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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.
The Independent
21-02-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Great Wall of China may be centuries older than previously thought
Archaeological excavations in eastern China 's Shandong province suggest that some of the oldest sections of the Great Wall were built 300 years earlier than previously thought. Recent digs in the Changqing area show that the engineering marvel wasn't a single construction project, but a series of fortifications built during multiple dynasties. The Great Wall was built to secure ancient China 's northern borders against nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe. Historical records suggest the construction of the Unesco World Heritage monument spanned centuries. However, extant documentation of the wall lacks details that could reveal its true origins. It was believed that the largest portions of the first walls were constructed around the 7th century BC and joined together under the Qin dynasty around the third century BC. However, new excavations undertaken last year and covering over 1,000 square meters found sections of the wall dating back to the late Western Zhou Dynasty, which ruled from 1046BC to 771BC, and to the early Spring and Autumn Period of 770-476BC. The findings shed light on advanced engineering of the ancient Chinese to expand the wall to about 30 meters at the peak of Qi State likely during the Warring States Period. Some ancient texts suggest that sections of the wall went through many phases of development, use, sometimes collapse and abandonment, and attempts at restoration. Researchers reportedly used a multidisciplinary approach to date these sections of the wall, including analysis of traditional artefacts collected at the site as well as specimens of plant remains and animal bones. Archaeologists found buried sections of roads, house foundations, trenches, ash pits, and walls at the site, Zhang Su, the project leader from the Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, told Global Times. One particularly well-preserved section was built during the Warring States Period from 475BC to 221 BC and is the best preserved, researchers said. This section is the 'earliest known Great Wall in China', said Liu Zheng, a member of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics. The latest research also establishes the proximity of the Great Wall of this time to the ancient Pingyin city mentioned in historical texts, suggesting the wall was not just a fortification against invasion but also served a strategic role in controlling trade and transportation.
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.
