Rare carving — dragon-shaped — discovered along Great Wall of China. See the beast
As the longest ever built, the Great Wall of China dominates the landscape with towering pathways and guard posts lining the top of the mountain range.
Its massive size would suggest researchers, archaeologists and historians would know a lot about each section of the wall, but the ancient construction still holds secrets.
On May 30, researchers walking along a section of the wall lined by dense forests discovered a collapsed platform that would have been used by border soldiers to defend the wall, according to a June 4 news release from Beijing Daily, a government-controlled news outlet.
The platform was left as it had been when it first collapsed, researchers said, so the team was hopeful there may be historical relics buried under the rubble.
They began to dig layer by layer through the collapsed tower.
Then, they noticed a carved scale on one of the stones. It was soon followed by a tail, claws and legs, according to the release.
It was the carving of a dragon — and it’s rare.
The carving is called a “kissing beast,” and finding it in such well-preserved condition surprised the researchers.
This beast in particular was larger than others found in the past, making it even more unique.
Researchers said the carving was a decorative ornament that would sit along the ridge that ran on the top of the tower’s house at both ends, known as the “kiss.”
The tower was once tall and magnificent, according to the release, but when it fell, it took the beast down with it, along with three other smaller roof figurines with open mouths.
The kissing beast was dated to the Ming Dynasty, and the tower likely was used by a relatively low-ranking officer focused on defense of the wall, researchers said.
The Ming Dynasty lasted from 1368 to 1644, during the end of when the Great Wall was maintained.
Along with the decorative features, researchers also discovered a weapon and artillery used to defend the wall.
Researchers said these elements, along with personal items like tools, door rings, spoons and shovels, show a glimpse into the lives of soldiers living along the border.
Baidu Translate was used to translate the news release from Beijing Daily.
This story was originally published June 10, 2024 at 11:15 AM with the headline "Rare carving — dragon-shaped — discovered along Great Wall of China. See the beast."
