CHINA’s ancient secrets have been uncovered after a groundbreaking scan of the Great Wall showed “mysterious openings along the base” of the structure.
The series of fortifications were constructed along the northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe. Several walls were built from as early as the seventh century BC, with parts later joined together by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Later on, successive dynasties built and maintained multiple stretches of the wall and it now covers more than 13,000 miles of the country.
But National Geographic’s documentary ‘Secrets Of The Great Wall’ revealed how experts made a stunning breakthrough after studying the most well-known sections of the wall built by the Ming dynasty.
Archaeologist Dr Allan Maca, who led the team, said: “In the days of the Ming, this was home to tribes of nomadic horsemen.
“These fearsome warriors had been attacking and pillaging China for centuries.
“The Ming built the Great Wall to keep them out. Now, 600 years later, Chinese experts are using science and technology to reveal its secrets.
Mysterious openings were uncovered at the base of the Great Wall (Image: GETTY/NAT GEO)
Drone footage was used to scan the wall (Image: NAT GEO)
“They are using drone data to create a 3D model of the entire Ming dynasty wall – it’s the most complete scan ever attempted.”
That job fell to associate professor at Tianjin University, Li Zhe, who revealed the painstaking task he undertook.
He said: “We have covered 2,100km along the Ming Great Wall, we still have 2,500km to cover.
“It is a huge job.”
But Dr Maca explained how Professor Li had uncovered something unexpected during his work.
He added: “The new scans reveal the incredible achievements of the Ming in some of China’s most extreme terrain.
“Even on completely impossible ridges, they still succeeded in erecting towers.
“And within the scans, new discoveries. Li Zhe has spotted mysterious openings along the base of the wall.
“Using his data, I’m heading 120 miles east to investigate.”
Discovering what appeared to be a small opening in a pile of rubble, Dr Maca said the area would have once served an important purpose.
Sources:express.co.uk
