Archaeologists working at the Jiankou section of the Great Wall near Beijing, China, have uncovered rare evidence of military defense and daily life from the Ming Dynasty, including a large 17th-century cannon, heated brick beds, inscribed construction bricks, and food remains.
The discoveries were announced during Beijing’s archaeological research briefing in December 2025, following conservation work at the steep mountain section in Huairou District. Researchers examined Watchtowers 117, 118, and 119 and recovered more than 300 artifacts linked to weapons, construction methods, and garrison life.
Details of the discovery
The most important discovery was a cast-iron cannon dated to 1632, during the final decades of the Ming Dynasty. The weapon measures 89.2 centimeters (35 inches) long and weighs about 112 kilograms (247 pounds), making it the largest cannon yet found at Jiankou.
Beijing Institute of Archaeology researcher Shang Heng described it as the first large firearm discovered at the site. Despite corrosion, inscriptions on the cannon remain partly readable. Researchers said the markings could help explain Ming-era firearm production and military supply systems.
Archaeologists at the Jiankou section of the Great Wall near Beijing have uncovered a massive 17th-century Ming Dynasty cannon, heated brick beds, inscribed bricks, food remains and traces of soldiers’ daily life. pic.twitter.com/2br1TMw70I
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) May 19, 2026
The cannon also appears linked to the Hongyi cannon, a European-style artillery weapon introduced into China during the late Ming period. Researchers said its design suggests the Jiankou section functioned as a heavily armed frontier defense system rather than a symbolic barrier.
Evidence of soldiers’ daily lives
The excavation also revealed how soldiers lived inside the watchtower network. Researchers uncovered heated brick beds, known as kangs, along with a stove used for cooking and heating. Watchtower 118 contained the largest kang yet discovered at Jiankou, offering evidence of how troops survived the cold mountain climate.
Food remains and animal bones were also recovered from the site. Some bones carried butchery marks, showing that soldiers prepared meals inside the garrison area. Charred plant remains and crop traces may help researchers reconstruct the soldiers’ diet and the surrounding environment during the Ming period.
Bricks reveal construction history
Several discoveries also shed light on how the Great Wall was built. Researchers found bricks stamped with production marks that recorded weights and references to a “north kiln.” Archaeologists said the markings could help explain how building materials were organized and transported across the rugged terrain.
Another brick carried a handwritten message believed to have been left by a worker. The inscription reportedly reads: “No wine, no rest; three years of hard labor have turned my hair white.”
Researchers said the message offers a rare human glimpse into the hardships faced by laborers who built and maintained the Great Wall.
Scientific analysis also identified plant fibers mixed into lime mortar, likely added to strengthen the construction material. Archaeologists said the findings highlight the engineering knowledge used in building one of China’s most famous frontier defenses.
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