Mazar Tagh

Discovering the Mysteries of Mazar Tagh

Mazar Tagh, a ruined hill fort, sits in the middle of the Taklamakan Desert. Dating back to the Tibetan Empire, this site has revealed many secrets. Excavations here have unearthed hundreds of military documents from the 8th and 9th centuries. These documents are some of the earliest surviving Tibetan manuscripts. They provide crucial insights into Tibet’s early history. This historic site is located north of Hotan in China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region.

Mazar Tagh in Ancient Times

In the first millennium AD, Mazar Tagh was part of the Kingdom of Khotan. Before the Tibetan army built a fort there, it was likely a Buddhist pilgrimage site known as “the Hill.” During the Tibetan Empire, Mazar Tagh served as a key military outpost for the Khotan region. It played a role similar to the fort at Miran. Soldiers, their families, civilian officials, and merchants all lived there.

A Shrine on the Hill

When Aurel Stein visited Mazar Tagh in 1907, he noted an Islamic shrine on the hill. The Turkic name “Mazar Tagh” means “Hill of the Sacred Shrine.” Even today, a functioning Islamic shrine remains on the hill.

Archaeological Discoveries at Mazar Tagh

Aurel Stein excavated Mazar Tagh during his second Central Asian expedition in 1907 and his third expedition in 1913. The fort had five rooms and a watchtower, which still stands partially. Stein found a large refuse heap on the north and northeast slopes of the hill. This heap contained hundreds of discarded Tibetan military documents on paper and wood.

A Treasure Trove of Documents

The British Library now holds 1,168 wooden documents and 321 paper documents from Mazar Tagh. These documents, marked with the pressmark IOL Tib N and Or.150000, came from both the fort and the refuse heap. Stein also found fragments of Khotanese, Uyghur, and Sogdian documents. Some Khotanese texts refer to the rule of the Tibetan “masters.”

Artifacts Unearthed

Stein’s excavations also uncovered various artifacts, though in smaller quantities. These included arrows, sheaths, shoes, dice, a comb, and a pen. These items are now housed in the British Museum under the pressmarks MAS.480 to MAS.509.

Mazar Tagh stands as a testament to the rich and diverse history of the region. Its discoveries continue to shed light on the early days of the Tibetan Empire and the lives of those who once called it home.

Sources:

Wikipedia