a Team of scientists, made up of Israeli, Mongolian and American researchers, for the first time mapped the entire Northern part of the great wall of China, located in the Mongolian steppe. Its analysis showed that it was not built for military purposes.
Briefly about this work says Phys.org. Until now it was believed that the Great wall of China, stretching for thousands of kilometers and is divided into different sections, has been erected to protect from enemy troops. Its construction began in the III BC and lasted for centuries.
In the new study, spanning two years, asserts that part of the wall had a defensive purpose. Scientists have completely mapped the Northern line with a length of 740 kilometers. It is mainly in Mongolia and is known as the “Tree of Genghis Khan”.
Until now it was believed that it was designed to withstand the onslaught of the troops of this great conqueror and other Mongol warlords. The Northern part of the walls were built in the period from the XI to XIII centuries. The main building material was clay soil and stones. Throughout this phase was a 72 “structure” of various shapes.
the researchers drew attention to the fact that they studied part of the wall, runs through the valleys, has a relatively small height. This, in their view, casts doubt on its defensive capabilities. In addition, it is close to trails and roads that are used even in ancient times.
“Before our research, most people thought that the purpose of the wall was to stop the army of Genghis Khan, says lead author Gideon Shelah-Lavi, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. We came to the conclusion that it was rather on the control of movement of people. Perhaps this was done in order to exact taxes from them”.
the Authors write that during the medieval cold periods, local residents may have been looking for grazing their livestock warmer southern pastures. Wall, in their opinion, probably helped the authorities control these movements and charge drivers a fee.
the full study is published in the journal Antiquity.
