Blackwater City, looted by foreign explorers, is the key to solving the mystery of Western Xia
Hello everyone, welcome to Chen's History 1909. An exploration team entered a long-abandoned ancient city in western Inner Mongolia, China, which they later named Heichang in Mandarin Chinese, also known as Blackwater City. They excavated many artifacts throughout the city, possibly unaware that their excavation would uncover a mysterious dynasty that had been sealed for centuries. This was the team's second visit to the site, led by Russian explorer Kozlov. Supported by the Saudi government and the Russian Royal Geographic Society, they were led by a guide from local Mongolian King Ye. They unearthed ancient coins, artifacts, sculptures, and more, filling ten boxes with their findings. After shipping the artifacts back, they left for Qinghai Lake. Kozlov received high praise from the Russian Royal Geographic Society for their findings at Heichang, prompting them to conduct a more detailed excavation. After finishing their exploration of the Tibetan areas, they returned to Heichang for a second excavation. The scope and duration of the second excavation were larger, resulting in a greater number and value of artifacts discovered. A significant number of cultural relics were found, with over 2,000 books and manuscripts from the Western Xia Dynasty discovered in a pagoda just 500 meters west of the city. After the excavations, over 11,000 artifacts were collected, with some now housed in various Russian institutions. This discovery of the Western Xia artifacts led to the formation of the discipline of Western Xia studies and extensive research in Russia. The artifacts provided crucial information for understanding the history, language, art, and religion of the Western Xia Dynasty. As the artifacts were shared and researched, they shed light on the mysteries surrounding the Western Xia Dynasty. The destruction of the Western Xia remains by the Mongols and subsequent looting left many historical questions unanswered for centuries. Despite efforts to recover the artifacts, the publication of Western Xia texts in the 1990s allowed for further research by scholars. The publication of these texts opened up new avenues for research and understanding of the Western Xia Dynasty. Excavations at Heichang revealed a treasure trove of Western Xia-era documents and artifacts, offering insights into their culture and history. The deciphering of the Western Xia script and subsequent research helped researchers gain a deeper understanding of the Western Xia Dynasty. The artifacts unearthed at Heichang provided valuable information about the daily lives of the people living there, including household information, naming customs, and tax records. These discoveries offered a window into the unique societal practices of the Western Xia Dynasty, shedding light on their customs and way of life. Overall, the excavations at Heichang were instrumental in uncovering the mysteries of the Western Xia Dynasty and provided valuable insights into their history and culture.