Mongolia: A newly completed archaeological investigation has shed light on the mysterious Gobi Wall, a 200-mile-long medieval structure stretching across southern Mongolia.
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem led a research team that used remote sensing, field surveys, and targeted excavations to study the wall. The team revealed that it was mainly constructed of rammed earth, stone, and wood during the Xi Xia dynasty (A.D. 1038–1227), which was ruled by the Tungut tribes of western China and southern Mongolia.
Findings showed that the wall's corridor had been used as early as the second century. Researchers found that its strategic location was chosen to access vital resources like water and wood, and that garrisons were built along natural geographic features.
Archaeologist Gideon Shelach-Lavi explained that the wall was more than a defensive barrier—it was a tool for managing trade, movement, and territorial control in a harsh environment. These discoveries, published in the journal Land, offer a rare insight into the historical role of the Gobi Wall in frontier governance.
