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Archaeologists exploring the Jiankou section of the Great Wall of China have discovered a large cannon.
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The cannon, found among a cache of additional weapons, was potentially cast in the late Ming Dynasty between 1368 and 1644 CE
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The excavation section, which consists of three towers and the connecting walls, revealed an additional grant of turquoise artifacts.
The famous Great Wall of China outside Beijing continues to reveal secrets of past Chinese life. The latest glimpse into that rich history, revealed by recent archaeological excavations, features a Ming Dynasty-era cannon. This formidable weapon demonstrates the military focus of the Great Wall while also offering insight into how ancient Chinese and Europeans traded military knowledge.
A brick-by-brick restoration of the wall offered an opportunity to excavate the Jiankou section, which stretches across a mountainous region near Beijing. Archaeologists excavated three watch towers and connecting walls, all of which held remnants of both military and everyday life from China’s past.
The most distinguished find, according to Shang Heng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Institute of Archaeology, was a Ming Dynasty era cannon probably from 1632. Heng said that a well-preserved inscription on the cannon provides an opportunity for experts to research the manufacturing and military technology of that time.
The 35-inch, 247-pound cannon bears the inscription “Chongzhen Year 5,” what we now call 1632 CE The cannon also bears similarities to European-style redcoat cannons, including the size of the barrel. The cannon fits into the battery platforms found on the wall, and shows a weapon of the style and size that was probably standard on watch towers.
“This provides crucial physical proof of a Chinese-Western military technology exchange,” Heng said, according to the Global Times.
Beyond the cannon, crews also uncovered storage rooms used by troops stationed on the wall, including a heated brick bed and stove in Watch Tower 118 that shows how soldiers lived. Watch Tower 117 contained an immigration monument dated to 1573 CE, which gives a construction date for that section.
Three different individual bricks offered additional information. Two bricks included inscriptions noting weight specifications, dispelling earlier beliefs about how Ming-era brick kiln operations took place. Investigations into lime mortar showed a mixture of high-magnesium lime with plant fibers to aid adhesion, further defining Ming-era construction techniques.
The third brick inscription was not so much about construction techniques but about living conditions. The words, translated as “nothing but alcohol or trouble; three years of work have turned my hair white,” were probably written by a wall builder.
“These findings transform the Great Wall from a cold military structure to a living historical landscape that integrates defense, cultural exchange and daily life,” Heng said.
Researchers have discovered many crops and medicinal plants, indicating everything from diets to medical knowledge of the time. The animal bone investigation highlighted both domestic and wild animals at the site, including evidence of animal slaughter.
The excavations have yielded more than just weapons and other staples of military life. Crews discovered 28 turquoise artifacts, according to the Everyday people. A deeper investigation into the pieces suggests that they originated from mines near the provinces of Hubei, Henan, and Shaanxi, further evidence in trade practices across northern China.
In one of the most famous fortifications in the world there were remains of lives lived long ago, and further excavations can offer even more knowledge. “The landscape and geography of the Great Wall has barely changed,” Heng said, “making it ideal for time-travel-style restoration research.”
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