Dandan Oilik
Encyclopedia
Dandan Oilik is a deserted historical town and desert oasis
in the Taklamakan Desert of China
. Dandan Oilik was an important (though small) centre of local Buddhism
and trade on the Silk Road
. Its name means 'Houses of / with Ivory' and has been the site of a small number of significant archeological finds.
Having been many abandoned hundreds of years ago, the oasis was found and lost to shifting desert sands several times. Most recently, a German expedition led by Christoph Baumer
found the city based on the accounts of previous explorers such as Sir Aurel Stein, and uncovered relics dating to the 7th and 8th Century. They also marked its GPS position, and the city is now being studied by Chinese archeologists.
Oasis
In geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
in the Taklamakan Desert of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Dandan Oilik was an important (though small) centre of local Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and trade on the Silk Road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
. Its name means 'Houses of / with Ivory' and has been the site of a small number of significant archeological finds.
Having been many abandoned hundreds of years ago, the oasis was found and lost to shifting desert sands several times. Most recently, a German expedition led by Christoph Baumer
Christoph Baumer
Christoph Baumer is a Swiss scholar, explorer, photographer and author. From 1984 onwards, he has conducted explorations in Central Asia, China and Tibet, the results of which have been published in numerous books, scholarly publications and radio programs.- Life :Baumer grew up in the Swiss...
found the city based on the accounts of previous explorers such as Sir Aurel Stein, and uncovered relics dating to the 7th and 8th Century. They also marked its GPS position, and the city is now being studied by Chinese archeologists.