Stein, (Mark) Aurel (1862–1943)

Hungarian-born British archaeologist and explorer. He travelled widely in the Middle and Far East. He conducted excavations in Khotan (now Hotan), on the northern edge of the Kunlunshan mountain range, and discovered the Cave of a Thousand Buddhas in western China.

Stein's journeys took him to Kashmir, central Asia, western China, Persia, Iraq, and Transjordan (now Jordan), and he executed projects for the Indian government in Chinese Turkestan and in Tibet 1900–15.

His publications include Chronicle of Kings of Kashmir translated from Sanskrit 1900, Ancient Khotan 1907, Ruins of Desert Cathay 1912, Serindia 1921, The Thousand Buddhas 1921, On Alexander's Track to the Indus 1929, Archaeological Reconnaissances in North-Western India and South-Eastern Iran 1937, and Old Routes of Western Iran 1940.