Archaeologists Unearth 4,000-Year-Old Palace in Ancient Chinese Walled City

Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a 4,000-year-old palace in an ancient Chinese walled city.

Researchers uncovered the structure at the important archaeological site of Xinmi, Henan Province in central China, state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

The ancient walled city at Xinmi is thought to have been built during the Xia dynasty (around 2070-1600 B.C.)—an early Chinese dynasty mentioned in legends.

Archaeologists discovered the remains of the ancient city several years ago on the eastern bank of the Zhenshui River. It covers a rectangular area of around 17 hectares.

The well-preserved settlement is associated with the Longshan culture. This ancient civilization once inhabited the area covered by modern Henan province and other neighboring regions of China.

Now, archaeologists have uncovered the remains of what they believe was a palace complex in the ancient city. The remains consist of a foundation structure built using rammed-earth construction techniques. This ancient method involves using compacted raw materials like earth, chalk or lime.

The remains measure around 200 feet long and 100 feet wide, covering an area of more than 19,000 square feet.

The archaeologists uncovered a series of evenly distributed holes that shed light on what the ancient complex once looked like.

"From the holes, we believe that the foundation belonged to a house complex with terraces in the south and north, cloisters in the east and west, and a yard at the center," Li Bo, head of the excavation team, told Xinhua.

The findings could help shed new light on the origin and development of palace buildings in the Xia dynasty, according to the researchers.

Archaeologists have also made several discoveries at the site of an ancient city in Zhoukou, which is also located in Henan Province. This settlement—another important archaeological site—is also thought to date back to the Xia dynasty period.

Among the dozens of new finds at Zhoukou, researchers found the remains of ash pits, ditches and other architectural remnants.

Notably, archaeologists uncovered the remains of two circular buildings consisting of earth columns and adobe walls that were likely used for grain storage.

Fang Lixia, an archaeologist who led the excavation team in Zhoukou, told Xinhua that the findings will yield new information on ancient agricultural practices in the region.

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