Mysterious boat burial practices on the desert's edge: Study sheds light on ancient Xiaohe funerary rites

New Study Sheds Light on China’s Ancient Boat Burials

A boat-shaped wooden coffin from the Xiaohe culture, discovered in the Tarim Basin. Credit: Fan Zhang et al. / CC BY-SA 4.0 A new study by archaeologist Dr. Gino Caspari is offering fresh insights into one of China’s most mysterious ancient burial traditions – boat-shaped coffins buried deep in the desert sands of the Tarim Basin. The Xiaohe culture, which thrived between 1950 and 1400 BCE, is best known for its distinctive graves found in prese…

Mysterious boat burial practices on the desert's edge: Study sheds light on ancient Xiaohe funerary rites

The Bronze Age Xiaohe culture (ca. 1950–1400 BCE) is renowned for its distinctive funerary practices and exceptional organic preservation, largely due to its location in a hyperarid environment. Burials feature boat-shaped coffins, cattle remains, and paddle and mooring post-like grave markers.