New isotopic analysis of metal artifacts and semi-precious stones has revealed a sophisticated Bronze Age trade network connecting the resource-rich Altai region of Central Asia to the urban centers of the Indus Valley. The study identifies specific mountain passes used by ancient caravans to transport tin—vital for bronze production—and high-quality turquoise.
This 'Tin and Turquoise' link suggests a much deeper economic integration between the nomadic cultures of the steppe and the sedentary Harappan civilization than previously understood. The research provides a new map of Eurasian connectivity that predates the formal Silk Road by over a millennium.