Archaeologists uncovered the remains of an ancient urban road dating back over 3,000 years at Yinxu, also known as the Yin Ruins, in Henan Province, central China. The discovery was announced by the Chinese National Cultural Heritage Administration during a briefing on Thursday, showcasing the latest progress in archaeological exploration in China, according to People’s Daily.
The find marks the longest urban thoroughfare ever discovered at Yinxu and is the longest known preserved road of ancient China, People’s Daily reported. The archaeological team confirmed the presence of a main north-south road featuring a 1.6-kilometer-long ditch and dense wheel ruts on its surface.
The surface of the north-south main road at Yinxu has dense wheel ruts, indicating busy traffic in the capital about 3,000 years ago, notd the People’s Daily. These wheel ruts provide evidence of considerable activity and transportation methods used during the late Shang Dynasty.
Yinxu was the capital of the late Shang (Yin) Dynasty, which lasted from 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE. The Yin Ruins, located in Anyang City, Henan, are the first documented capital site of the late Shang Dynasty in China, with a history of 3,300 years, according to Rossiyskaya Gazeta. The status of Yin as the capital was confirmed by archaeological excavations, including inscriptions found on oracle bones.
The urban road network at Yinxu features a grid composed of three main east-west roads and three main north-south roads, with ditches dug along the sides of the main roads. This grid-like pattern reflects the urban planning during the Shang Dynasty and is characteristic of modern cities.
Previously, archaeologists excavated remains of numerous roads and ditches in Yin. The discovery of the ancient road network further confirms that the capital of the Shang Dynasty had a developed road and street network, as supported by archaeological excavations and oracle bone inscriptions, according to People’s Daily.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.
This article was originally published at www.jpost.com
