The Tocharians were the Tocharian-speaking inhabitants of the Tarim basin, making them the easternmost speakers of an Indo-European language in antiquity.
There is evidence both from the mummies and Chinese writings that some of them had "western" physical features such as blonde or red hair and blue eyes, characteristics also found most notably in modern day Iran.
One of the most famous Tocharian mummies found, the so-called "Beauty of Loulan"; and right, her face as reconstructed by an artist.
“Beauty of Loulan” The oldest mummies found in the Tarim Basin come from Loulan located at the east end of the egg shaped Taklamakan Desert. Dressed only in shades of brown, she was alive as early as 2000 B.C. during the era of Abraham and the patriarchs. She died when she was about 40. Next to her head there is a basket which contains grains of wheat.
A Tocharian female mummy with long flaxen blond hair, perfectly preserved in ponytails. Items of weaved material, identical to Celtic cloth, definitively proved the Indo-European origins of the Tocharians, who not only built the fantastic Silk Road cities which today lie deserted, but who are also credited with bringing Buddhism, horses, the saddle, and iron working to China. This mummy was approximately 40-years old, was found in the main chamber of the same tomb. Her tall stature, high nose, and red hair indicate that she was of Indo-European descent.
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Red Persian
I've heard of this before, it's interesting but sad at the same time. There are so many things left out of common knowledge these days, such as this. Only the lucky or astute could ever find out about this, a shame really. The same goes for the European skeleten in North America, the Kennewick Man? I often wonder why people stifle these facts....
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Yea, redheads are the best.
I'm always interested in the origins of red hair. It is always an elusive question with many cultures having some recessive genes and none really having a predominant red hedd gene. People generally think of Scotland and Ireland as having a lot of red hair, but even at these locations it is the minority.
