573 ancient stone fortresses found in northwest China

A six-year archaeological survey in Shaanxi Province, northwest China, has uncovered 573 ancient stone fortress settlements dating from approximately 2800 BC to 1000 BC, spanning the prehistoric era through the Shang and Zhou dynasties.people
The investigation was conducted by the cultural heritage and archaeology team of Yulin city beginning in 2019, using water system maps to locate the fortresses along riverbanks, where they were surrounded by ordinary settlements without defensive walls.people
The fortresses reveal a clear evolution in construction from small to large scale and simple to complex layouts, with increasingly distinct social hierarchies developing over the nearly 1,800-year period.people
According to team leader Ma Mingzhi, the survey provides crucial information for understanding the origin, development, and evolution of prehistoric settlements in northern China.people

573 Ancient Stone Fortresses Discovered in Northwest China

Archaeologists in northwest China have uncovered 573 ancient stone fortress settlements, offering new insights into how prehistoric societies organized and defended themselves along the northern frontier of early Chinese civilization.

The discovery, announced Tuesday by Xinhua, represents one of the most extensive surveys of prehistoric defensive architecture in the region. The fortresses span nearly 1,800 years of human history, from approximately 2800 BC in the late Yangshao period to around 1000 BC during the Shang and Zhou dynasties.people

Methodical Survey Reveals Clustered Settlements

The specialized investigation was carried out by the cultural heritage and archaeology team of Yulin city in Shaanxi Province, beginning in 2019. Led by Ma Mingzhi, the team systematically searched the vast and complex terrain of the Yulin area, following existing water system maps to locate the ancient sites.people

The fieldwork involved detailed examination, specimen collection and aerial mapping of the discovered fortresses. According to Ma, the stone fortresses were mostly distributed along riverbanks and surrounded by numerous ordinary settlements without defensive stone walls, indicating a clear clustered relationship.thesanghakommune

Evolution of Social Complexity

The survey revealed a progression in both construction and social organization. The fortresses show a clear evolution from small to large in scale, from simple to complex in layout, and from rudimentary to mature in construction techniques, Ma said. Social hierarchy became increasingly distinct over the survey period.people

The region has yielded other finds in recent years, including the Zhaigou site in Qingjian County, described as a rare late Shang Dynasty ruin with abundant remains. The nearby Shimao site, dating to around 2300-1800 BC, was previously identified as the largest Neolithic stone fortification in China at more than 400 hectares.ecns

“The survey provides crucial information for a comprehensive understanding of the origin, development, spread and evolution of prehistoric settlements in northern China,” Ma said.thesanghakommune