GIS-Based Spatial Overlay Analysis of Jewelry Resource Distribution, Trade Routes, and Cultural Dissemination along the Silk Road

A groundbreaking analysis reveals that the value of jewelry, particularly gold and silver, was the key factor enabling its distribution across rugged and remote areas along the Silk Road. This study, using advanced GIS-based spatial overlay techniques, examined over 300 archaeological sites, digitized historical texts, and geological surveys to reconstruct supply chains for materials like Khotan nephrite jade, Afghan lapis lazuli, and Balti amber. The findings suggest a non-linear, nodal model of cultural exchange, where 'hub' cities acted as centers for blending Hellenistic-Persian-Chinese designs before disseminating them outward. This challenges traditional notions of linear cultural diffusion, instead proposing a 'radiation' effect from central nodes. The research bridges the gap between material distribution and human geography, offering new insights into the complex dynamics of trade and cultural synthesis along this historic route.

Wang, Y. (2025). GIS-Based Spatial Overlay Analysis of Jewelry Resource Distribution, Trade Routes, and Cultural Dissemination along the Silk Road. Advances in Social Science and Culture, 7(6), p108. https://doi.org/10.22158/assc.v7n6p108