Although one of the most popular monuments among tourists today, the Great Wall of China has long had military functions. The building, which is now around 6,700 kilometers long, was actually built to avoid conflicts with neighboring tribes. Its construction began in the 3rd century BC. during the Qin Dynasty before continuing during the Han Dynasty under the reign of Emperor Wudi to repel the Xiongnu and thus protect the Silk Road route.
The Xiongnu Empire, a confederation of nomadic tribes, was established in modern-day Mongolia, but its members migrated through the plains between Lake Baikal and northern China. In the absence of written documents, except for those by Chinese authors who viewed the Xiongnu as barbarians, very little is known about this empire, its people, and its history. However, an international team of researchers has unraveled some of its mysteries thanks to DNA analysis and archaeological excavations at two ancient Xiongnu cemeteries in Mongolia, reports CNN.
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Xiongnu society is now better understood
Scientists sequenced the genomes of 17 remains and found “extremely high” genetic diversity. They therefore concluded that the empire was multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual, according to their study published Friday, April 14 in the journal Science Advances. Experts have also noted that women were entitled to individual graves and very elaborate coffins, which they believe indicates particularly high social status and a strong role in society.
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Great Wall of China
Additionally, her research shows that teenagers were buried like men with bows and arrows, which says a lot about their status as warriors. Children under the age of 11 “received different burial treatment based on age and gender,” said Christina Warinner, lead author of the study and associate professor of anthropology at Harvard University. In her opinion, “This gives clues to the age at which gender and status in Xiongnu society were ascribed.” Valuable and unpublished information about the way of life and functioning of the Xiongnu Empire.
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