Ancient Great Wall building materials reveal environmental changes associated with oases in northwestern China.

ABSTRACT: Plant materials used in the construction of segments and beacon towers of the ancient Great Wall in northwestern China contain untapped potential for revealing local paleoclimatic and environmental conditions. For the first time, we characterize the molecular preservation and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions of AMS-dated common reeds (Phragmites) collected from ancient Great Wall fascines in today's Gansu and Xinjiang using a combination of chromatographic techniques and isotope analyses. Our molecular data, along with Scanning Electron Microscopy, demonstrate excellent preservation of these ancient reeds, which were harvested from nearby habitats during periods of significant expansion of Imperial China when climate conditions sustained sizeable oases in the region. Stable

SUBMITTER: Patalano R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9800585 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature