573 Ancient Stone Fortresses Near Yulin Reveal Complex Societies from 4,800 Years Ago

Archaeologists working near Yulin in Shaanxi province have documented 573 ancient stone fortresses—some dating back nearly 4,800 years—revealing a dense network of organized settlements and defensive centers in prehistoric northern China.

How the discovery was made

The finding is the result of a six-year survey that began in 2019. Teams from Yulin’s cultural heritage authorities combined historical water-system maps, satellite imagery and extensive field survey to map a wide distribution of stone-walled sites across river valleys and mountain slopes.

Variety of fortresses and settlement patterns

The sites range from simple stone enclosures—likely smaller or earlier habitations—to large, elaborately designed fortresses with carefully built walls and construction techniques that imply organized labor and planning. A recurring pattern is clear: many fortified centers are surrounded by clusters of smaller, unfortified settlements, suggesting the larger sites served as social, protective and possibly administrative hubs for surrounding communities.

Chronology and long-term use

Survey and excavation evidence indicate these sites were occupied continuously or repeatedly over millennia, beginning around 2800 BCE and continuing through the Shang and Zhou dynasties. That long span highlights the region’s enduring cultural and strategic importance.

Ma Mingzhi, project leader, said the survey “provides crucial information for a comprehensive understanding of the origin, development, spread and evolution of prehistoric settlements in northern China.”

What this reveals

• Early organized planning: The variation from small enclosures to complex fortresses points to evolving settlement planning and social complexity.
• Regional defensive strategies: Coordinated construction of fortified centers suggests shared defense systems well before imperial China.
• Environmental adaptation: Builders adapted to mountainous terrain by using local stone, indicating sophisticated local resource use.
• Long-distance connections: Similar construction patterns across multiple valleys hint at communication or shared cultural practices between communities.

Regional context

The discovery complements other major sites in the region. Nearby cliffside carvings and rock-cut grottos—many from Tang and later periods—show the area’s long cultural continuity. The Yulin Caves preserve vivid Buddhist murals and sculptures reflecting centuries of Silk Road exchange. The prehistoric fortified city of Shimao, more than 4,000 years old, underscores that northern China developed complex, large-scale settlements much earlier than often assumed.

Significance

Together, the 573 fortresses form a cultural landscape that challenges earlier assumptions about the pace and scale of social organization in prehistoric northern China. The finds provide fresh data for understanding how early communities organized labor, defended territory, and formed regional networks.

As fieldwork continues, detailed excavation and analysis of individual sites will refine chronologies, reveal daily life, and clarify the social and political relationships between fortified centers and their surrounding settlements.