Latest news with #SpringandAutumnPeriod
Iraqi News
23-02-2025
- Science
- Iraqi News
Archaeologists reveal Great Wall of China could be hundreds of years older than previously thought
Archaeological excavations in eastern China have revealed that parts of the Great Wall are much older than first thought. In fact, recent research has proved that the wall is approximately 300 years older than previously estimated - dating back to the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771BC). The discovery in Shandong province has shown that the Unesco World Heritage site was not a single construction project, but rather a series of fortifications built across multiple dynasties. Until now, it was believed the first major walls were built around the 7th century BC. New excavations covering over 1,000 square metres have unearthed sections of the wall dating to both the Western Zhou Dynasty and the early Spring and Autumn Period of 770-476BC. Researchers employed a multidisciplinary approach to date these sections, analysing traditional artefacts alongside plant remains and animal bones found at the site. The findings revealed how ancient Chinese engineers expanded the wall to approximately 30 metres at the peak of Qi State during the Warring States Period. Ancient texts indicate the wall underwent multiple phases of development, including periods of collapse, abandonment and restoration. A particularly well-preserved section of the wall - built during the Warring States Period (475 BC to 221 BC) - has emerged as the most significant find at the site. "This section is the earliest known Great Wall in China," said Liu Zheng, who is a member of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics. Archaeologists have also managed to uncover a wealth of historical structures at the excavation site in Shandong province. "We found buried sections of roads, house foundations, trenches, ash pits, and walls at the site," said Zhang Su, project leader from the Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. The latest research has established that the Great Wall's sections near the ancient city of Pingyin served purposes beyond military defence. The proximity to this historically documented settlement has led experts to believe that the wall played a strategic role in controlling trade routes and transport networks.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Great Wall of China is 300 years older than we thought
The Great Wall of China wasn't a single construction project, but rather a series of defensive and border fortifications linked over hundreds of years under the direction of multiple royal dynasties. Recent archeological discoveries in the nation's Shandong Province, however, have pushed back the engineering marvel's start date by around 300 years. The excavation project took place between May and December 2024, and encompassed roughly 1,100 square meters (0.68 square miles) in Guangli, a village located in the Changqing district of Jinan. Using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) along with carbon dating, researchers analyzed traditional artifacts as well as plant silica and animal bones to better understand the scope of the Great Wall section's construction and what life was like at the time. Archeological finds included roads, residential foundations, trenches, rammed-earth structures, sloping banks, ash pits, and building walls erected during various stages of development. Zhang Su, project leader from the Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, explained in a statement that the site appears to be divided into three phases. The first two are earlier endeavors, with 10-meter-wide walls possibly dating as far back as the Zhou Dynasty during the Spring and Autumn Period (1046-256 BCE). A third section built at the Qi dynasty's apex during the Warring States Period (475-221 BCE) is the best preserved, and highlights how more advanced engineering strategies allowed workers to expand walls as wide as 30 meters. Speaking with the Global Times earlier this week, Chinese Society of Cultural Relics member Liu Zheng described the discovery as 'the earliest known Great Wall in China.' Archeologists also found valuable information beneath the Great Wall itself—two residences from the Zhou Dynasty at the northern excavation area. Featuring square foundations and rounded corners, the remains are consistent with semi-subterranean homes of the time period, and imply the region likely featured a tiny settlement prior to construction efforts, possibly related to defensive river positions. Finally, the project also matched evidence 1.5 km north of the Great Wall to Pingyin City, a community mentioned in many ancient historical texts. 'The layout, location, and associated infrastructure of the Great Wall of Qi reflect the advanced military planning and strategic responses of the Qi State to external threats,' Zhang explained, adding that 'Its close connection to Pingyin indicates that the wall served not only as a defensive structure but also played a strategic role in controlling key transportation routes.'
Euronews
19-02-2025
- Science
- Euronews
Archaeologists discover oldest section of China's Great Wall, dating back nearly 3,000 years
Archaeologists have discovered what is believed to be the oldest known section of the Great Wall of China, stretching its origins back some 300 years earlier than previously thought. The remarkable find, located in Changqing District, Jinan, Shandong Province, dates to the late Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BCE–771 BCE) and the early Spring and Autumn Period (770 BCE–476 BCE). According to 'Archaeology News', the excavation, conducted by the Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology between May and December 2024, covered around 1,100 square metres in the northern part of Guangli Village. This marks the first full-scale dig of the Qi Great Wall after years of prior surveys. The Qi Great Wall, a precursor to the famous Ming Dynasty wall, was built by the State of Qi during the Warring States period (475–221 BCE). Predating the Ming Wall by more than a millennium, it spans over 600 kilometres across Shandong and was constructed to protect the state from invasions, particularly from the State of Chu. The research team, using a mix of traditional artefact analysis and cutting-edge methods like optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and carbon-14 dating, uncovered evidence of advanced engineering techniques. Constructed from rammed earth, stone, and other materials, the wall showcases the military ingenuity of the Qi state long before China's unification under the Qin Dynasty. The team also identified the ancient settlement of Pingyin City, located about 1.5 kilometres north of the Qi Great Wall. Historical texts, such as the 'Zuo Zhuan and Water Classic Commentary', describe Pingyin as a crucial stronghold of the Qi State. The city played a key role in safeguarding transportation routes and ensuring border security.
