Drone photo of Khaltaryn Balgas (MA21). Credit: Journal of Field Archeology (2023). DOI: 10.1080/00934690.2023.2295198
A team of archaeologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, together with a colleague from the National University of Mongolia, conducted a study of the 405 km wall system in eastern Mongolia, known as the name Mongolian Arch, in order to learn more about its history and purpose. In their article published in Journal of Field Archeologythe group describes the techniques and technology they used to study the wall.
There is a section of the Great Wall of China that extends into Mongolia (which is an independent country) and is known as the Mongolian Arch because of its shape. As the research team noted, compared to the China Wall, the Mongolian Arch has been little studied. In this new effort, they sought to learn more about the wall using a variety of approaches.
One approach was to map the wall, which extends from Dornod province to Sukhbaatar province, roughly along the Mongolia-China border. Previous research has shown that it comprises 34 structures and was built using earthen walls and trenches.
They also found that historical records detailing the date of the wall’s construction are unclear, placing its construction between the 11th and 13th centuries. The team also examined weather records to learn more about what the wall has endured over the years, as well as satellite imagery to learn more about associations between the wall’s location and terrain. They also conducted field studies to learn more about the composition and condition of the wall.
The research team found some surprises. Most importantly, the wall had large gaps, suggesting that it was not built to keep out all invaders; it appears to have been constructed quickly in response to certain attackers. There is also evidence to suggest that the wall was built as a means of controlling the movement of people or animals or perhaps as part of a tax system.
Such theories arose when it became clear that the wall would not have provided such a barrier: many of its outposts, for example, were in locations with limited views of the surrounding territory.
Researchers acknowledge that they have not been able to provide definitive answers as to why the wall was built or provide a more precise construction date. They plan to continue their work, hoping to learn more.
More information:
Ying Tung Fung et al, Unraveling the Mongolian Arc: Field Investigation and Spatial Investigation of a Previously Unexplored Wall System in Eastern Mongolia, Journal of Field Archeology (2023). DOI: 10.1080/00934690.2023.2295198
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