Cheers Hamish

Though I feel more puzzled, if anything. Concentric rings of posts around the 'tomb' of six males. All the others seem to be buried in graves. Some later accounts of 'dolmens'/'stone images', but most early accounts have no mention of them. Mair's rock pictures are referred to here:

http://www.centralasiatraveler.com/cn/xj/cq/cherchen-qiemo.html#rockcarvings

And for an overview:

http://www.centralasiatraveler.com/cn/xj/cq/zaghunluq.html

The political situation seems, or was, messy. An ethnic separatist movement in the region adopted the 'Loulan beauty' and the other mummies as emblems of their non-Chinese background and their ancient link to the land. Although their origins may well lie more in the group that was shaking hands with the not-yet-mummies in the feelgood ending to the film. Whatever. There's apparently oil aplenty under the desert and the government needs things kept harmonious.

The lack of pictures of the carvings(?) may just be due to no-one having photographed them. I don't know. They seem to be some distance away and a guide is needed. Mallory and Mair's book may have an answer or two, I think.