– Archaeologists discovered a tomb from the 8th century Tang Dynasty in Taiyuan, China during road reconstruction work.
– The tomb walls are decorated with painted murals depicting daily life. There are 8 scenes showing activities like grinding flour and fetching water.
– Interestingly, one mural shows a figure of a blond-haired, bearded man in western dress, unlike the other Han Chinese figures.
– Experts believe this figure represents a Sogdian trader from Central Asia, indicating contact and cultural influence along the Silk Road trading route.
– The level of detail in the paintings provides insights into the lives and tasks of ordinary people during the Tang Dynasty over 1200 years ago.
– The discovery of the foreign figure among the murals demonstrates cultural exchange and diversity in ancient China through traders along the Silk Road. It was an uncommon finding that suggests contact and influence from Central Asian cultures.
Source: Popular Mechanics
