As you read this story, you will learn the following:
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Archaeologists discovered a cannon while exploring the Jiankou section of the Great Wall of China.
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The cannon was found among a cache of additional weapons and was probably cast between 1368 and 1644 AD during the late Ming Dynasty
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The excavation section, consisting of three towers and connecting walls, uncovered further turquoise artifacts.
China’s famous Great Wall outside Beijing continues to reveal secrets of Chinese people’s past lives. A recent archaeological excavation has revealed the latest results of this rich history, including a Ming Dynasty-era cannon. This powerful weapon demonstrates the military focus of the Great Wall while also providing insight into how ancient Chinese and Europeans exchanged military knowledge.
The brick-by-brick restoration of the wall provided the opportunity to excavate the Jiankou section, which stretches across the mountains near Beijing. Archaeologists have excavated three watchtowers and connecting city walls, all of which preserve remnants of China’s military past and daily life.
Shang Heng, an associate researcher at the Beijing Institute of Archeology, said the most obvious discovery was a Ming Dynasty-era cannon, possibly from 1632. Shang Heng said the well-preserved inscriptions on the cannon provide experts with the opportunity to study the manufacturing and military technology of the time.
This 35-inch, 247-pound cannon is engraved with the words “The Fifth Year of Chongzhen,” which we now know as 1632 AD. The cannon also has similarities to European-style redcoat cannons, including the size of the barrel. The cannon was mounted within a battery platform in the wall, suggesting that its style and size of weapon were likely standard armament found on top of watchtowers.
“This provides important physical evidence for the exchange of military technology between China and the West,” Heng reportedly said. global times.
In addition to the cannons, staff also discovered storerooms used by troops stationed on the walls, including a heated brick bed and stove in Watchtower 118, showing how the soldiers lived. Watchtower No. 117 houses an immigration monument dating to 1573 AD, giving the date of the construction of this section.
Three different individual bricks provide additional information. Two bricks bear inscriptions indicating weight specifications, upending previous ideas about how Ming Dynasty brick kilns operated. Research into lime mortars showed that a mixture of high magnesium lime and plant fibers aided in bonding, further defining Ming dynasty construction techniques.
The inscription on the third brick is less about construction techniques than about living conditions. This sentence is translated as “Nothing but drink and worry; three years of labor has turned my hair white” and was probably inscribed by the wall builder.
“These discoveries transform the Great Wall from a cold military structure into a vivid historical landscape that integrates defense, cultural exchange and daily life,” Heng said.
Researchers have discovered a vast array of crops and medicinal plants that reflect everything from diet to medical knowledge at the time. Investigation of the animal bones highlighted the presence of both domesticated and wild animals at the site, including evidence of butchered animals.
These excavations provided more than just weapons and other necessities of military life. According to the agency, staff discovered 28 turquoise artifacts People’s Daily. In-depth investigation of the fragments revealed that they came from mines near Hubei, Henan and Shaanxi provinces, providing further evidence of trading practices in northern China.
Inside one of the world’s most famous fortifications there are remnants of life long ago, and further excavation may provide more insights. “The landscape and geography of the Great Wall have remained virtually unchanged,” Heng said, “which makes it ideal for time-travel-style restoration studies.”
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