The Water Landscape of Murtuq an Analysis and Interpretation Through Landscape Studies
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Photo credit: Jean Bourgeois The Water Landscape of Murtuq An Analysis and Interpretation through Landscape Studies Sophie Barbaix Prof. Dr. Jean Bourgeois Prof. Dr. Philippe De Maeyer Master Archaeology 2017-2018 Academic year 2017–2018 The Water Landscape of Murtuq An Analysis and Interpretation through Landscape Studies Word count: 29,041 Sophie Barbaix Student number: 01402409 Supervisor(s): Prof. Dr. Jean Bourgeois, Prof. Dr. Philippe De Maeyer A dissertation submitted to Ghent University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Archaeology Academic year: 2017 – 2018 Copyright © 2018 The author and the supervisor(s) give the permission to make this study accessible for consultation for personal use. All other uses fall under the limitations of the copyright, especially with regard to the obligation to explicitly mention the source when citing data from this study. The copyright with regard to the data mentioned in this study rests with the supervisor(s). The copyright is limited to the manner in which the author handled and described the problem. The author thereby respects the original copyright of each individually cited study and any potential accompanying documentation, such as tables and figures. Acknowledgments I have to thank many people who helped in the making of this paper. Prof. Jean Bourgeois (Ghent University) has given invaluable support both on the field as well as a supervisor. Prof. Philippe De Maeyer and the China Platform from Ghent University should also be thanked. Birger Stichelbaut’s help with the satellite imagery was very welcome (Ghent University). Alishir Kurban (Xinjiang Institute for Ecology and Geography) his efforts during the stay in China and his support afterwards were also much appreciated. Osmanjan Imindaz and Iminjan Sirajidin from Turpan Heritage should also be mentioned. Ailijiang Aisha (Archaeology Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Science) was kind enough to be the guide in the Xinjiang Regional Museum in Urumqi. Haiwan Lee and Muhammed Yakup’s help during the fieldwork should not be forgotten as well as Kasim Abdul’s willingness to give an interview. Edward Weech (RAS), Dai Matsui (Osaka University) and Oogi Akira (Ryukoku University) are very appreciated for their mail communication. Lastly, my family, friends, fellow students and everyone who has backed and helped me throughout four years education should be thanked. I hope this paper does justice to all the given support. 5 Content The Water Landscape of Murtuq ....................................................................................................... 1 An Analysis and Interpretation through Landscape Studies .......................................................... 1 An Analysis and Interpretation through Landscape Studies .......................................................... 3 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................. 5 Terminology ..................................................................................................................................... 10 List of Figures .................................................................................................................................. 12 Abstracts .......................................................................................................................................... 19 English .......................................................................................................................................... 19 Nederlands .................................................................................................................................... 19 Introduction The Old Man and the Landscape ................................................................................ 20 The Landscape and Archaeology ................................................................................................. 20 A Communication barrier: The Translation Problem of Landscapes .......................................... 20 The Several Landscapes of Murtuq .............................................................................................. 21 Goals of this Research .................................................................................................................. 22 Chapter 1 A Concise History of the Region .................................................................................... 23 Chapter 2 The Curious Case of the Karez ....................................................................................... 28 Chapter 3 Methodology, Description and Interpretation ................................................................. 34 Pre-Field Analysis: Satellite Reconnaissance .............................................................................. 34 Field Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 34 Field Walking and Ground Truthing ............................................................................................ 34 Excel-inventory ........................................................................................................................ 36 Mapping ....................................................................................................................................... 37 Post-Field Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 37 Georectifying ................................................................................................................................ 37 6 Literary study ............................................................................................................................... 38 Other sources ................................................................................................................................ 38 Artefacts and mobile sources .................................................................................................... 38 Oral sources .............................................................................................................................. 39 Photographic Sources ............................................................................................................... 40 Cartography .............................................................................................................................. 42 Landscape Studies in Murtuq ....................................................................................................... 47 Description and First Analysis of the Site ................................................................................ 47 Valley 1 of Murtuq ................................................................................................................... 52 Valley 2 of Murtuq ................................................................................................................... 57 Valley 4 of Murtuq ................................................................................................................... 63 Chapter 4 The Many Landscapes of Murtuq ................................................................................... 76 The Natural Landscape ................................................................................................................ 76 A Dynamic Valley Landscape .................................................................................................. 78 To Fill in the Blanks ................................................................................................................. 81 The Economic Landscape ............................................................................................................ 82 Agriculture in Murtuq ............................................................................................................... 83 Twentieth Century: the Rise of the Grapes .............................................................................. 84 The Religious Landscape ............................................................................................................. 86 Buddhism .................................................................................................................................. 86 Islam ......................................................................................................................................... 97 Shamanism and Animism ....................................................................................................... 101 Chapter 5 The Greater Perspective ................................................................................................ 103 The Mental Landscape ............................................................................................................... 103 The Karez in the Minds of the People .................................................................................... 103 7 Traditions correlated with Karez ............................................................................................ 103 Who was first: the Great Origin Debate ................................................................................. 106 The Function of Representation and Museums ...................................................................... 109 Chapter 6 A Multi-Temporal Analysis .........................................................................................