In the Chinese province of Jiangxi, archaeologists have discovered a unique scaly armor, which is more than 2 thousand years old (photo)
In the Chinese city of Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, archaeologists have discovered scaly armor in the tomb of Liu He, the ruler of Haihong, who belonged to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 25 AD). This discovery reveals the high level of craftsmanship of ancient China and testifies to the technological progress of the Han Dynasty.
According to representatives of the provincial Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Relics, this is the first documented example of composite armor of that era, made of lacquered iron, copper and leather materials. Arkeonews reports.
The scales, which in some places measure only 1 centimeter wide and 0.2 centimeters thick, were neatly folded, indicating a high level of craftsmanship of the artisans of that time.
The head of the archaeological team, Yang Jun, said that after two years of careful work, they managed to recover approximately 6,000 scales. The armor was found in the armory part of the tomb along with swords and knives.
Experts provided additional information about the discovery. Bai Zhongjin, an armor protection expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that scaly armor from the Han Dynasty was usually made of one type of material, and the size of each plate varied from 4 to 10 centimeters. The smaller plates found in this case indicate the complexity of their manufacture.
These objects, originally stored in lacquer boxes, were found in a crumpled state due to the deterioration of the containers, which was accelerated by environmental factors, including earthquakes and rising groundwater levels from Lake Poyang.
The restoration process revealed that the composite structure, made of iron, copper, and leather, is significantly different from the single-material armor of the Han Dynasty. This innovative approach not only illustrates the technical progress of the time, but also provides valuable evidence for the study of ancient Chinese armor technology.
By delving into the secrets of this ancient craft, the researchers are expanding our understanding of the technological achievements of the Han Dynasty. This discovery demonstrates the ingenuity of ancient Chinese craftsmen and their contribution to the cultural heritage.
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