Long Before the Chinese Built the Great Wall of China, They Built a Shallow Ditch Across the Steppes of China and Mongolia

The Great Wall of China is unparalleled in terms of magnificence and popularity. Interestingly, though it is not the only system guarding China's frontiers, according to New Scientist. An even older structure, built between the 10th and 13th centuries, was supposedly raised by the country's authorities, which has recently been analyzed by experts. Findings regarding this monument have been published in the journal Antiquity.

This new system was built across the Eurasian steppes. The study indicates that the structure was either used to monitor the movement of people or to showcase strength by the authorities. This is in sharp contrast to the popular assertion of defense.

The formation is essentially composed of trenches, enclosures, and walls. As per estimates, it stretched around 4000 kilometers across the northern regions of Russia, China, and Mongolia. 

The structure is known as the Medieval Wall System (MWS), according to Gizmodo. This study focuses on a particular section of this MWS known as the Mongolian Arc. The site in Mongolia was estimated to be 252 miles long by researchers. While exploring the place, the experts came across a surprising development. 

The team was excavating one of the enclosures when they unexpectedly found a shallow ditch. Like the Great Wall of China, some researchers speculated that this structure had also been erected for defense purposes, but this finding challenges that belief. If the monument was put in place to ward off enemies, then it should have primarily contained thick stone walls. Instead, the presence of a ditch implies that it could have been used to move people to and from locations. In their analysis, researchers determined that the entire MWS was essentially a shallow ditch with a pile of earth.

The ditch was estimated to be around one meter deep and three meters wide, according to New Scientist. The earth was essentially accumulated on one side and created a wall that was about two meters tall. After every few kilometers in the setup, there was a stone enclosure in the system, as per the researchers.

Gideon Shelach-Lavi from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who was part of the study, claimed that the site and MWS as a whole weren't in the then-Chinese empire's natural geographic borders. This further backs up the theory that the MWS was not erected for defensive purposes. The team also believes that the features of the monument weren't likely to keep anybody away from entering the empire. 

The study claims that the ditch could have been utilized to guide civilians towards the gates, according to Gizmodo. Possible forts present near the barrier may have contained soldiers who could see people, animals, as well as goods moving in and out of MWS. Along with migration, experts also believe that MWS could have been a symbol of power for the Jin Dynasty. The team unearthed coins dating back to the Song Dynasty, a heated stone platform, and iron artifacts from the site. Experts also detected evidence that implied that a lot of investment had been made in the garrison’s walls in ancient times. This suggested that the place was occupied year-round, as well as the priority given by the concerned dynasties to civilian infrastructure. 

The finding was surprising because even in the present time, no agriculture takes place at the site, according to New Scientist. However, year-round occupation implies farming. This meant that there were distinct circumstances in play back then. Researchers are hopeful that more investigations will shed further light on life during medieval times.