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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
XI'AN, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) — A total of 573 stone fortresses dating from prehistoric times to the Shang Dynasty (around 1600 BC to 1046 BC) have been discovered in what is now Yulin County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, following a six-year comprehensive archaeological survey.
The specialized census, launched in 2019 with the participation of the Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Team of Yulin City, Shaanxi Province, was systematically conducted in the vast area with complex topography of Yulin County.
Using existing waterway maps, archaeologists determined the locations of the aforementioned ancient sites, completing sample collection and recording baseline data. They then began aerial surveys, mapping the discovered prehistoric stone forts, and collecting relevant information, followed by data processing and testing of the collected samples.
According to the survey, these stone fortresses existed from 2800 BC to 1000 BC, that is, from the late period of the Neolithic Yangshao culture to the junction of the Shang and Zhou dynasties (1046 BC – 256 BC).
Most of them are located along riverbanks. Fortresses were often surrounded by several settlements without defensive stone walls, clearly demonstrating their clustered interconnectedness, said Ma Mingzhi, head of the research team.
The development of these fortresses shows that settlements gradually expanded in size, their spatial architecture became more complex, and their construction techniques matured. Characteristics indicating the gradual stratification of tribal society became more pronounced.
The survey provided new information for a comprehensive understanding of the origin, development, distribution and evolution of prehistoric sites in northern China. -0-
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