Some Essays on Tarim Mummies #2

The Tarim Mummies Should Be Announced Globally: Right To Know The Truth

The discovery of the Tarim Mummies shocked the archaeologists, journalists and politicians throughout the world. This discovery meant that the Chinese historians had got their history all wrong (Mallory-Mair 7). The recent findings showed that an European-like community, despite previous history knowledge lived in the heart of the Central Asia. Because, the Chinese had a reputation for being a unique civilization, these discoveries caused discomfort among the Chinese authorities. As a result, they decided to keep this as a secret. This paper will argue that the discovery of Tarim Mummies should be announced globally. To prove this point, four different arguments will be given and argued from different perspectives.

To start with, there is not a certainty about the ethnicity of the mummies found. They are older than the “indigenous people-Uighurs” (Mallory-Mair 7).  Thus, they might be the ancestors of Uighurs. It is nearly certain that they are not Chinese, as their physical attributes resemble Europeans much more. However, all of these are just theories and there is a possibility that both of them are wrong. To find a definite answer, detailed and scientific investigations should be held. This can only be achieved via international acknowledgement and international scientific groups. If these investigations are held privately, there is a high chance that the Chinese government will manipulate the reality. As a result, some of the findings can “mysteriously” vanish and damage the credibility of these mummies.

Secondly, if globally announced the Chinese people will have a better understanding of their culture and history. Some old Chinese books described figures of people who were just like Europeans (Ellen O’Brien 3). The Chinese scholars have rejected these claims, but recent evidence has shown the opposite. The Tarim Mummies strengthen the claims of the old Chinese books. As a result, even if the announcement of the discoveries damage the “unique Chinese culture” notion, on universal terms these discoveries would cause prominent changes in both archaic and contemporary world history (O’Brien 2).

Thirdly, if globally announced these mummies with proper advertisement can generate much needed money for the region. This way the economic and social development of the area can be accelerated. Even though this might sound risky for the Chinese authorities, as the economic and social development will be done in the area where the indigenous people are revolting, the process can result in an everlasting peace. Because, economic development will bring money to the region and create a more wealthy Xinjiang. Also, by announcing the discoveries and acknowledging the mummies presence, the Chinese authorities would show their respect for the regions’ history and indigenous people. Thus, the number of people against the Chinese would diminish greatly in size among Uighurs, the international support for the Uighurs freedom movement would become weaker and the Uighurs’ human right violation and inequality claims would not gain mass support in the international media.

Lastly in a more global perspective-everyone has the right to know what is in their environment. Information, that is groundbreaking like this can not be hidden from the public for too long. If the international media finds out the truth before the Chinese announce the discovery globally, the reputation of the Chinese government-which is low enough-thanks to the persecution of Uighurs (Ablet Kamalov 41), would worsen. As a result, China can face sanctions in international scientific groups.

In conclusion, the discoveries in Xinjiang should be announced globally and should be shared with the rest of the world. The announcement, probably, would not be in favour of the Chinese but, secrecy and censorship are not effective ways to control information in the contemporary world. Thus, secrecy and censorship will only delay the inevitable, thus the faster the announcement the better.

Works Cited

Kamalov, Ablet. “Uighur Community in 1990s Central Asia: A Decade of Change.” Diaspora in

Central Asia and Caucasus. Ed. Touraj Atabaki and S. Mehendale. London/New York:

Routledge Curzon Press, 2004. 148-168. Print.

Mallory, J.P. and Victor H. Mair. The Tarim Mummies: Ancient China and the Mystery of the

Earliest Peoples from the West. London: Thames and Hudson. 7-8, 332. Print.

O’Brien, Ellen. “Mystery of the Mummies.” The Philadelphia Inquirer 12 Apr. 2006. Print.