The Stein Collection - Place of origin: Loulan, China
(excavation) - Materials and Techniques: - Credit Line: Stein
Textile Loan Collection. On loan from the Government of India
and the Archaeological Survey of India. Copyright: Government of
India. - Museum number: - Gallery location: This irregularly-
shaped fragment of leather has an impressed circular shape which
reveals its last use as cover tied over a pot or similar. It was
recovered from the site of Loulan, which dates from the 3rd to
the 4th century AD. The site of Loulan is remarkable for the
carved wooden capitals, beams and balustrades that show clear
affinities with western Classical decoration that filtered
through Iran and Northwest India. The site is also part of an
area of Central Asia we now call the Silk Road, a series of
overland trade routes that crossed Asia from China to Europe.
The most notable item traded was silk. Camels and horses were
used as pack animals and merchants passed the goods from oasis
to oasis. The Silk Road was also imp