Smart management and organizational complexity: insights from ancient dams reveal the secrets of the Liangzhu ruins.

Recent excavations in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang have yielded new insights into the Liangzhu ruins: researchers have discovered around 20 ancient dams. Among these, seven dams, estimated to be approximately 5,000 years old, are a key part of a sophisticated water conservation system, highlighting the advanced engineering skills of this early civilization, writes Arkeonews.

The Liangzhu ruins, located in the Yangtze River basin, represent an early regional state that existed roughly from 3300 to 2300 BC. This ancient society focused on rice cultivation and had a unified belief system.

The archaeological site encompasses four key areas: the Yaoshan site, a high dam site at the valley's mouth, a low dam site on the plain, and a city site.

Chen Guangsheng, the Director of the Department of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism of Zhejiang Province, announced the discovery during a forum in Liangzhu. He noted that researchers employed advanced technologies such as remote sensing, geographical information systems, and artificial intelligence to identify more than 20 dams, building on previous studies that had found 11 dams in the external water conservation system.

This technological integration has provided a comprehensive understanding of the Liangzhu water resource management system. According to Liu Zheng from the Chinese Academy of Cultural Relics, these monumental engineering projects reflect the complexity and organizational capabilities of early state-level societies.

One particularly interesting discovery pertains to a dam reinforced with stones along the side slope to withstand temporary flooding, as explained by Wang Ningyuan from the provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. This demonstrates the innovative responses of the Liangzhu civilization to environmental challenges.

The research findings also illuminate three stages in the development of Liangzhu, beginning with scattered settlements, transitioning to an organized water conservation network, and culminating in the construction of the ancient city of Liangzhu.

The social evolution of Liangzhu is marked by early settlements that utilized mountainous terrains and displayed a clear social hierarchy. In the intermediate stage, large ceremonial structures and centralized urban planning emerged, while the final stage saw the construction of city walls and external defensive structures.

These changes indicate a transformation in settlement management, urban construction, and the belief system of the Liangzhu people.

We also reported on a mass burial discovered in London. Initially, scientists believed those buried had died from the plague, but this was not the case.