German Turfan expeditions

Turfanexpedition: There was 1902-1914 four German expeditions to Turfan, which were by the then Director of the Indian section of the Museum of Ethnology in Berlin, Albert Grünwedel, initiated and organized together with the Turcologists Albert von Le Coq. Both brought thousands of remains of paintings and other art objects, and a total of more than 40,000 text fragments to Berlin.

In 1902, the first research team to Turfan and returned a year later returned with 46 crates full of treasures. Kaiser Wilhelm II was inspired and financed the second expedition; the third was financed by the aid of the Ministry of Culture.

Le Coq was also a fresco of the religious founder Mani from the 9th century, which shows him in the circle of his disciples. He carved the image of the wall and let it bring to Germany. During World War II it was destroyed. Today, there are most of the archaeological objects in either Berlin ( Museum of Indian Art in Berlin Dahlem ) or Delhi.

The museum staff Theodor Bartus, who was also responsible for the detachment of wall paintings, accompanied all four expeditions. Stations of the various German Turfan expeditions were ( in old spelling ), among others, the towns of Andijan, Kashgar, Maralbashi, Tumschuk, Ak -su, Kyzyl, Kumtura, Kucha, Sim -sim, Kirish, Schortschuk, Karashahr, Toksun, Turfan, Chotscho, Murtuk, Sangim, Toyokuni, Komul, Urumchi and Kuldja.

Example exhibits

Fresco from the 9th century, found from the second expedition

Silk painting " Angry Arhat " found by the second expedition