Ancient nomadic herders beat a path to the Silk Road

Seasonal migrations marked early steps in establishing cross-continental trade route

a Silk road caravanserai

INN CROWD  Highland herders in Asia forged high-altitude travel routes that became part of an ancient trade network known as the Silk Road, a new study concludes. This Silk Road caravanserai, or inn, near a simulated herder route sits at about 3,500 meters above sea level in Kyrgyzstan, near the Chinese border.

M. Frachetti

Nomadic herders took the ancient Silk Road to new heights.