Guardian of the Great Wall of China: scientists have found a sculpture of a dragon from the Ming Dynasty (3 photos)

On one of the sections of the Great Wall of China, archaeologists made an unexpected discovery. While exploring the ancient defensive tower, scientists unearthed a statue of a dragon that once guarded this place.





During restoration work on the Jiankou site of the Great Wall of China, archaeologists discovered an ornate dragon sculpture. This site was built during the Ming Dynasty and has remained untouched to this day.

The Jiankou site, located about 100 kilometers north of Beijing, extends over 20 kilometers of mountainous terrain. Built in the 1500s and early 1600s, this part of the wall remains largely intact.

Researchers from the Beijing Institute of Archeology stumbled upon the exquisitely carved dragon while exploring a ruined defense tower. They first discovered an architectural element with carved scales, and when additional layers of soil were removed, a tail appeared, and then claws, and eventually the head of a dragon sculpture.



Lead archaeologist Shang Heng noted the craftsmanship of the work, noting the exquisite details of the dragon that likely adorned the tower's roof.

In addition to the dragon sculpture, archaeologists discovered a type of cannon brought to China from Europe during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty. This artifact, identified as the underbarrel of a Portuguese spear, illuminates the exchange of military technology between Europe and China during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty.

The discovery showcases the rich history and cultural exchange of the Ming Dynasty and provides insight into the architectural mastery and strategic significance of the Great Wall, confirming its status as a symbol of China's historical resilience and ingenuity.