New Evidence for Irrigation Systems in Kashgar

The importance of Kashgar has been associated with its position on the Silk Road. It is located in a physical bottleneck between the Pamir Mountains to the south and the Tianshan Mountains to the north. It is very much a crossroads, with both northern and southern Silk Routes passing through, with historical evidence for destinations for the caravans that passed through to Central Asia, India, Pakistan, Persia, and China. Most importantly, it was an oasis in the midst of the vast desert of the Tarim Basin, with its irrigated fields producing a wealth of goods and livestock. The basis for that wealth, that agricultural wealth, and for all that made Kashgar important in trade and as a hub on the Silk Road, was the system of irrigation. This paper adds to our knowledge of that system by identifying previously unknown evidence for karez in Kashgar. While this is an important addition, it is only an initial investigation, and indicative of the value of the work which remains to be done. A more exhaustive analysis of satellite images is required, and fieldwork is needed to proof what is seen and provide further evidence for construction and chronology.