Ancient water system leads to wave of appreciation

Researchers from the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology have recently made a major breakthrough at the Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC) capital city ruins in Zhengzhou, Henan province.

Their findings shed new light on the sophistication of its urban planning mechanism and water systems, features of early civilization that were less well-known but nonetheless of great importance.

The finding, which consists of the largest water system remains from the early Shang Dynasty found to date, has filled a critical gap in comprehending the spatial layout of the southern section of the Zhengzhou Shang City, an archaeological site of the Bronze Age Erligang Culture in Central China.