Niya Shape Layout

This thesis is an attempt of researching the structure and distribution of the remains in Niya Site, a very well-known archaeological site which is situated in the north of Minfeng and in the heart of Taklamakan Desert and had been first discovered by Sir M.A.Stein in 1901. We think that the question about the structure and distribution, also meaning the composition of archaeological site, a mon avis, is very important and consists of the base of studying an archaeological site. For the study of the Niya Site's structure and its remains' distribution, the remains of buildings and artifacts, which are the two essential factors forming a site and among which the dwellings and documents in Chinese and in Kharosthi are regarded as the main part of Niya Site, have been analysed. In the Introduction, we've made a summary about the discoveries and studies of Niya Site up-to-now and about the accounts in Chinese historical records about the 'Kingdom of Jingjue' (精绝城) during Han times, the 'Nina Town' (尼壤城) in Xuanzhuang's (玄奘) Da Tang Xi Yu Ji (the Western Regions in the Great Tang Empire's Age, 大唐西域记), and Cado'ta and Nina in Kharosthi documents. We've analysed the Xing (type, 型) and Shi (style, it) of main dwellings remains and their distribution and the way of composition with the other kinds of buildings' remains such as the Buddhist temples and stupa, graveyards, manufactories, etc.. We've also analysed the artifacts, mainly the documents in Chinese and in Kharosthi, their changes on the distribution with the dwellings are very regular. The state of administrative areas of Cado'ta Raja and its subordinate avanas, Peta, Yave, Ajiyama, has been restored by us in Chapter 3 by studying the contents of Kharosthi documents and their corresponding remains have been also analysed. The date of the Site and its seven remains' areas has been discussed by analysing the datas of I4C dating materials and chronological documents discovered from various dwellings' remains.