PREVIEW

Archaeologists have been excavating a “new Great Wall of China” that stretches for over 4,000 kilometres.

The excavations on a medieval frontier garrison in Mongolia are flipping everything we thought we knew about ancient walls on its head.
The international dig has revealed that some colossal barriers stretching across the Eurasian steppe weren’t built to fend off invaders - as per legend - but instead to manage people, mark territory, and show off dynastic might.

The so-called Medieval Wall System (MWS) takes in Mongolia, China and Russia – and hows now being hailed as a forgotten sibling to the Great Wall of China. However, it may have had a different purpose.

“We sought to determine the use of the enclosure and the Mongolian Arc,” said Professor Gideon Shelach-Lavi from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who’s leading the excavations.

“What was its function? Was it primarily a military system designed to defend against invading armies, or was it intended to control the empire's outermost regions by managing border crossings, addressing civilian unrest, and preventing small-scale raids?

“Considerable investment in the garrison’s walls, as well as in the structures within them, suggests a year-round occupation”, concludes Professor Shelach-Lavi. “Future analysis of samples taken from this site will help us better understand the resources used by the people stationed at the garrison, their diet, and their way of life.”

The team, part of a Mongolian-Israeli-American research project called The Wall, surveyed the 405km-long Mongolian stretch – known as the Mongolian Arc – and excavated a fortified enclosure.

What they found was very different to what they expected.

The “wall” running along the Arc turned out not to be a towering fortress, but rather a shallow ditch and a mound of earth – unlikely to stop an army but perfect for controlling movement and sending a political message.

“This isn’t just a wall – it’s a lost landscape of power, politics and people,” said Professor Shelach-Lavi. “What we’ve found is a frontier world of fortresses, enclosures and life on the edge of empire.”

The layout appears purpose-built to channel travellers and traders through designated checkpoints, where garrisons stationed in nearby forts could keep a beady eye on who was coming and going.

“This wall tells the story of forgotten empires,” added the professor. “It’s the medieval Cold War in earth and stone.”

The MWS dates back over 1,000 years and is linked to now-lost dynasties like the Jurchen-led Jin – who rose from the forests of Siberia and north-east China to rule a vast realm before the Mongols came crashing in.

While most medieval records focus on elites and capitals, this site offers a rare glimpse into the lives of ordinary soldiers and civilians stationed far from the court – and shows just how much investment went into maintaining these frontier zones.

Excavations uncovered Song dynasty coins, iron tools, and even a heated stone platform that served as both a stove and a bed – a clear sign that this garrison was built for year-round use.

Experts now believe these walls weren’t all about war, but were key tools of administration, trade and authority, helping medieval rulers manage their empires’ edge lands and display dominance in the most remote corners.

With more sections still to be explored, archaeologists hope this long-overlooked marvel will finally earn its place alongside its more famous brick brother.