The Silk Road was a historic trading network that linked East to West. But this trade network exchanged far more than objects, through this route came a trade of knowledge, culture and religion. One of its most important stopping points was the Chinese city of Dunhuang. This centre held an important secret until the 20th century…in 1900 Wang Yuanlu discovered a hidden set of caves that were filled with documents, paintings and artefacts that were over a thousand years old.

Dr Eleanor Janega visits a fascinating new exhibition at the British Library to explore some highlights of 40,000 treasures that lay inside the secret cave complex at Dunhaung.

The documents, paintings and sculptures reveal the vibrancy of Dunhuang as a settlement at the centre of politics, diplomacy, literature, medicine, astronomy, religious studies and art.

Eleanor with the guidance of Curator Melodie investigates some of the cave's biggest archeological finds, including the intricate Diamond Sutra, one of the first printed books ever.

Loved this and want to find out more? Check out Eleanor’s podcast all about the exhibition: ‘The Silk Road: Where Cultures Collided’ on Gone Medieval - https://shows.acast.com/gone-medieval/episodes/the-silk-road-where-cultures-collided

Visit the exhibition - A Silk Road Oasis: Life in Ancient Dunhuang at the British Library, 27 September 2024 –23 February 2025 - https://silkroad.seetickets.com/timeslots/filter/a-silk-road-oasis-life-in-ancient-dunhuang