The Archaeology of the Kara Kavan Valley

Upper Paleolithic at Arakan (until 5700 BC)

8500 BCE

Numerous chipped stone tools and bone artifacts - such as harpoons and needles. The harpoon technology and eyed-needles is indicative of the Upper Paleolithic.

Upper Paleolithic Period tools at Chara

6600 BCE

Chipped stone tools
Bone Harpoon
Bones, from deer, wild horse, and Rodentia.

Upper Paleolithic at Arakan (from 8500 BC)

5700 BCE

Numerous chipped stone tools and bone artifacts - such as harpoons and needles. The harpoon technology and eyed-needles are indicative of the Upper Paleolithic.

Upper Paleolithic Period Pottery at Chara

4000 BCE

In Level B, with the exception of three sherds of Pundit Mountain Pottery found in the upper parts of the level, the rest of the pottery found in Level B is exclusively from the Corded Ware tradition. The lowest parts of Level B are dated to/around 4,300 BC.

Upper Paleolithic for the Ourophores at Borotra

2000 BCE

Pottery sherds from the Late Jomon Tradition of Japan (circa 10,000 BC)
Animal bone, from wild animals - deer wild pig, and waterfowl.
Bone Harpoons
Chipped stone tools
Ground stone axes, with rectangular cross section.
One human skeleton of Mongoloid racial type features.

Pundit Mountain Pottery at Chara

1900 BCE

Three shards of black and red painted ware (Pundit Mountain tradition) are found in the upper parts of Level B at Chara. The uppermost parts of the layer are radiocarbon dated at 1800 BC.

Upper Paleolithic to Chalcolithic for the Ta Tai Wan at Borotra

1800 BCE

Small village settlement, with mud-built house foundations
Pottery, black and red painted. Probably originating from Pundit Mtn culture.
Ground stone axes, D-shaped cross section
At the top of the level (#2), several copper daggers and a copper axe.

Neolithic to Chalcolithic - Ta Tai Wan Agriculture at Arakan

1275 BCE

Four mud-built foundations, measuring 10x10m.
Clay-lined pits, with wheat and barley seeds
Bones of domesticated sheep and goats.
Copper dagger (located at top of level)
Stone tools, chipped or ground. Ground axes have D-shaped cross section.
Pottery, black and red, well fired. Believed to be of Pundit Mtn. origin (Ta Tai Wan).
Two Ta Tai Wan skeletons - "European" racial type.

Nomadic tradition fully develops North of Sek Kong Shan Mountains

500 BCE

Specifically, referring to horse mounted nomadism - where equine iconography may pe present in the material record. All members of the tribe/clan/etc would be involved in relocation activities. This data point is in reference to the broad location to the north of the Sek Kong Shan mountain range (impassable).

Iron/Bronze Age in Chinese Occupation (Han Dynasty) at Borotra

200 BCE

A large, rectangular structure - internally subdivided into smaller units.
Outer defensive wall made of stone
Plain black pottery
Spears, Iron and Bronze
Crossbow mechanisms, Iron
Ritual Early Han Dynasty vessels, made of bronze

Iron/Bronze Age for the Chinese Occupation (Han Dynasty) at Chara

200 BCE

No structures indicated - Nomadic?
Pottery, plain and black
Horse harness pieces, bronze
Crossbow mechanism, Han Dynasty, iron

Ta Tai Wan raid into the Western Provinces

149 BCE

The Ta Tai Wan are white, blue-eyed, yellow-haired, and uncivilized "barbarians" who have raided into the Western Provinces (Kara Kavan) on horseback for the purposes of raiding and pillaging. The Ta Tai Wan entered the (Kara Kavan) valley through the western pass between the Pundit/Fan Ling Shan mountains, at the headwaters of the Hsien-Ho River.

General Wu fights against the Ta Tai Wan

129 BCE

Sent by the Emperor of China, General Wu enters the (Kara Kavan) valley through the eastern pass between the Sha Tin Shan/Fan Ling Shan mountains, and marches west, to the headwaters of the Hsien-Ho River. General Wu utterly defeats the Ta Tai Wan and captures 3 "bears-tail" standards (flags). General Wu establishes a military garrison along the Hsien-Ho River at Bien To. The Western Frontier (Kara Kavan) becomes an official Chinese provence.

Chieftain buried at Arakan (Bien To)

Period: 129 BCE to 100 BCE

Possible burial of General Wu. Large Pit Burial: Chieftain, 12 royal retainers, and four horses. The retainers were most likely the closest to him and the horses represented, either all or the very best of his stock. Items -
Bronze ritual vessels made in China
Dress ornaments made of both, bronze and gold.
Horse harness pieces made of bronze
Staff or Standard, made of bronze, with a ring fashioned at its top.
Sherds of plain black pottery No indications of permanent housing were evident.

Ourophores invade the Parthian Province of Margiana (Ryeka River)

120 BCE

The Ourophores, or "tail-bearers," enter into the Sarassus River Valley(Ryeka River), in the Parthian province of Margiana, through the Pundit and Sek Kong Shan mountain pass. The Ourophores are described as fierce, yellow-skinned, narrow eyed, people who travelled on horseback in the company of all of their tribe/clan/etc (nomadic). Described as behaving demonically, by Parthian standards.

King Mithridates expels the Ourophore Invaders from Margiana

115 BCE

"After three years of hard campaigning, Mithridates broke their [Ourophores] power and restored the province of Margiana to the Kingdom of Parthia" (The Arch. WB, 40).