly preserved, delicate in appearance, and with good skin, the relic earned the nickname "Loulan Beauty." Experts confirmed that the woman lived some 3,800 years ago.

Later, more of such mummies were excavated, reflecting the characteristically dry weather of the region. In 1998, the well-preserved body of an infant that died about 4,000 years ago and the remains of an old man who died more than 1,500 years ago were also unearthed in the area.

The woman has distinct Caucasian features: light-colored hair and steep nose bridge. The Loulan Beauty has long hair and is only 5.2 feet tall. Archaeologists also found colorful painted and crosshatched coffins that looked like new. Archaeologists believe that the area's residents were both Mongolians and Caucasians. But how the Caucasians came to Western China thousands of years ago and then suddenly disappeared remains another mystery.