Popular MechanicsArchaeologists Broke Open the Great Wall of China—and Found a Treasure Trove of ArtifactsTim Newcomb
Thu, December 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM EST
3 min read
Archaeologists Found Artifacts In the Great Wall Twenty47studio - Getty ImagesHere’s what you’ll learn when you read this story:
*Archaeologists exploring the Jiankou section of China’s Great Wall discovered a large cannon.
*The cannon, found among a cache of additional weapons, was potentially cast in the late Ming Dynasty between 1368 and 1644 C.E.
*The excavation section, consisting of three towers and the connecting walls, revealed an additional bounty of turquoise artifacts.
China’s famed Great Wall outside of Beijing continues to reveal secrets of a past Chinese life. The latest glimpse into that rich history, unveiled by a recent archaeological excavation, features a Ming Dynasty-era cannon. This formidable weapon shows the military focus of the Great Wall while also offering insight into how ancient Chinese and Europeans traded military know-how.
A brick-by-brick restoration of the wall offered an opportunity to excavate the Jiankou section, which spans across a mountainous region near Beijing. Archaeologists excavated three watchtowers and the connecting walls, all of which held remnants of both military and daily life from China’s past.
The most distinct find, according to Shang Heng, associate research fellow at the Beijing Institute of Archaeology, was a Ming Dynasty-era cannon likely from 1632. Heng said a well-preserved inscription on the cannon provides an opportunity for experts to research the manufacturing and military technology of the time.
The 35-inch, 247-pound cannon features the inscription “Chongzhen Year 5,” what we would now call 1632 C.E. The cannon also has similarities to European-style red-coat cannons, including the size of the barrel. The cannon fits within the battery platforms found on the wall, showing a weapon of its style and size was likely a standard atop watchtowers.
“This provides crucial physical proof of 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 Watchtower 118 which demonstrates how soldiers would have lived. Watchtower 117 featured an immigration monument dated to 1573 C.E., giving a construction date for that section.
Three different individual bricks offered additional information. Two bricks included inscriptions noting weight specifications, upending previous beliefs on how Ming-era brick kiln operations occurred. Investigations into the lime mortar showed a high-magnesium lime mixture with plant fibers to help with adhesion, further defining Ming-era construction techniques.
The third brick inscription wasn’t so much about construction techniques but living conditions. The words, translated as “nothing but alcohol or worry; three years of toil turned my hair white,” were likely inscribed by a wall builder.
“These findings transform the Great Wall from a cold military structure into a living historical landscape integrating defense, cultural exchange, and daily life,” Heng said.
Researchers discovered plenty of crops and medicinal plants, indicative of everything from diets to medical know-how of the time. Investigation into animal bones highlighted both domesticated and wild animals at the site, including evidence of animal butchering.
The excavations offered more than just weapons and other staples of military life. Crews discovered 28 turquoise artifacts, according to the People’s Daily. Deeper investigation into the pieces suggest they originated from mines near the provinces of Hubei, Henan, and Shaanxi, further evidence into the trading practices across northern China.
Within one of the most famous fortifications in the world were remnants of lives lived long ago, and further excavations may offer even more insights. “The Great Wall’s landscape and geography have barely changed,” Heng said, “making it ideal for time-travel-style restoration research.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/archaeologists-broke-open-great-wall-130000431.html
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