A new exhibition exploring the vast network of the Silk Road trade routes opens at the British Museum in London this week.
Showcasing a range of artefacts including Indian garnets found in Suffolk, England to a small Buddha figurine retrieved in Sweden, "Silk Roads" focuses specifically on the period AD 500 to 1,000, amid the rise of empires and religions.
On display are Chinese ceramics, Byzantine jewelry and the earliest known group of chess pieces among other ancient items. "Silk Roads" opens to the public on Thursday, September 26, and runs until February.