The 321 km long wall in the Mongolian Gobi desert, erected in the XI-XIII centuries AD, was not only a defensive rampart, but also a complex management system for trade, migration, and even water supply. This is stated in a study by a group of scientists from Israel, the United States and Mongolia, published in the magazine Land.
"These walls were not simple barriers. In fact, they were active instruments of territorial administration and played a key role in the survival of peoples who sought to control border regions," the publication says.
During the study, it was found that the structure consists not only of earthen ramparts, but also includes fortresses, observation towers and control points. The wall itself was built from rammed earth with wooden and stone fortifications, and forts were created near water sources.
"The allocation of local resources, such as water and timber, was crucial in determining the route of construction of the wall. Other geographical factors, including the location of mountain passes and the spread of sand dunes, were strategically used to increase the effectiveness of the wall system," the researchers concluded.
The wall was also a factor in strengthening state power.
"She regulated trade flows, marked borders and demonstrated the power of the empire, psychologically influencing the nomads. Trade caravans passed through certain areas, others were guarded as military zones," the scientists write.
It is also specified that the Medieval (X-XIII centuries AD) wall system extends for about 4000 km through vast regions in northern China and Mongolia, as well as on shorter sections in Russia. However, the 321-kilometer section in Mongolia is the least studied. Currently, the wall has been preserved at different heights, from almost ground level to 2.6 m, and its width (including debris from wear) ranges from 2.5 to 3 m.