UNEARTHING AN ELUSIVE EMPIRE.

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a medieval dynasty, the Liao Empire, that ruled Central Asia from 907 to 1125. The empire, founded by Abaoji, united nomadic Khitan tribes and expanded across northern Asia. After the fall of the Liao Empire, a new empire, the Qara Khitai, emerged under the leadership of Dashi, ruling over a diverse population until being conquered by Genghis Khan in 1218. Recent archaeological findings in Kyrgyzstan suggest the presence of a high-status couple associated with the Qara Khitai, shedding light on the empire's burial practices and cultural influences. [Extracted from the article]