“Ancient Mystery Unveiled: Gruesome Mass Grave of Dismembered Han Warriors Discovered Near Great Wall”
Inside The Bloody History Of The Han-Xiongnu Wars
Classic Image/Alamy Stock PhotoA depiction of Han general Li Ling and his army before a battle with the Xiongnu.
The Han-Xiongnu Wars were a series of bloody conflicts between the Chinese Han Empire and the nomadic Xiongnu people. The two groups clashed as early as 200 B.C.E., though the war began in earnest around 133 B.C.E. It lasted for 200 years, and began to wind down around 80 C.E.
The Han emerged victorious, while the Xiongnu forces, largely obliterated, were forced to flee west. But they would have historical revenge, as many of their descendants formed the powerful Huns.
This mass grave found in Mongolia offers a macabre look at this centuries-long conflict. Though the Han eventually won the war, the way the men in this mass grave died helps reveal the brutal cost of victory.
Indeed, archaeologist believe that there’s more to be found at the Bayanbulag site. But they need far more time and funding to fully excavate the area.
“There is at least one more such grave there — we need to study it carefully,” Kovalev told All That’s Interesting. “In addition, we have excavated less than 10 percent of the entire fortress, we need to conduct a larger excavation. Marauders with metal detectors are working at this site, collecting bronze and iron items. It is better to explore the fortress as soon as possible. We also need to restore hundreds of our finds… and fully publish a report on the 2009 excavations. But there is no funding allocated for this or for next excavations. I hope that publication will attract the attention of sponsors and Mongolian government agencies to the importance of this task.”
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