The Great Mongolian Road: Japanese Imperial Army maps reveal first detailed documentation

In a study published in the Journal of Historical Geography, researchers Dr. Chris McCarthy and his colleagues have documented, for the first time, the Great Mongolian Road, a major yet understudied east-west caravan route across Inner Asia. The study utilized maps, called gaihōzu, produced by the Japanese Imperial Army between 1873 and 1945, combined with field verification across 1,200 km of southern Mongolia, to determine their accuracy and document the various support systems available to camel caravans and merchants, which are vital for successful navigation and survival in these harsh arid landscapes.