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Nomadic ecology shaped the highland geography of Asia’s Silk Roads

Author

Listed:
  • Michael D. Frachetti

    (SAIE Laboratory, Washington University in St. Louis)

  • C. Evan Smith

    (SAIE Laboratory, Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Cynthia M. Traub

    (University Libraries, Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Tim Williams

    (Institute of Archaeology, University College London)

Abstract

There are many unanswered questions about the evolution of the ancient ‘Silk Roads’ across Asia. This is especially the case in their mountainous stretches, where harsh terrain is seen as an impediment to travel. Considering the ecology and mobility of inner Asian mountain pastoralists, we use ‘flow accumulation’ modelling to calculate the annual routes of nomadic societies (from 750 m to 4,000 m elevation). Aggregating 500 iterations of the model reveals a high-resolution flow network that simulates how centuries of seasonal nomadic herding could shape discrete routes of connectivity across the mountains of Asia. We then compare the locations of known high-elevation Silk Road sites with the geography of these optimized herding flows, and find a significant correspondence in mountainous regions. Thus, we argue that highland Silk Road networks (from 750 m to 4,000 m) emerged slowly in relation to long-established mobility patterns of nomadic herders in the mountains of inner Asia.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael D. Frachetti & C. Evan Smith & Cynthia M. Traub & Tim Williams, 2017. "Nomadic ecology shaped the highland geography of Asia’s Silk Roads," Nature, Nature, vol. 543(7644), pages 193-198, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:543:y:2017:i:7644:d:10.1038_nature21696
    DOI: 10.1038/nature21696
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    Cited by:

    1. Jintao Zhang & Fang Wang, 2019. "Regional Temperature Response in Central Asia to National Committed Emission Reductions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Marcella Festa & Francesca Monteith, 2022. "Between Plain and Plateau: Micro-Transitions in Zooarchaeological Landscapes in the Guanzhong Region of Northwest China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-27, August.
    3. Liu Yang & Yishi Yang & Shanjia Zhang & Haiming Li & Huihui Cao & Yifu Cui & Fengwen Liu & Minmin Ma, 2023. "Asynchronous Transformation of Cropping Patterns from 5800–2200 cal BP on the Southern Loess Plateau, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
    4. Claudia Chang & Sergei S. Ivanov & Perry A. Tourtellotte & Robert N. Spengler & Basira Mir-Makhamad & David Kramar, 2022. "Ancient Agricultural and Pastoral Landscapes on the South Side of Lake Issyk-Kul: Long-Term Diachronic Analysis of Changing Patterns of Land Use, Climate Change, and Ritual Use in the Juuku and Kizil ," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-24, June.
    5. Paik, Christopher & Shahi, Keshar, 2023. "Ancient nomadic corridors and long-run development in the highlands of Asia," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    6. Wenyu Wei & Zhilin Shi & Yongxiu Lu & Linyao Du & Junmin Zhang & Guomu Zheng & Minmin Ma, 2024. "Alteration in Plant-Based Subsistence and Its Influencing Factors from Late Neolithic to Historical Periods in Hexi Corridor, Northwestern China: Archaeobotanical Evidence," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, March.

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