The Silk Roads in three objects

Video Description

Join a host of expert speakers as they tell the story of the Silk Roads through three exceptional objects. The Silk Roads were made up of overlapping networks linking communities across Asia, Africa and Europe, from East Asia to Britain, and from Scandinavia to Madagascar. The Silk Roads exhibition focuses on a defining period in their history, from about AD 500 to 1000, and offers a unique chance to see objects from the length and breadth of these magnificent networks. From Tang Chinese ceramics destined for ports in the Middle East to Indian garnets found in Suffolk, they reveal the astonishing reach of the Silk Roads. In this event, chaired by Prof Susan Whitfield, our speakers will focus on three star-objects, sharing the story of their journey and the people who crafted them, travelled with them and ultimately found value in their possession. Dr Sue Brunning FSA, one of the co-curators of the exhibition, will reveal the latest scientific analysis on a shoulder-clasp from the famous Sutton Hoo ship burial in Suffolk, England, which depicts two boars set with purple-red Indian garnets, their backs bristling with orange-red Czech and Sri Lankan gems. Associate Prof Dr Sven Kalmring tells the story of a figurine of the Buddha, made in what is now northwest Pakistan in the decades around AD 600, but found thousands of kilometres away on the tiny island of Helgö in eastern Sweden, where it had arrived by about AD 800. Mélodie Doumy discusses the plethora of manuscripts, documents and artworks that were found in the 'Library Cave' – a Buddhist cave complex near Dunhuang, China – and what they reveal about the people who lived and travelled the Silk Roads. This event is part of the public programme supporting the exhibition Silk Roads (open until 23 February). More information about the exhibition can be found here: https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/silk-roads Sign up to our newsletters for the latest news on our work, stories about the collection and upcoming events: https://emails.britishmuseum.org/k/British-Museum/sign_up_form_from_website_box We’re bringing inspiring stories of humanity’s shared histories and cultural achievements to millions of people online. Your support ensures that we can continue to make the collection and videos like this one available to as many people as possible. If you can, please donate today: http://ow.ly/1e1Y30qHebG or you can text BMLEARN to 70085. Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message (UK mobile networks only). Please see our social media code of conduct: http://ow.ly/HGiw30se20t Image: Copper alloy Buddha figurine, probably made in the Swat Valley, Pakistan, late AD 500s–mid-600s, excavated near buildings dating to about AD 800, Helgö, Sweden. Historiska Museet, Stockholm. 108115_HST. Photo © Myrin, Ola, Historiska museet/SHM, shared under a CC BY 4.0 license.