An international group of scientists concluded that domesticated silkworms from China appeared in Central Asia approximately 4,000 years ago, two thousand years earlier than the formation of the Silk Road.
An international group of scientists concluded that domesticated silkworms from China appeared in Central Asia approximately 4,000 years ago, two thousand years earlier than the formation of the Silk Road.
These findings are based on the study of archaeological finds discovered at the Bronze Age site of Sapalitepa in southern Uzbekistan. The results of the study were published on July 23 in the scientific journal Science Advances.
The work was based on the analysis of three dried silkworm cocoons and mulberry remains found by Chinese and Uzbek archaeologists during fieldwork between 2017 and 2019. Specialists from six scientific institutions in China, Uzbekistan, Germany, and the United States participated in the study.
The authors of the study note that it was previously believed that the spread of Chinese silk to the west began only during the Han Dynasty when the Silk Road emerged. However, new data, according to the researchers, indicates a significantly earlier spread of sericulture technology.
Professor Xia Qingyu from Southwest University in Chongqing reported that protein analysis confirmed that the found cocoons belonged to the domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori). According to him, this species cannot exist without humans and feeds exclusively on mulberry leaves. The age of the finds is estimated to be approximately 4,000 years.
The head of the research, Zhou Xinying from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, noted that archaeologists discovered not only cocoons but also evidence of mulberry cultivation. According to her, this may indicate the adoption of silk production in Central Asia long before the emergence of the Silk Road.
Analysis of soil samples from Sapalitepa revealed thousands of plant remains near the three silkworm cocoons. Analysis using scanning electron microscopy showed that the fiber structure corresponds to Bombyx mori cocoons. Nevertheless, the ancient fibers were thinner than modern ones, which, according to the authors, may suggest an early stage of domestication of this species.
Furthermore, scientists discovered mulberry charcoal at three archaeological sites: Sapalitepa, Djarkutan, and Molali. Researcher Shen Hui reported that the proportion of mulberry wood increased from 10 percent in Sapalitepa to 60 percent in Molali, which may indicate a gradual expansion of its cultivation.
Scientists also identified remains of citrus tree wood, whose natural habitat is in the southeastern Himalayas. The authors believe this indicates contacts between Central and South Asia during the Bronze Age.
By analyzing archaeological data on the distribution of mulberry in Asia, scientists hypothesized that sericulture traditions spread from China along the southern slopes of the Himalayas and then reached Central Asia, rather than through northern routes that later became part of the Silk Road.
The authors of the study believe that the results obtained allow sericulture's spread to be viewed as part of a broader process of early interregional contacts, alongside the spread of millet, wheat, domestic animals, and metallurgical technologies between China, Central, and South Asia in the third and second millennia BCE.
In their opinion, this discovery opens up new avenues for studying the history of sericulture and the routes through which this technology spread in ancient Eurasia.
The international automotive competition 'Paris-Beijing along the Great Silk Road,' which began in July, was held for the first time in the territory of Karakalpakstan. This large-scale road race is planned until September 2026 and includes many countries such as Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China.
Participants arrived in Karakalpakstan on July 30, following a route that passed through Beyneu in Kazakhstan, then Zhaslyk (Davut-ota), and concluded in Nukus.
The French company ATYPIC Travel Organisation organized this project. The goal of the event is not only to hold a sporting event but also to present the cultural heritage and natural beauty of the countries along the Great Silk Road to the world community.
For Karakalpakstan, participation in the rally provides an opportunity to present itself on the international stage, showcasing its unique natural landscapes, rich historical past, distinctiveness, and tourism potential.
In Nukus, visitors can explore one of the world's famous avant-garde museums, see the path to the shrinking Aral Sea, and feel the expanse of the Karakalpak steppes. Nevertheless, the region is not yet among the main tourist destinations, as most tourists prefer to visit Samarkand, Bukhara, or Khiva.
