Israeli archaeologists have discovered hundreds of colorful fabrics 1,300 years old, imported through a „previously unknown silk road”, the University of Haifa (UH) announced, Xinhua reports, Agerpres reads.

Among the objects discovered are silks originating from China, as well as cotton fabrics imported from India, Iran and Sudan. These were found following excavations carried out in the Arava valley by UH researchers, together with the Israel Antiquities Authority and other universities.

„The findings indicate that there was a previously unknown Israeli Silk Road that branched off from the famous Silk Road network that connected ancient China to the rest of the world,” Guy Bar-Oz, UH archaeologist and head of the research, told Xinhua.

„At that time, there was a strong monopoly of Chinese silk throughout the world,” said the specialist, adding that, after molecular genetic analyzes to which the silk remains will be subjected, it will be possible to identify the species of silkworms and, through therefore, it will be possible to find out from which part of China the fabrics come.

The colors of the fabrics have been well preserved, they have various shades and shapes, from indigo blue and brown to red from the Rubia tinctorum plant, UH mentioned.

Some of the Indian cotton fabrics feature „ikat” patterns, where the warp is tied and dyed before the threads are woven into a pre-determined pattern. Other fabrics discovered were made by complex methods, still used today to make carpets in Iran and other Central Asian countries.

The researchers also found a wide range of other imported items, including leather belts, socks, shoe soles, combs, backgammon dice, hygiene products such as earplugs and bandages, and more. The abundance of these objects indicates the high demand for luxury products from the Far East, as well as the technological progress and „globalization” that influenced the Middle East, UH concluded.

Agerpres