%XULDO 7UDGLWLRQV DW WKH &URVVURDGV ,QYHVWLJDWLQJ Evidence of Chinese Tang Dynasty in Chitral, Pakistan ACTA VIA SERICA 9RO  1R  'HFHPEHU  ² doi: 10.22679/avs.2024.9.2.002 © Academia Via Serica, Keimyung University, 2024 This paper presents the discovery and analysis of a possible Chinese burial *7*B LQ &KLWUDO 3DNLVWDQ GDWHG WR WKH PLGHLJKWK FHQWXU\ &( 7KH unique burial yields an assemblage of Tang dynasty coins, luxury goods, and cultural artifacts, revealing cultural and economic exchange between China and South Asia. The relatively high-status female burial challenges traditional assumptions about women’s roles and cultural dynamics in the region. The ÀQGLQJV SURYLGH QHZ LQVLJKWV LQWR DQFLHQW WUDGH QHWZRUNV UHOLJLRXV LGHRORJLHV cultural and human exchanges, and the region’s importance in the Silk Road. The burial’s combination of Chinese and local elements underscores the complexity of cultural dynamics, while the presence of cowrie shells, as currency, and other luxury goods highlights the region’s integration into the ancient global economy. 0XKDPPDG =$+,5 0XKDPPDG =$+,5 ]DKLU#XHHGXSN LV D SURIHVVRU RI $UFKDHRORJ\ DW WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI +LVWRU\ $UWV DQG &XOWXUDO +HULWDJH DW 8QLYHUVLW\ RI (GXFDWLRQ /DKRUH 3DNLVWDQ DQG DQ $GMXQFW 3URIHVVRU DW WKH $XVWUDOLDQ 5HVHDUFK &HQWHU IRU +XPDQ (YROXWLRQ DW *ULIÀWK 8QLYHUVLW\ $XVWUDOLD DQG D 'LVWLQJXLVKHG 3URIHVVRU DW WKH 7DL\XDQ 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 7HFKQRORJ\ 7DL\XDQ DQG 6X]KRX $UW DQG 'HVLJQ 7HFKQRORJ\ ,QVWLWXWH &KLQD DQG &RQIXFLXV 3URIHVVRU DW +HEHL $FDGHP\ RI )LQH $UWV &KLQD DQG D 0HPEHU RI =RR6WDQ $UFKDHR=RRORJLFDO &HQWHU IRU WKH 6WXG\ RI &HQWUDO $VLD RI &156 )UDQFH DQG $O)DUDEL .D]DNK 1DWLRQDO 8QLYHUVLW\ .D]DNKVWDQ  , ZRXOG OLNH WR H[SUHVV P\ GHHSHVW JUDWLWXGH WR 3URI 'U ,KVDQ $OL IRUPHU 9LFH &KDQFHOORU RI +D]DUD 8QLYHUVLW\ for his invaluable support and guidance during the research and excavations at Gankoreneotek, Chitral District. , DP SURIRXQGO\ JUDWHIXO WR WKH ODWH 'U 0DUN %ODFNEXUQ RI WKH )LW]ZLOOLDP 0XVHXP &DPEULGJH 8. IRU KLV initial analysis of the coins. Special thanks go to Dr. David Hartill, a leading authority on Chinese cast coins, for KLV DVVLVWDQFH DQG H[SHUWLVH /DVWO\ , ZRXOG OLNH WR H[WHQG P\ KHDUWIHOW WKDQNV WR WKH ODWH 3URI %ULDQ +HPSKLOO IRU KLV FRQWULEXWLRQV LQ WKH DQWKURSRORJLFDO LGHQWLÀFDWLRQ RI EXULHG LQGLYLGXDO 7KH ÀUVW EDWFK RI VWXGHQWV DW WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI &XOWXUDO +HULWDJH DQG 7RXULVP 0DQDJHPHQW DW +D]DUD 8QLYHUVLW\ 0DQVHKUD ZKR YROXQWDULO\ participated in the excavations, also deserve acknowledgment of their hard work. My gratitude is also due to the owner of the land, Mr. Muhammad Naeem and his family, for their support and hospitality. Mr. Muhammad 4DVLP 0U 0XKDPPDG +DVDQ 6KDPLU DQG 0U )D]DO 0XKDPPDG DOVR GHVHUYH P\ DSSUHFLDWLRQ IRU WKHLU KHOS