THE MUMMIES OF TAKLAMAKAN

The discovery of five remarkably well-preserved mummies in the immense sandy desert of Taklamakan take us on the trail of a two thousand year old story.

At the heart of the gigantic Tarim river basin (1200 km long and 600 wide), stretches the immense sandy desert of Taklamakan. For ten years a Franco-Chinese team has been excavating in this cold desert in search of buried cities. In October 2001, the expedition unearthed five remarkably well-preserved mummies. This quest for vanished cities takes us on a fabulous adventure, on the trail of a two thousand year old story, across the oases of the ancient Silk Road, a commercial caravan route along which Buddhism spread to China in the 1st century A.D.

Awards:

• Audience Award, KINEON Festival 2005, Brussels (Belgium)
• Great Prize, International Archaeology Film Festival 2005, Amiens (France)
• Great Prize, Cinarchea Festival 2004, Kiel (Germany)
• Special Jury Award, Ecrans de l'aventure 2003, Dijon (France)
• Second Prize, The Archaeology Film Festival 2003, Oregon, (USA)
• Audience Award, The Archaeology Film Festival 2003, Oregon, (USA)