Xinjiang's sands reveal fascinating finds

Millet is widely believed to have been first cultivated in northern China, whereas wheat is thought to have originated in the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East. In the past, the Altay Mountains were a crucial passageway for cultural transmission across Eurasia and a key node of cultural exchanges.

Remains of millet, barley and wheat have also been uncovered at the Tongtiandong archaeological site in Jeminay county, Altay prefecture. Human settlements at this group of granite caves began some 45,000 years ago and lasted until the early Iron Age.

The January event revealed that among the carbonized grains discovered, the oldest millet and barley dates back around 4,500 years, while wheat appears to date to around 3,500 years ago, which differs from previous results.

Experts are calling for more attention to the study of the route through which millet was introduced from northern China to the Altay Mountains region.

In Xinjiang, urban archaeology has been a focus over the past year, along with the study of religious relics, given that historically, it was a region where different religions interacted and coexisted.

The Wushituer ruins in Kuqa city, Aksu, are of an ancient city that served a military function and was engaged in border trade. Its major remains date from the Wei (220-265) and Jin (265-420) dynasties to the Tang Dynasty (618-907).