6 July 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Recent excavations reveal the complete water conservancy system of the nearly 5000-year-old Liangzhu Ruins

In recent excavations around the Liangzhu Ruins in east China’s Zhejiang Province, researchers have discovered about 20 ancient dams. Seven of these newly found dams can be dated around 5,000 years ago and are part of the same local water conservancy system.

Located in the Yangtze River Basin the archaeological ruins of Liangzhu (about 3,300-2,300 BCE) reveal an early regional state with a unified belief system based on rice cultivation in Late Neolithic China.

Four areas make up the property: the Yaoshan Site Area, the High-dam Area at the Valley Mouth, the Low-dam Area on the Plain, and the City Site Area. With their earthen monuments, urban planning, water conservation system, and distinct burials in the property’s cemeteries, these ruins are a superb illustration of early urban civilization.

Previous studies have found China’s hitherto earliest large-scale water conservancy system in the northwest of the Liangzhu ancient city.

“Following the confirmation of 11 dams around the outer water conservancy systems of the Liangzhu Ruins in earlier studies, archaeologists have recently discovered more than 20 additional dams by making use of technology such as remote sensing, geographic information systems, and artificial intelligence. This discovery has essentially revealed the complete layout of the Liangzhu water system,” said Chen Guangsheng, director of the Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism Department of Zhejiang Province, at a press conference for the second Liangzhu Forum.

“The construction of dams can be seen as one of the hallmarks of the Liangzhu civilization’s advanced development 5,000 years ago. Only early forms of state-level societies could have undertaken such monumental engineering projects,” Liu Zheng, a member of the China Cultural Relics Academy, told the Global Times.

“Discovering hydraulic engineering sites is one of the challenges in archaeological work. However, the use of advanced technology has introduced innovation into the field of archaeology, making it easier to advance research,” he said.

“Surprisingly, one of the dams had stones built on its side slope facing the water, supposedly a specific measure to cope with the impact of the transient floods,” said Wang Ningyuan from the provincial institute of cultural relics and archaeology, who is also in charge of the archaeology project on the Liangzhu ancient city and its water conservancy system.

The recent findings have provided a preliminary understanding of the Liangzhu ruins’ three development phases, which began with scattered settlements and progressed to the construction of a water conservancy system and, eventually, the erection of the Liangzhu ancient city.

Early Liangzhu settlements demonstrated distinct social stratification, with smaller villages making use of the mountainous terrain to grow. The site, however, exhibited a scattered, multi-centered pattern and lacked a cohesive plan.

This picture shows a water conservancy system and the structure of the middle and late phases of the Liangzhu ruins in east China's Zhejiang Province. Image Credit: National Cultural Heritage Administration/ Xinhua
This picture shows a water conservancy system and the structure of the middle and late phases of the Liangzhu ruins in east China’s Zhejiang Province. Image Credit: National Cultural Heritage Administration/ Xinhua

Large ceremonial areas were built in the middle of the site by the middle phase, showing a centralized planning concept and keeping a constant distance of roughly three kilometers from the neighboring mountains. A well-structured ancient urban system was formed in the latter stages as the building of city walls and external defenses proceeded.

The research findings confirm the revolutionary changes in the structure of the Liangzhu site in different periods and show the clear process of social organization and evolution at the early state level, the press conference said.

Archaeological findings have revealed the evolution of the concept of settlement management and urban construction, as well as the belief system of the Liangzhu people.

Cover Image: Liangzhu High Dams.

Related Articles

Iron Age and Roman Skeletons Discovered on Alderney

19 May 2021

19 May 2021

Well-preserved skeletons from the late Iron Age and Roman periods were found in Alderney, one of the channel islands. The...

Ancient Roman 3rd-century defensive wall found in Germany

24 March 2024

24 March 2024

An exciting archaeological discovery was made during construction work in Aachen’s city center, Germany. At the corner of Pontstrasse and...

8,000-year-old Musical Instrument found in northwest Turkey

4 July 2021

4 July 2021

Archaeologists in northwestern Turkey’s Bilecik on Tuesday discovered a musical instrument that dates back to an estimated 8,000 years. During...

1500-year-old Medallion Rescued From Treasure Hunters on Display in Çorum Museum

3 May 2021

3 May 2021

A 1,500-year-old gold medallion portraying a figure of Jesus Christ has been exhibited at a museum in Turkey’s northern province...

The first and largest astronomical observatory of the 6th century BC discovered in Egypt’s Kafr El-Sheikh

24 August 2024

24 August 2024

Archaeologists in Egypt unveiled the first and largest astronomical observatory from the 6th century BCE in the Buto Temple at...

Ancient Balkan genomes trace the rise and fall of the Roman Empire’s frontier, reveal Slavic migrations to southeastern Europe

7 January 2024

7 January 2024

The genomic history of the Balkan Peninsula during the first millennium of the common era—a period marked by significant changes...

Remains of a 5-year-old girl found under Real Alcázar in Spain

9 May 2021

9 May 2021

The body of a five-year-old fair-haired girl who lived in the late Middle Ages and was most likely of noble...

8 ostrich eggs over 4,000 years old discovered near excavated firepit in Negev desert

13 January 2023

13 January 2023

Eight ostrich eggs dating between 4,000 and 7,500 years ago have been found during excavations next to a fire pit...

Glazed Bricks with Bull and Dragon Motifs Discovered at Persepolis

17 December 2021

17 December 2021

A team of Iranian and Italian archaeologists recently unearthed some glazed bricks bearing bull and dragon motifs in the ancient...

4,500-Year-Old Three Warrior Graves Found in Germany, One Still Wearing an Arm Guard

30 January 2025

30 January 2025

Extraordinary discovery during the construction of a New Power Line: Archaeologists unearth a cemetery from the Copper Age with Three...

Military Team Discovers Remarkable 2,000-Year-Old Celtic Artifacts, Including Chariot Parts and Bridle-Bit

4 February 2025

4 February 2025

Military personnel and veterans at RAF Valley in Anglesey on the island of Anglesey, Wales, have uncovered sensational Iron Age...

Key Silla Kingdom Palace Site Found in South Korea After Decade-Long Probe

11 February 2025

11 February 2025

A decade-long investigation conducted by the Korea Heritage Service has uncovered a crucial palace site of the Silla Kingdom (57...

Severed right hands reveal Trophy-Taking practices in Ancient Egypt

2 April 2023

2 April 2023

Twelve severed hands were found in Egypt as part of a horrifying “trophy-taking” practice that was just made revealed by...

Early Imperial cemetery in Nîmes, in the south of France

4 October 2022

4 October 2022

Inrap archaeologists excavating at Nîmes in southern France have uncovered a cemetery dating to the first to second centuries AD...

Ancient Mastaba Tomb of Royal Physician “Magician of the Goddess Selket” discovered in Sakkara

7 January 2025

7 January 2025

In the southern region of the Saqqara archaeological site, a joint French-Swiss archaeological team made an important discovery uncovering the...