The Great Wall of China is 300 years older than we thought
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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
A lunar eclipse steals the show in a colorful sky
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. In March, observers in Chile were treated to an especially spectacular sight, as the night sky lit up with orange and green hues. To top it off, the moon was in a full lunar eclipse. What is it? The two telescopes seen in this image are the U.S. Naval Observatory Deep South Telescope and the DIMM2 seeing monitor, both part of the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), a program of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) NOIRLab.. Both help survey the night skies and provide a place for astronomers in the southern hemisphere to study the stunning and surprising structures in space. Where is it? Both telescopes are located 310 miles (500 km) north of Santiago, Chile, at an altitude of 7,200 feet (2,200 meters). Why is it amazing? Lunar eclipses are captivating to watch, as Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow onto the surface of the moon. This only happens when the Earth, sun and moon are all perfectly aligned. According to NOIRLab, this alignment period was used by ancient astronomers as early as 600 BCE and called a "saros." The time between saros periods is around 18 years, 11 days, and 8 hours. To get the full detail of a lunar eclipse, it helps to have binoculars or a telescope. Astrophotographers looking to upgrade their stargazing gear to capture lunar eclipses, should read our guide to the best cameras for capturing the night sky in 2025. Want to learn more? You can read more about lunar eclipses and the telescopes in Chile as researchers continue to study our night skies. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Ancient donkey sacrifice ritual unearthed in Israel sheds light on Egyptian trade links
The donkeys, found buried under a Bronze Age house in ancient Gath, near Tell es-Safi, were determined to have originated from ancient Egypt. A team of archaeologists has made a groundbreaking discovery in Israel, uncovering the remains of four donkeys that were ritually sacrificed over 4,500 years ago. The donkeys, found buried under a Bronze Age house in ancient Gath, near Tell es-Safi, around 20 km. northwest of Hebron, were determined to have originated from ancient Egypt. According to a new study published in the journal PLOS One, the donkeys were likely used for agricultural labor and trade, and their sacrifice may have been a display of wealth and social status. The researchers found that the donkeys were all female, in their prime age, and had been buried with their legs tied together. The discovery of the donkeys' remains has shed new light on the ritual practices of the ancient Canaanites, who inhabited the region during the Early Bronze Age III (circa 2900 to 2550 BCE). The researchers believe that the donkeys' Egyptian origin may indicate that their owners were merchants and traders who had connections with Egypt. Donkey remains have been consistently found at ancient Gath. After finding a decapitated donkey in 2010, with its head having been 'fully cut off and carefully placed on the abdomen facing in the opposite direction' according to the study, researchers continued searching for other donkeys in the area. Using chemical analysis and testing isotopes and the donkey's tooth enamel, researchers determined the donkey was originally from the Nile Valley. These results were also published in PLOS One in 2016. Researchers added that the choice to sacrifice a donkey, rather than any other animal, at the time was likely a sign of power and wealth, based on the demand for the animal in such a critical transportation role. Donkeys and similar animals were used in the ancient world primarily for hard agricultural labor. This included, but was not limited to, plowing and pulling heavy loads, as well as transportation of goods. These donkeys were also female, which was particularly valuable, and were believed to be replaceable by the sacrificing parties, according to the recently published study. All of their skulls pointed eastward, and their front and back legs had been tied together. Finding the four sacrificial animals depicts the mules' vital roles in both ritual practices and the economy. 'This finding highlights the importance of donkeys in the ancient world, not only for economic and trade purposes but also for ritual practices,' Elizabeth Arnold, an anthropologist and environmental archaeologist at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, told LiveScience. The researchers used isotopic analysis to help determine the origin of the donkeys, and the results revealed that they had lived in the Nile Valley. This discovery suggests that the donkeys were brought to ancient Gath from Egypt, likely as part of a trade or economic exchange. The study's findings provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of ancient animals and their role in human society. As the researchers continue to study the remains of the donkeys, they hope to learn more about the complex relationships between humans and animals in the ancient world.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
Divers exploring ancient shipwreck find artifacts, retrieve wreckage
Divers exploring the centuries-old Antikythera wreck retrieved intact pieces of the ship and found artifacts that shed light on life aboard the craft. The Antikythera shipwreck dates back to the first century, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The wreck site is near Crete. The ship was a trading or cargo vessel. First discovered in the spring of 1900, it has been the subject of multiple investigations since then. Previously, divers found life-size marble statues of horses, jewelry and hundreds of works of art and other artifacts. Human remains were also found aboard the ship in the 1970s. The most recent expedition was led by the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece and took place between May and June 2025, according to a news release. One of the main goals of the expedition was to retrieve three outer planks joined to the ship's internal frame. This "rare set" of hull fragments was found in 2024, but could not be removed from the wreck until this dive, the school said. The recovery of the planks and frame confirm the construction method used to create the ship, and offers "valuable insight into ancient naval techniques," the school said. The wood itself appears to be elm and oak and may date back as far as 235 BCE, the school said. The construction method used, where the outer hull is built before the internal parts of the ship, dates to between the fourth and first century BCE. It's not clear if the pieces are from the ship's upper segment, a smaller vessel or a repair that may have been done. Researchers are studying the pieces to learn more about them, the school said. The divers also found small fragments of a nude male statue. The statue's marble base and part of the left leg was clearly identified. Other fragments are trapped within the wreck site and cannot currently be extracted, the school said. A terracotta mortar used for crushing and mixing food was also found in the wreck. Meanwhile, a number of Chian amphorae, a type of Ancient Greek jar used for storage and transport, were found "spread across two distinct zones of the wreck," the school said. The divers exploring the wreck had to take extra steps to ensure they could safely search the area, the school said. The wreck is about 140 to 170 feet below the surface, which is too deep for standard scuba diving but too shallow for remotely-operated vehicles, according to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The Swiss School of Archaeology divers used closed-circuit rebreathers with gas mixes to ensure they could safely explore the wreck. Underwater drones also monitored the dive in real-time. Sneak peek: Who Killed Aileen Seiden in Room 15? Everything we know so far about the deadly Texas floods Philadelphia nonprofit teaches kids how to ride horses and transforms lives
