SAEDNEWS: The discovery of a 4,000-year-old palace in China could reshape the nation’s history.
According to the Society section of SaedNews, citing Khabar Online, the latest archaeological discoveries in Henan ProvinceChina, have revealed a 4,000-year-old palace and grain storage facilities. This discovery, along with the Zhuqiu Temple and the ancient walled city of Xinmi, unveils remarkable insights into early Chinese architecture and agriculture. Archaeologists believe these findings are remnants of the Xia royal dynasty, which many historians have long considered merely legendary.
The discovery of the 4,000-year-old palace, Zhuqiu Temple, and Xinmi city greatly enhances the significance of archaeological sites in Henan Province.
The newly uncovered palace is located on the eastern bank of the Zhenshui River within the ancient walled city. Its foundation is made of rammed earth, covering an area of 60 by 30 meters. Within this 1,800-square-meter area, remains of a tall structure, terraces, surrounding monasteries, and a central courtyard have been identified.
Archaeological remains of the ancient walled city of Xinmi. Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a 4,000-year-old palace in this city.
The shape of the foundation and the column bases suggest that the main structure consisted of the palace and its grand terraces to the north and south, with monasteries to the east and west. This discovery reshapes archaeologists’ understanding of ancient urban planning and Xia dynasty architecture.
Simultaneously, over 100 artifacts from this ancient civilization have been uncovered at the Zhuqiu Temple archaeological site. One notable find is circular grain storage buildings, which closely resemble Xia dynasty granaries. These structures are significant because they reveal the sophistication of early grain cultivation and storage techniques.
These columns at the Zhuqiu site belonged to structures used in ancient times for storing grains.
The Xia dynasty (2070–1600 BCE) was the first dynasty in China to form a government, making it the first royal dynasty in Chinese history. It was eventually overthrown by the Shang dynasty.
20th-century archaeological excavations uncovered remains consistent with descriptions of this dynasty in ancient Chinese historical records.
Despite this, the prevailing theory among historians has been that the Xia dynasty never actually existed and was instead a creation of later Chinese dynastic historians. These historians, particularly during the Zhou dynasty, aimed to construct a prehistoric model for hereditary rule in China.
Many of these historians still struggle to explain why recent discoveries at Henan archaeological sites challenge their theories. On the other hand, archaeologists who believe these findings belong to the Xia dynasty cannot conclusively prove their theory. It is also possible that these remains may actually belong to the early Shang dynasty.
Each new piece of evidence can reveal another piece of the puzzle for archaeologists. With further discoveries, historians may have to rewrite the history of the Xia dynasty and reconsider the chronological framework of Chinese royal dynasties.
