Researchers found that the Gobi Wall was built by the Xi Xia dynasty to regulate frontier life, not just defend it. The structure’s design took advantage of Mongolia’s geography and resources for long-term control.

A new study reveals that the Gobi Wall, a vast and previously little-understood structure in the Mongolian desert, was not just a defensive barrier but a complex instrument of imperial strategy during the Xi Xia dynasty (1038–1227 CE).

Built mainly from rammed earth, stone, and wood, the wall and its network of garrisons were strategically positioned to control movement along the frontier, regulate trade, and enforce territorial authority. At the same time, its design reflected careful adaptation to the region’s harsh ecological and geographic conditions.

Drone documentation of garrison G03, illustrating spatial relationships with Kherem Öndör Mountain and fortification F41 within the integrated defensive network. Credit: Photo Tal Rogovski; arrangement Dan Golan

This research redefines the Gobi Wall as a multifunctional system that played a key role in the political and environmental dynamics of medieval Inner Asia.

Archaeologists uncover forgotten frontier infrastructure

A new study led by Professor Gideon Shelach-Lavi and Mr. Dan Golan, archaeologists from the Department of Asia Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, offers new insight into the Gobi Wall, one of the least understood elements of medieval Inner Asian infrastructure.

Archaeological specimens of wooden stakes recovered from garrison G03, exhibiting consistent morphological characteristics. Credit: Tal Rogovski

Conducted in Mongolia in collaboration with Professor Chunag Amartuvshin of the National University of Mongolia and Professor William Honeychurch of Yale University, the research brings fresh clarity to this enigmatic structure.

The Gobi Wall stretches 321 kilometers across Mongolia’s highland deserts and forms part of a larger wall system that once extended from China into Mongolia. Until now, little was known about its origins, function, or historical context.

Archeological Assemblage of Nine Recovered Coins, Obverse and Reverse. Credit: Photo Tal Rogovski; arrangement Dan Golan

Through a wide-ranging international expedition that used remote sensing, on-foot surveys, and focused excavations, the research team has uncovered significant new evidence about how the wall was built and what role it played.

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