Silk Road orientations in Xinjiang archaeology and shifting implications for Eurasian studies

A critical reassessment of the Silk Road's influence on Xinjiang archaeology reveals that its conceptualization, while dominant in Eurasian studies, is fraught with flawed presuppositions and entangled geopolitical baggage. This analysis challenges the prevailing narrative by exposing the term's biased presentist connotations, which obscure historical contexts. The study argues for alternative frameworks that resist totalizing narratives, emphasizing the need to disentangle archaeological history from a century-old chauvinistic geopolitics. It examines recent developments in Xinjiang archaeology, particularly those spurred by China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), highlighting how state objectives prioritize Chinese scientific and cultural infrastructure over Silk Road-centric approaches. The research navigates the complex layers of this discourse to advocate for a more nuanced understanding of cross-cultural contact in Eurasian history.

Chan, A. (2025). Silk Road orientations in Xinjiang archaeology and shifting implications for Eurasian studies. Modern Asian Studies, 59(1), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0026749x24000568