Introduction: The Last Scythians: Inter-civilization Exchange on the Silk Road from an Ancient Khotanese Perspective

This introductory chapter examines the Scythians (Saka), a paramountly mobile nomadic group whose activities were pivotal to ancient exchange networks along the Silk Road. The discussion begins by delineating the discrepancies between Greek and Persian nomenclature before tracing their westward and eastward migrations into Central Asia and Xinjiang. The central focus then shifts to the Kingdom of Khotan, where linguistic archaeology provides conclusive confirmation of Saka descent. Specifically, the decipherment of the Khotanese language as an Eastern Iranian dialect established the direct ethnic lineage. Furthermore, archaeological evidence from sites such as Shanpula—notably textiles displaying griffin motifs and clear Hellenistic influences—visually substantiates this cultural synthesis and subsequent religious evolution. This evidence ultimately solidifies the historical placement of these “last Scythians” within the documented history of the Tarim Basin.