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2,000-yr-old major road discovered in central China
Summary: Archaeologists have found a major road dating back to the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.- 220) in central China's Henan Province.The road, excavated at the ruins of county seat of Langling in Rendian Township, Queshan County, had intact vehicle tracks, indicating
Archaeologists have found a major road dating back to the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.- 220) in central China's Henan Province.
The road, excavated at the ruins of county seat of Langling in Rendian Township, Queshan County, had intact vehicle tracks, indicating it was frequently used during that period, said Liu Haiwang, head of the provincial cultural heritage research institute.
Liu said the discovery was significant for the study of road construction, maintenance technology, and vehicles in Han Dynasty.
With an exposed length of 252 meters and a width ranging from 2.2 to 2.8 meters, part of the north-south road runs underneath the current G107 national highway.
Zhou Runshan, team leader of the project, said the deep road bed and the fine stone, ceramic, brick, and clay pieces used to fill in the vehicle tracks proved the road had been busy and frequently maintained.
An east-west road was also found in the ruins, which was 1,300 meters long and around 5 meters wide. The two roads met at an intersection with a ditch underneath.
"A bridge made of large pieces of stone may have connected the road sections over the ditch," said Zhou, adding drainage channels were also found along the roads.
Further excavation will also be conducted at the ruins, according to Liu.
The road, excavated at the ruins of county seat of Langling in Rendian Township, Queshan County, had intact vehicle tracks, indicating it was frequently used during that period, said Liu Haiwang, head of the provincial cultural heritage research institute.
Liu said the discovery was significant for the study of road construction, maintenance technology, and vehicles in Han Dynasty.
With an exposed length of 252 meters and a width ranging from 2.2 to 2.8 meters, part of the north-south road runs underneath the current G107 national highway.
Zhou Runshan, team leader of the project, said the deep road bed and the fine stone, ceramic, brick, and clay pieces used to fill in the vehicle tracks proved the road had been busy and frequently maintained.
An east-west road was also found in the ruins, which was 1,300 meters long and around 5 meters wide. The two roads met at an intersection with a ditch underneath.
"A bridge made of large pieces of stone may have connected the road sections over the ditch," said Zhou, adding drainage channels were also found along the roads.
Further excavation will also be conducted at the ruins, according to Liu.
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