Niya ruins
Cadota 尼雅 | |
Textile from Niya, showing influences from the East and the West. | |
| Location | Xinjiang, China |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°01′17″N 82°44′15″E / 38.021400°N 82.737600°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Abandoned | 4th to 5th century |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | In ruins |
The Niya ruins (simplified Chinese: 尼雅遗址; traditional Chinese: 尼雅遺址; pinyin: Níyǎ Yízhǐ), is an archaeological site located about 115 km (71 mi) north of modern Niya Town on the southern edge of the Tarim Basin in modern-day Xinjiang, China. The ancient site was known in its native language as Caḍ́ota, and in Chinese during the Han dynasty as Jingjue (Chinese: 精絕; pinyin: Jīngjué, Old Chinese tseng-dzot, similar to Caḍ́ota). Numerous ancient archaeological artifacts have been uncovered at the site.
Niya was once a major commercial center on an oasis on the southern branch of the Silk Road in the southern Taklamakan Desert. During ancient times camel caravans would cut through, carrying goods from China to Central Asia.