Build an Olympic village, dig an 800-year-old palace full of treasures

It's a summer palace dating from AD 1202, belonging to China's Jin dynasty, according to Ancient Origins.

Scientists discovered this palace during a survey to prepare for the construction of the Taizicheng Olympic Village, 140km from Beijing. Olympic Village is located in Taizicheng Ancient Village, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei, China.

Taizicheng Ruins, where the Jin Dynasty palace and a series of archaeological treasures have just been revealed

Speaking to the Global Times, Dr. Zhang Wenrui, head of the Institute of Cultural and Archaeological Relics of Hebei Province, said it was a big surprise for archaeologists. Although they suspected that this area might still hide some ancient artifacts and relics, they conducted a thorough survey before building the Olympic village, but finding a palatial palace was completely unexpected. statue.

A beautiful jade artifact unearthed from the ruins

If built as planned, the Olympic village will overlap up to three-quarters of the area of ​​the monument, so the Olympic village will be relocated to the east of the site.

At first, archaeologists discovered something like old dilapidated houses, thinking they were worthless. But then they began to pick up pieces of precious building materials and exquisite ceramics, clearly not something that belonged in an ordinary house.

Exquisitely sculpted dragon head

Traditional architectural features are gradually revealed as the ruins are meticulously excavated. A total of 67 house foundations, 14 roads, many deep moats and walls have been excavated. Inside the palace ruins is an overwhelming treasure trove of artifacts including extremely valuable white enameled Ding Yao porcelain, dragon head sculptures, many other fine ceramic and jade artifacts.

The analysis results suggest that this is most likely the "missing palace" Taihe, built as the summer residence of Emperor Jinjing, who reigned from 1189 to 1208 AD. This is also the first Jin dynasty palace complex to be excavated, so it is especially meaningful to scholars studying palace architecture.