Defense layout characteristics of Tang dynasty military sites in Aksu prefecture of China

Tang dynasty military sites (TDMSs) in Aksu prefecture are significant witnesses to Xinjiang’s history, and an essential part of Xinjiang’s military and the Silk Road cultural heritage. However, their exploration and preservation currently require further enhancement. In this study, by establishing a database of 164 existing TDMSs, visibility analysis tool was applied to hypothesize the locations of potentially lost sites, which were then used as the supplementary and corroborating data. Combining network analysis method, qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted on these sites. The results show: (1) TDMS in Aksu can be divided into three defense zones, each with different defense strategies. (2) The visibility network structure of each defense zone presented two types, namely simple linear network structure and complex large-scale structure. These findings reveal the overall defensive layout characteristics of the TDMS in Aksu, providing a positive basis for the protection of military heritage in Xinjiang.