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woodslip

IOL Khot W 22

ink on wood

Overview

show / hide Overview

Title

Small Khotanese manuscript fragment from a wooden tablet

Find site

Mazar Tagh

Measurement

height 7 centimetres, width 4 centimetres

Material

ink on wood

Language / script

Khotanese (lang.)

Description

Scope and content : Small Khotanese manuscript fragment from a wooden tablet

Institution

British Library

Date

undated

Provenance

Stein 1906-8

Find site identifier

MazTa.

Stein site number

M.Tagh.ii.004

Find site description

The Tibetan army built this fort when they occupied the area in the mid-8th century AD. On top of a hill overlooking the Khotan River in otherwise flat land it is in a excellent strategic position, controlling the route from Khotan to the south to the kingdoms of the northern Tarim. Many of the Tibetan woodslips and other items which survived from Tibetan times were discovered among the piles of rubbish from the stable block which still cover the slope below the fort. There is a small shrine next to the fort, hence the name Mazar-tagh or 'Hill of the shrine'.

Short description : A military fort from the Tibetan period.

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