On October 22, experts and scholars from both China and abroad attending the Turpan International Academic Seminar visited the ruins of the Western Site of the Nestorian Church in Turpan to gain firsthand insights into the latest research developments and findings at the site.
At the archaeological work station in the Western Site of the Nestorian Church, Professor Liu Wensuo from Sun Yat-sen University, who leads the excavation project, said, “It is quite rare to find ancient Nestorian church ruins in such well-preserved condition, along with a plethora of literature. These discoveries not only illuminate the cultural significance of Nestorianism at the time but also provide invaluable physical evidence for studying cultural exchanges along the Silk Road.”
The excavation work at the Western Site of the Nestorian Church has reached a significant milestone, with most of the archaeological efforts nearing completion. It is expected that outdoor archaeological activities will wrap up by November, after which the focus will shift to indoor restoration and interpretation of documents and murals.
Professor Erica Hunter from the University of Cambridge’s Asia and Middle Eastern Studies faculty highly praised the ruins, noting that this site is the largest and best-preserved Nestorian site she has encountered. She expressed amazement at the completeness of the murals, fragments of documents, and the overall architecture and scale of the church.
