Recent archaeological excavations on the Beijing section of the Great Wall have provided a unique glimpse into the daily lives of ancient Chinese soldiers. At the 64th watchtower, located in the west of the Badaling section, archaeologists discovered remnants of living facilities from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). These findings, including hearths, kitchen sites, and various utensils like pots, pans, bowls, scissors, and shovels, offer vivid insights into life centuries ago on the Great Wall.
Yu Haikuan, deputy director of the Cultural Heritage Institute of Yanqing district, highlighted the significance of these discoveries. He pointed out that the unearthed hearths suggest the area’s extreme cold during the Ming Dynasty. The presence of troops during winter, indicated by these findings, underscores the intense defense pressures faced at the time, necessitating night duty. Yu emphasized the importance of these findings in understanding the lives of ancient soldiers stationed at the Great Wall.
In addition to the tools and cooking implements, the 2022 discoveries in the Dazhuangke area of Yanqing’s section of the wall included carbonized grains such as millet, rice, and peppercorns. These findings, as noted by Shang Yan, deputy researcher at the Beijing Archaeological Research Institute, authentically reconstruct the dietary habits of the Great Wall guards, despite the crops being carbonized.
Furthermore, the excavation unearthed leisure items, such as a Five-In-A-Row board game. This suggests that soldiers stationed along the frontier engaged in recreational activities during their downtime. Chen Mingjie, director of the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, remarked that such “down-to-earth” content is rarely documented in traditional historical records, making archaeological findings particularly valuable in enriching the narrative of Great Wall culture.
The restoration of two pilot projects, the Dazhuangke Great Wall in Yanqing and the Jiankou Great Wall in Huairou district, is underway. The Beijing cultural heritage authorities are committed to preserving the historical authenticity of the Great Wall, using old-style bricks and traditional methods in the restoration process, adhering to the principle of “repairing as it originally was.”
Since 2021, Beijing has been pioneering in enhancing the protection of the Great Wall, combining archaeological excavations with restoration efforts. This “repair while researching” approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the Great Wall’s structural issues, architectural forms, and craftsmanship. Shang notes that without archaeological intervention, understanding of the Great Wall would be limited to surface observations.
The recent survey of the Great Wall in Beijing has employed a multidisciplinary approach, integrating archaeology, history, geography, and digitization. This includes the first-time use of Carbon-14 dating technology to determine the construction period of specific sections. For instance, Carbon-14 dating revealed that the Mapaoquan section in Changping district was constructed between 536 and 646. Combining these findings with other historical records and evidence, researchers have conclusively established that the Maqiaoquan section belongs to the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577).
These discoveries not only shed light on the daily lives of soldiers stationed on the Great Wall but also enhance our understanding of the architectural and historical significance of this iconic structure.
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