“Ancient Mystery Unveiled: Gruesome Mass Grave of Dismembered Han Warriors Discovered Near Great Wall”
Alexey KovalevBy analyzing DNA and isotopes in the skeletons, researchers were able to determine where the men had originally come from.
This, in turn, confirms a theory about the fortress itself. Though most researchers have long assumed it was a Han fortress based on artifacts found at the site, this hadn’t yet been proven. Given the identity of the slain soldiers, however, it seems more likely than ever that the fortress belonged to the Han.
Indeed, it may even be the storied fortress known as Shouxiangcheng. This fortress, mentioned in Chinese texts, was built in 104 B.C.E by the Han, during the era of war with the Xiongnu. However, its location had been lost to time.
“The results of our 2009 excavations of the fortress and tomb indicate that Bayanbulag is the Shouxiangcheng,” Kovalev told All That’s Interesting. “It was used as a base for military campaigns against the Xiongnu… The evidence is very strong. We found a huge number of pottery fragments, and they all belong to the Han cultural traditions. We excavated a large building of typical Chinese post-and-frame architecture, which was covered with Chinese-type roof tiles. We found about 250 crossbow arrowheads, about 15 fragments of crossbow locks (trigger-mechanisms), a large number of Han iron tools, bushings, hooks. We also found private seals, coins and other Chinese artifacts.”
He continued: “Our discovery is important because it fully confirms the data from written sources about the role that the Shouxiangcheng fortress played in the war as the main military base of the Chinese army.”
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